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{{short description|American string quartet}}
{{short description|American string quartet}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{short lead|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
{{Infobox musical artist <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject Musicians -->
| name = Kronos Quartet
| name = Kronos Quartet
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}}
}}
| website = {{URL|www.KronosQuartet.org}}
| website = {{URL|www.KronosQuartet.org}}
| current_members = * David Harrington
| current_members = * David Harrington (violin)
* Gabriela Díaz (violin)
* John Sherba
* Ayane Kozasa (viola)
* Hank Dutt
* [[Paul Wiancko]]
* [[Paul Wiancko]] (cello)
| past_members = * Sunny Yang
| past_members = * Jim Shallenberger (violin, 1973–1975)
* Tim Killian (viola, 1973–1976)
* Jim Shallenberger
* Walter Gray (cello, 1973–1978)
* Tim Killian
* Roy Lewis (violin, 1975–1977)
* Walter Gray
* Michael Jones (viola, 1976–1978)
* Ella Gray
* Ella Gray (violin, 1977–1978)
* Roy Lewis
* [[Joan Jeanrenaud]]
* [[Joan Jeanrenaud]] (cello, 1978–1999)
* Jennifer Culp
* Jennifer Culp (cello, 1999–2005)
* Jeffrey Zeigler
* Jeffrey Zeigler (cello, 2005–2013)
* Sunny Yang (cello, 2013–2022)
* John Sherba (violin, 1978–2024)
* Hank Dutt (viola, 1978–2024)
}}
}}
The '''Kronos Quartet''' is an American [[string quartet]] based in San Francisco. It has been in existence with a rotating membership of musicians for almost 50 years. The quartet covers a very broad range of musical genres, including [[contemporary classical music]]. More than 1,000 works have been [[commission (art)|written for it]].
The '''Kronos Quartet''' is an American [[string quartet]] based in San Francisco.<ref>{{Cite web |last=March 5 |first=Joshua Kosman |date=March 5, 2024 |title=Exclusive: Two longtime members of Kronos Quartet plan a joint retirement |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/classical/kronos-quartet-retirements-18699265 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240410005240/https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/classical/kronos-quartet-retirements-18699265 |archive-date=April 10, 2024 |access-date=April 25, 2024 |website=Datebook {{!}} San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide |language=en-US}}</ref> It has been in existence with a rotating membership of musicians for 50 years. The quartet covers a very broad range of musical genres, including [[contemporary classical music]]. More than 1,000 works have been [[commission (art)|written for it]].


==History==
==History==
The quartet was founded by [[violin]]ist David Harrington in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. Its first performance was in November 1973.<ref name=Graves/> Since 1978, the quartet has been based in [[San Francisco]], [[California]]. The longest-running combination of performers (from 1978 to 1999) had Harrington and John Sherba on [[violin]], Hank Dutt on [[viola]], and [[Joan Jeanrenaud]] on [[cello]]. In 1999, Jeanrenaud left Kronos because she was "eager for something new";<ref name=Templeton/> she was replaced by Jennifer Culp,<ref name=notes/> who, in turn, left in 2005 and was replaced by Jeffrey Zeigler. In June 2013, Zeigler was replaced by Sunny Yang.<ref name=press1/> In February 2023, cellist and composer [[Paul Wiancko]] became the quartet's newest cellist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestrad.com/news/kronos-quartet-names-paul-wiancko-as-new-cellist/15478.article | title="Kronos Quartet names Paul Wiancko as new cellist"|website=The Strad|date=September 29, 2022}}</ref>
The quartet was founded by [[violin]]ist David Harrington in [[Seattle]], [[Washington (state)|Washington]]. Its first performance was in November 1973.<ref name=Graves/> Since 1978, the quartet has been based in [[San Francisco]], [[California]]. The longest-running combination of performers (from 1978 to 1999) had Harrington and John Sherba on [[violin]], Hank Dutt on [[viola]], and [[Joan Jeanrenaud]] on [[cello]]. In 1999, Jeanrenaud left Kronos because she was "eager for something new";<ref name=Templeton/> she was replaced by Jennifer Culp,<ref name=notes/> who, in turn, left in 2005 and was replaced by Jeffrey Zeigler. In June 2013, Zeigler was replaced by Sunny Yang.<ref name=press1/> In February 2023, cellist and composer [[Paul Wiancko]] became the quartet's newest cellist.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thestrad.com/news/kronos-quartet-names-paul-wiancko-as-new-cellist/15478.article | title="Kronos Quartet names Paul Wiancko as new cellist"|website=The Strad|date=September 29, 2022}}</ref> In March 2024, Kronos Quartet announced that Sherba and Dutt will retire in June of that year, being replaced by violinist Gabriela Díaz and violist Ayane Kosaza.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Kosman |first1=Joshua |title=Exclusive: Two longtime members of Kronos Quartet plan a joint retirement |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/classical/kronos-quartet-retirements-18699265 |website=Datebook |publisher=San Francisco Chronicle |access-date=19 April 2024}}</ref>


