An old-growth forest is typically defined as a forest that has developed over a long period of time and is free from catastrophic disturbances.

I spent my 2022 Summer studying abroad and visiting family in Germany and Austria. On one of my walks in an area called the Baumberge, I noticed large craters in the ground, long grown over by roots and moss. Later, I learned these indents were bomb craters from World War II. It got me thinking about the quiet intensity of an old forest, where the trees have seen more than a human can in one lifetime. There is a sense of whimsy in the idea of an ancient forest, and fairytales have created characters of magic and mystery in such places.

From these thoughts, the melodies and concepts in this piece were born.

The piece starts with a slow build, only then to decay as the quartet enters. The mood changes at the 3/4 bar, where a mischievous dance begins. Each entrance within the ensemble builds, before coming down again to playful 16th-note fragments in the woodwinds.

Then, a key change to F major allows for a warm, slow section that is both peaceful and a little bittersweet.

The beginning build returns in the new key, soon to modulate back to Ab Major with excitement and grandeur.

Once again, the instruments fade away to tremolos in flute and clarinets. The quartet closes the piece alone, with a fermata on the last chord.