A double quartet may just be an ensemble of eight musicians (then perhaps more properly called an octet), or as in this case an ensemble consisting of the combination of two existing quartets - a vocal quartet (Vokalkvartetten Vox) and a saxophone quartet (Rollin' Phones). This may seem like an odd combination, it is not a double string quartet, but if you think of the names of the different saxophones - soprano, alto, tenor and baritone - it may make perfect sense. Anyway it is an interesting combination and an inspiring mission. The piece is commissioned by C-Y ContemporarY through Swedish Arts council.

Some month ago I visited a concert with the saxophone quartet, Rollin' Phones. After the concert we got together and discussed the project. This was a kind of starting point for me in my work. Equipped with inspiration from the concert and the meeting I started working on the assignment.

The initial instructions in the request were loosely to give the pieces some dramatic qualities and to compose in stylistic freedom. My idea is to make a section to section mix of dramatic elements and stylistically free music.

In the project besides the musicians in the two quartets there are also the fellow composers Ulrika Emanuelsson and Stefan Klaverdal, and the director and dramaturge Helena Röhr. We discussed having tolerance and respect as some kind of theme for all of our compositions. (Actually we talked about ‘respect’ but my suspicion is that we really meant ‘tolerance’.) This I have taken to heart. And I also found some inspiration from a sculpture Für Toleranz ("for tolerance") by Volkmar Kühn, located in Gera, Germany.