With over 40 studio albums to its credit and having performed worldwide, the Kronos Quartet has been called "probably the most famous '[[Contemporary classical music|new music]]' group in the world"<ref name=McCalla/> and been praised in philosophical studies of music for the inclusiveness of its repertoire.<ref name=Ellis/>
With over 40 studio albums to its credit and having performed worldwide, the Kronos Quartet has been called "probably the most famous '[[Contemporary classical music|new music]]' group in the world"<ref name=McCalla/> and been praised in philosophical studies of music for the inclusiveness of its repertoire.<ref name=Ellis/>
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===30th anniversary===
===30th anniversary===
When Kronos turned 30, in 2003, it decided on a commissioning process for composers under age 30, in hopes of bringing some talented young composers to light. The program, called the Under 30 Project, is now run in cooperation with [[Carnegie Hall]], Cal Performances at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], and the [[Montalvo Arts Center]]. The first recipient was [[Alexandra du Bois]] (at the time a student at [[Indiana University]], later a [[Juilliard School]] graduate),<ref name=Cahill/> followed by Felipe Perez Santiago (born in Mexico in 1973),<ref name=Sisario/> and Dan Visconti (born in Illinois in 1982);<ref name=Martini/> in 2007, Israeli composer Aviya Kopelman became the fourth.<ref name=MusicalA/>
When Kronos turned 30, in 2003, it decided to commission new pieces from composers under age 30, in hopes of encouraging talented young composers. The program, called the Under 30 Project, is now run in cooperation with [[Carnegie Hall]], Cal Performances at the [[University of California, Berkeley]], and the [[Montalvo Arts Center]]. The first recipient was [[Alexandra du Bois]] (at the time a student at [[Indiana University]], later a [[Juilliard School]] graduate),<ref name=Cahill/> followed by Felipe Perez Santiago (born in Mexico in 1973),<ref name=Sisario/> and Dan Visconti (born in Illinois in 1982);<ref name=Martini/> in 2007, Israeli composer Aviya Kopelman became the fourth.<ref name=MusicalA/>


===40th anniversary===
===40th anniversary===
To celebrate its 40th year, the Kronos Quartet returned to Seattle, the city in which it first played, and worked in collaboration with Seattle's [[Degenerate Art Ensemble]] to create a piece incorporating music, dance and video.<ref name=Graves/> It celebrated its 40th anniversary with a sold-out performance at [[Zellerbach Hall]], [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]], in December 2013. The same year, [[Michael Giacchino]], a soundtrack composer who often names his pieces with puns, published a piece named after Kronos, "The Kronos Wartet", as a part of the soundtrack to ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' for a scene that takes place on the fictional planet "Kronos".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/Playback/2013/05/wecreatemusic/fmf-michael-giacchino-on-star-trek-into-darkness.aspx|title=Film Music Friday: Michael Giacchino on Star Trek: Into Darkness|access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref> (also spelled "[[Qo'noS]]").
To celebrate its 40th year, the Kronos Quartet returned to Seattle, the city in which it first played, and worked in collaboration with Seattle's [[Degenerate Art Ensemble]] to create a piece incorporating music, dance and video.<ref name=Graves/> It celebrated its 40th anniversary with a sold-out performance at [[Zellerbach Hall]], [[University of California, Berkeley|UC Berkeley]], in December 2013. The same year, [[Michael Giacchino]], a soundtrack composer who often names his pieces with puns, published a piece named after Kronos, "The Kronos Wartet", as a part of the soundtrack to ''[[Star Trek Into Darkness]]'' for a scene that takes place on the fictional planet "Kronos".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ascap.com/Playback/2013/05/wecreatemusic/fmf-michael-giacchino-on-star-trek-into-darkness.aspx|title=Film Music Friday: Michael Giacchino on Star Trek: Into Darkness|access-date=October 1, 2017}}</ref> (also spelled "[[Qo'noS]]").

