On Time was written originally for a small four part choir using a text by John Milton. This arrangement, for string quartet, was written for inclusion in the SIKKA 2014 Art Week. The music closely follows the rhythmic structure of the original text.

Live performance at the XVA Gallery in Dubai (8th February 2014).

Anne Mouslmani & Natalie Oughourlian, violins,
Imogen Lillywhite, viola,
Helene Charleaux, violoncello

Text: John Milton

Fly envious Time, till thou run out thy race,
Call on the lazy leaden-stepping hours,
Whose speed is but the heavy Plummets pace;
And glut thy self with what thy womb devours,
Which is no more than what is false and vain,
And meerly mortal dross;
So little is our loss,
So little is thy gain.
For when as each thing bad thou hast entomb’d,
And last of all, thy greedy self consum’d,
Then long Eternity shall greet our bliss
With an individual kiss;
And Joy shall overtake us as a flood,
When every thing that is sincerely good
And perfectly divine,
With Truth, and Peace, and Love shall ever shine
About the supreme Throne
Of him, t’whose happy-making sight alone,
When once our heav’nly-guided soul shall clime,
Then all this Earthy grosnes quit,
Attir’d with Stars, we shall for ever sit,
Triumphing over Death, and Chance, and thee O Time.