This opening movement explores the evolution of musical order into rhythmic complexity. It begins with a dedicated nod to the Baroque era, introducing a theme heavily inspired by Bach (with a brief quote from the 4th Brandenburg Concerto). As the piece develops, the motive morphs, shifting time and texture until it arrives at a driving, Stravinsky-esque passage. It is a journey from the mathematically divine to the rhythmically primal. Read more about the story behind this music in my memoir, "The Keeper," at michaeljcriss.com

Bach and Stravinsky

VSQ Performs the Hits of 2015, Vol. 2

Ex's and Oh's

VSQ Performs the Hits of 2014, Vol. 3

Riptide

Can't Feel My Face

Vsq Performs the Killers

Mr. Brightside

VSQ Performs the Hits of 2020

Don’t Start Now

Simply Three

Chasing Cars

Los Angeles, California serves as home base for the concept group called Vitamin String Quartet. The group is made up of studio musicians who are brought together to interpret and record orchestra style covers of music from all types of genres ranging metal, techno, country, pop, rock and hip-hop dance music. While the quartet uses a wide assortment of artists and instruments, one fairly constant member of the group is violinist Tom Tally. Tally has been intimately involved in the composing, arranging and conduction of many songs on approximately 50 of the albums that have been recorded by the group. While the group is referred to as a string quartet, the reality is that more individuals are usually involved, using instruments such as violins, cellos, percussion, brass and woodwinds. The group was originally brought together in 1999 as an experimental project. They wanted to determine the effects of using classical style instruments to create new and different sounds on popular recordings. Early on, the FM broadcast station WWHK in Concord, NH would play the group's music 24 hours a day, every day, for a period of time. The popularity of the group's music has led to the music being featured on TV and in the movies. Credits include So You Think You Can Dance (2008), TV show The Vampire Diaries (2010), the 100th episode of Gossip Girl and the fifth season finale of Modern Family (2014). Throughout the years, the group has been involved in the recording of over 200 different albums. In 2009, the group stepped out of the box a bit and recorded some original material provided by some of the various musicians on the album Per_Versions.