Composer's comment to DVS, 03/01/2014: I found that idea of a string quartet in which all the voices were equal (sonically and metaphorically) was more appealing to me at the time than the traditional string quartet, in which the voices are usually conceived of hierarchically. Having four equal voices also gave me the chance to explore polyphony and perceptual illusions in ways that were new for me. And of course it was a chance to give violists the opportunity to really be ferocious and virtuosic!