Levitation is a piece of classical music that is based on a specific story. Throughout the development of Western music this tradition has been called "program music". The story was given by Leonid Shukaev, the Cellist of the St. Petersburg String Quartet, and is one in a series of pieces that the composer is writing based on the musicians' personal stories of the supernatural. The music describes this somewhat enhanced real life event: For years a man has heard that there is a great hypnotist which he can't decide wether to visit or not. His friends surprise him by taking him to the hypnotist without him knowing. They peer pressure him even though he has second thoughts. The hypnotist is surprisingly un-intimidating, and explains what he will do. Then he counts him into a deep sleep. The man is feeling relaxed, almost like he's melting. Suddenly he's focused and is given the repetitive suggestion that he will levitate. The man's mind slowly replicates the suggestion, each time getting higher and then faster, until he is focused again. But this time he pulls away from his body. He can't believe that he is seeing himself below, asleep, and starts to recall his friends convincing him earlier. His memory is exaggerated and he becomes giddy attempting to fly away. At this point he feels a rubbery melting sensation and is pulled back in by the hypnotist counting in reverse. When he opens his eyes it's the hypnotist comforting him as if nothing happened. But, the man knows that his life will never be the same... The Grammy Nominated St. Petersburg String Quartet Are: Alla Aranovskaya, violin; Luis Salazar Avila, violin; Boris Vayner, viola; Leonid Shukayev, cello Levitation was given its world premiere on August 16th, 2014 by the St. Petersburg String Quartet at Bargemusic in NYC