==Members==
{{#tag:timeline|ImageSize=width:900 height:auto barincrement:20
PlotArea = left:90 bottom:100 top:5 right:0
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DateFormat = mm/dd/yyyy
Period = from:11/01/1973 till:{{#time:m/d/Y}}
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Legend = orientation:vertical position:bottom columns:4
ScaleMajor = increment:5 start:1974
ScaleMinor = increment:1 start:1974

Colors =
id:violin1 value:green legend:Violin1
id:violin2 value:orange legend:Violin2
id:viola value:purple legend:Viola
id:cello value:blue legend:Cello
id:bars value:gray(0.95)

BackgroundColors = bars:bars

BarData =
bar:David text:David_Harrington
bar:Jim text:Jim_Shallenberger
bar:Tim text:Tim_Killian
bar:Walter text:Walter_Gray
bar:Roy text:Roy_Lewis
bar:Michael text:Michael_Jones
bar:Hank text:Hank_Dutt
bar:Ella text:Ella_Gray
bar:John text:John_Sherba
bar:Joan text:Joan_Jeanrenaud
bar:Jennifer text:Jennifer_Culp
bar:Jeffrey text:Jeffrey_Zeigler
bar:Sunny text:Sunny_Yang
bar:Paul text:Paul_Wiancko


PlotData=
color:violin1
bar:David from:start till:end width:7

color:violin2
bar:Jim from:start till:12/31/1974 width:7
bar:Roy from:01/01/1975 till:12/31/1976 width:7
bar:Ella from:01/01/1977 till:12/31/1977 width:7
bar:John from:01/01/1978 till:end width:7

color:viola
bar:Tim from:start till:12/31/1975 width:7
bar:Michael from:01/01/1976 till:12/31/1977 width:7
bar:Hank from:01/01/1978 till:end width:7

color:cello
bar:Walter from:start till:12/31/1977 width:7
bar:Joan from:01/01/1978 till:12/31/1998 width:7
bar:Jennifer from:01/01/1999 till:12/31/2004 width:7
bar:Jeffrey from:01/01/2005 till:12/31/2012 width:7
bar:Sunny from:01/01/2013 till:12/31/2021 width:7
bar:Paul from:01/01/2022 till:end width:7
}}


