Paratime began with the idea of being lost. I wanted to write a tale of a mechanism that was trying to force itself into something regular, but was stuck by years of gunge, corrosion, and dust. Once wound up however, the mechanism is able to overcome what was holding it back, and breaks into a joyous dance, before winding down once more.

This piece also asks for the quartet to have non-classical positioning, with the second violin on the far right, where the cello would usually sit. The viola and cello then move up accordingly. In this arrangement the violins pull at the ears of the listener while the viola and cello provide a grounded centre.