In Danny Clay's the first and the last, the combined forces of guitar trio and string quartet propel the listener through a constantly-changing emotional landscape.

The composer writes:

the first and the last was written for a one-time performance at the Hotel Utah in San Francisco by two groups of dear friends: Mobius Trio and Friction Quartet. It was written at a time when I wasn't sure if I would be staying in San Francisco for much longer—there was a strange electricity in the air. What I wanted most was to write a piece where every note was bursting with joy, gratitude, and love.