==New music, contemporary classical==
==New music, contemporary classical==
[[File:Laurie Anderson amidst the Kronos Quartet in Chicago after performing LANDFALL 2015-03-17 20.53.41 (16851029595).jpg|thumb|On stage with [[Laurie Anderson]], after performing ''LANDFALL'' at the [[Harris Theater (Chicago)|Harris Theater]] on March 17, 2015]]
[[File:Laurie Anderson amidst the Kronos Quartet in Chicago after performing LANDFALL 2015-03-17 20.53.41 (16851029595).jpg|thumb|On stage with [[Laurie Anderson]], after performing ''LANDFALL'' at the [[Harris Theater (Chicago)|Harris Theater]] on March 17, 2015]]
Over 1,000 pieces have been created for the Kronos Quartet,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/kronos-quartets-fifth-member-operates-with-care-and-savvy-behind-the-scenes | title=Kronos Quartet's fifth member operates with care and savvy behind the scenes }}</ref> which has a long history of [[commission (art)|commissioning]] new works.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thoughtcatalog.com/porter-anderson/2016/04/kronos-david-harrington-there-is-no-such-thing-as-easy-music/|title=Kronos' David Harrington: 'There Is No Such Thing As Easy Music'|date=April 5, 2016|work=Thought Catalog|access-date=August 7, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> It has worked with many [[Minimalist music|minimalist]] composers, including [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]], [[Arvo Pärt]], [[George Crumb]], [[Henryk Górecki]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Roberto Paci Dalò]], [[Philip Glass]], [[Terry Riley]], and [[Kevin Volans]]; collaborators hail from a diversity of countries—[[Kaija Saariaho]] from Finland, [[Pēteris Vasks]] from Latvia, [[Franghiz Ali-Zadeh]] from Azerbaijan, [[Rainbow: Music of Central Asia Vol. 8|Homayun Sakhi]] from Afghanistan, [[Hamza El Din]] from [[Egypt]], [[Victoria Poleva|Victoria Vita Polevá]] from Ukraine and [[Fernando Otero]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/arts/music/25kron.html|title=Music Review: Kronos Quartet – Premieres Range in Palette From Balkans to Argentina|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 25, 2008|author=Vivian Schweitzer}}</ref> [[Astor Piazzolla]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/five-tango-sensations-mw0000282515|title=Five Tango Sensations-Kronos Quartet Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards All Music|work=[[All Music Guide]]|date=February 2001|author=Adam Greenberg}}</ref> and [[Osvaldo Golijov]] from Argentina. Some of Kronos's string-quartet arrangements were published in 2007.<ref>{{cite journal
Over 1,000 pieces have been created for the Kronos Quartet,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/music/kronos-quartets-fifth-member-operates-with-care-and-savvy-behind-the-scenes | title=Kronos Quartet's fifth member operates with care and savvy behind the scenes }}</ref> which has a long history of [[commission (art)|commissioning]] new works.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://thoughtcatalog.com/porter-anderson/2016/04/kronos-david-harrington-there-is-no-such-thing-as-easy-music/|title=Kronos' David Harrington: 'There Is No Such Thing As Easy Music'|date=April 5, 2016|work=Thought Catalog|access-date=August 7, 2017|language=en-US}}</ref> It has worked with many [[Minimalist music|minimalist]] composers, including [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]], [[Arvo Pärt]], [[George Crumb]], [[Henryk Górecki]], [[Steve Reich]], [[Roberto Paci Dalò]], [[Philip Glass]], [[Terry Riley]], [[Peter Sculthorpe]] and [[Kevin Volans]]; collaborators hail from a diversity of countries—[[Kaija Saariaho]] from Finland, [[Pēteris Vasks]] from Latvia, [[Franghiz Ali-Zadeh]] from Azerbaijan, [[Rainbow: Music of Central Asia Vol. 8|Homayun Sakhi]] from Afghanistan, [[Hamza El Din]] from [[Egypt]], [[Victoria Poleva|Victoria Vita Polevá]] from Ukraine and [[Fernando Otero]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/arts/music/25kron.html|title=Music Review: Kronos Quartet – Premieres Range in Palette From Balkans to Argentina|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 25, 2008|author=Vivian Schweitzer}}</ref> [[Astor Piazzolla]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/five-tango-sensations-mw0000282515|title=Five Tango Sensations-Kronos Quartet Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards All Music|work=[[All Music Guide]]|date=February 2001|author=Adam Greenberg}}</ref> and [[Osvaldo Golijov]] from Argentina. Some of Kronos's string-quartet arrangements were published in 2007.<ref>{{cite journal
| last = Silberman
| last = Silberman
| first = Daryl
| first = Daryl
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{{quote box|quote=I've always wanted the string quartet to be vital, and energetic, and alive, and cool, and not afraid to kick ass and be absolutely beautiful and ugly if it has to be. But it has to be expressive of life. To tell the story with grace and humor and depth. And to tell the whole story, if possible.|source=—David Harrington<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kronosquartet.org/25th/01.html |title=Four Hundred Candles: The Creation of a Repertoire |last=Yaple |first=Carol |publisher=Kronos Quartet |access-date=March 30, 2010 |archive-date=July 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712090944/http://kronosquartet.org/25th/01.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>|width=25%}}
{{quote box|quote=I've always wanted the string quartet to be vital, and energetic, and alive, and cool, and not afraid to kick ass and be absolutely beautiful and ugly if it has to be. But it has to be expressive of life. To tell the story with grace and humor and depth. And to tell the whole story, if possible.|source=—David Harrington<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kronosquartet.org/25th/01.html |title=Four Hundred Candles: The Creation of a Repertoire |last=Yaple |first=Carol |publisher=Kronos Quartet |access-date=March 30, 2010 |archive-date=July 12, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070712090944/http://kronosquartet.org/25th/01.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>|width=25%}}


