As we mentioned, it was Bryce Dessner who first approached Sufjan Stevens about re-arranging the 2001 Chinese Zodiac song cycle Run Rabbit Run for the New York string quartet Osso. They were likely on his radar because they’d previously done string arrangements for Illinois and My Brightest Diamond’s Bring Me The Workhorse. Since Stevens liked the idea, Dessner commissioned the group to perform it at his Music Now Festival. In the end, various composers (and not Stevens) reinterpreted the tracks, ultimately bringing us to the new collection, Run Rabbit Run. It comes out in October, which is when Osso hits the road in support of it. On top of the Run Rabbit Run material, the shows are scheduled to include screenings of The BQE (with pre-recorded soundtrack). For certain dates, DM Stith will perform songs as well. (Keep in mind, while these shows are Sufjan-related, they’re not the non-BQE dates he’s doing with Cryptacize.) While you mull all of that over, take a listen to “Enjoy Your Rabbit,” as re-arranged by Michael Atkinson.

• Osso – “Enjoy Your Rabbit”Download

Run Rabbit Run is out 10/6 via Asthmatic Kitty. As mentioned, Osso’s taking it on the road. You can currently nab tickets for the opening NYC date at 92YTribeca. The complete itinerary:

10/24 – New York, NY @ 92nd St. Y Tribeca *
10/26 – Cleveland, OH @ Cleveland State University #
10/27 – Holland, MI @ Hope College *
10/28 – Chicago, IL @ Schuba’s *
10/29 – Minneapolis, MN @ Southern Theater *
11/01 – Indianapolis, IN @ Toby Theater (Indianapolis Mus. of Art) *
11/02 – Lexington, KY @ The Dame (in the Reserve) *
11/03 – Cincinnati, OH @ Country Club #
11/04 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Warhol Museum #
11/06 – Medford, MA @ Tufts University #

* w/ DM Stith, the BQE
# w/ The BQE