Quickstep on Fox Street

Quickstep on Fox Street: Trio for Clarinet, Violoncello and Piano (2016) is a one-movement composition focused on the general atmosphere of the Maboneng precinct, a newly refurbished urban-artisanal neighbourhood, based in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa – the composer's hometown.

The work attempts to achieve the fast-paced, frantic lifestyle of 'Johannesburgers', whom live in the business capital of South Africa, whilst simultaneously suggesting elements of general musicality and culture. This blend was inspired by the lifestyle present in the Maboneng precinct. The Quickstep element of the work derives from the familiar dancing pattern, based on a fast and unyielding tempo.

Quickstep on Fox Street begins with an unashamedly stark figure, which is returned throughout the piece. This figure is placed in an asymmetrical phrase, which uses heavy counterpoint and modal chromatic harmony to suggest a restlessness environment. This phrase is then repeated throughout the work, interspersed by different themes of contrasting nature. With each repetition, the initial phrase becomes more complex. This suggests that the piece is in rondo-variation form. The final repetition leads up to a climactic point of arrival, where the asymmetrical phrase is finally answered by its major counterpart, concluding the piece.