Description : "Where are we?" is the question I asked myself and others when I pursued music academia. As much as I learned in these institutions, I wondered why there wasn't more tolerance for the study of other genres of music. I went further and wondered why all music majors didn't have to study the roots of American music. My idea was "Where are we...America, right?" This entire string quartet is inspired by Jazz harmony and fiddle playing. Movement 2, for example is groove based and utilizes many syncopated rhythms.