Chen Yi describes the cheery interplay of HAPPY TUNE as: “When one instrument plays a lively melody, the other plays a vivid rhythmic pattern in the accompaniment. The pair of string instruments imitates the sound of Chinese folk song singing, as well as the Chinese traditional wind instrument sheng, a mouth pipe organ.” This arrangement by the composer adapts the earlier version for violin and viola written as a celebration piece honoring the 25th anniversary of the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival.