This work is the composer's fourth String Quartet and it is designed to be performed by String Quartet alone. It is also, however a dramatic work with text by Gwen Harwood and in this setting is for Narrator (speaking), Children's Chorus (speaking and singing) and String Quartet. The text begins:
Once upon a time -
our human legends all begin
with 'once upon a time'.
How did the world arise
under a roof of light?
Who gave the gift of
being to earth and all its creatures?
Silence. Music is sleeping,
Waiting in every instrument