Au Quai

This 3-minute piece was written for the London Sinfonietta for Oliver Knussen's 50th birthday, and first performed by members of that ensemble in 2000 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.

'The title of this piece was suggested by Arnold Schoenberg's short story "To the Wharfs" in which he describes the mounting anxiety of the members of a French fishing village as the boats and the sea-bound fisherman failed to appear after a storm and several days' absence. When they were suddenly sighted all shouted "to the wharfs, aux quais, O.K."' — Elliott Carter