Kronos covers a very broad range of [[musical genre]]s: [[Music of Mexico|Mexican folk]], [[experimental music|experimental]], pre-classical [[early music]], movie soundtracks (''[[Requiem for a Dream (soundtrack)|Requiem for a Dream]]'', ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'', ''[[The Fountain (film)|The Fountain]]''), [[jazz]] and [[tango music|tango]]. Kronos has also recorded adaptations of [[Jimi Hendrix]]'s "[[Purple Haze]]", [[Sigur Rós]]'s "Flugufrelsarinn", [[Television (band)|Television]]'s "[[Marquee Moon]]", [[Raymond Scott]]'s "Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals", and [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[Don't Think Twice, It's All Right]]".
Kronos covers a very broad range of [[musical genre]]s: [[Music of Mexico|Mexican folk]], [[experimental music|experimental]], pre-classical [[early music]], movie soundtracks (''[[Requiem for a Dream (soundtrack)|Requiem for a Dream]]'', ''[[Heat (1995 film)|Heat]]'', ''[[The Fountain (film)|The Fountain]]''), [[jazz]] and [[tango music|tango]]. Kronos has also recorded adaptations of [[Jimi Hendrix]]'s "[[Purple Haze]]", [[Sigur Rós]]'s "Flugufrelsarinn", [[Television (band)|Television]]'s "[[Marquee Moon (song)|Marquee Moon]]", [[Raymond Scott]]'s "Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals", and [[Bob Dylan]]'s "[[Don't Think Twice, It's All Right]]".


Kronos has also worked with a variety of global musicians, including [[Bollywood]] [[playback singer]] [[Asha Bhosle]];<ref>{{cite journal | last = Kettle | first = David | title = Kronos Quartet/Asha Boshle (singer) | journal = [[The Strad (magazine)|The Strad]] | volume = 116 | issue = 1388 | page = 86 | date = December 2005}}</ref> Mexican-American painter [[Gronk (artist)|Gronk]]; American [[soprano]] [[Dawn Upshaw]]; [[jazz]] composer/performer [[Pat Metheny]]; Mexican [[Rock music|rockers]] [[Café Tacuba]]; [[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijani]] [[mugam]] singer [[Alim Qasimov]]; and the Romanian [[Romani people|gypsy]] band [[Taraf de Haïdouks]] among others.
Kronos has also worked with a variety of global musicians, including [[Bollywood]] [[playback singer]] [[Asha Bhosle]];<ref>{{cite journal | last = Kettle | first = David | title = Kronos Quartet/Asha Boshle (singer) | journal = [[The Strad (magazine)|The Strad]] | volume = 116 | issue = 1388 | page = 86 | date = December 2005}}</ref> Mexican-American painter [[Gronk (artist)|Gronk]]; American [[soprano]] [[Dawn Upshaw]]; [[jazz]] composer/performer [[Pat Metheny]]; Mexican [[Rock music|rockers]] [[Café Tacuba]]; [[Azerbaijani people|Azerbaijani]] [[mugam]] singer [[Alim Qasimov]]; and the Romanian [[Romani people|gypsy]] band [[Taraf de Haïdouks]] among others.
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==Films==
==Films==
*1995 – ''[[Heat (soundtrack)|Heat]]. – Written by [[Elliot Goldenthal]] featuring Kronos Quartet
*1985 – ''[[Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (soundtrack)|Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters]]''. – Written by [[Philip Glass]] featuring Kronos Quartet and [[Michael Riesman]]
*1995 – ''[[Heat (soundtrack)|Heat]]''. – Written by [[Elliot Goldenthal]] featuring Kronos Quartet
*1995 – ''Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy – Harry Partch, Lou Harrison, and Terry Riley''. Directed by Michael Blackwood.
*1995 – ''Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy – Harry Partch, Lou Harrison, and Terry Riley''. Directed by Michael Blackwood.
*2000 – ''[[Requiem for a Dream (soundtrack)|Requiem for a Dream]]'' Soundtrack by [[Clint Mansell]] featuring Kronos Quartet.
*2000 – ''[[Requiem for a Dream (soundtrack)|Requiem for a Dream]]'' Soundtrack by [[Clint Mansell]] featuring Kronos Quartet.
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[[Category:World Circuit (record label) artists]]
[[Category:World Circuit (record label) artists]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Seattle]]
[[Category:Musical groups from Seattle]]
[[Category:1973 establishments in Washington (state)]]

Latest revision as of 06:34, 3 July 2024

Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet at the Musical Instrument Museum, 2020
Kronos Quartet at the Musical Instrument Museum, 2020
Background information
OriginSeattle, Washington, U.S.
GenresContemporary classical, minimalism
OccupationChamber ensemble
Years active1973–present
Labels
Members
  • David Harrington (violin)
  • Gabriela Díaz (violin)
  • Ayane Kozasa (viola)
  • Paul Wiancko (cello)
Past members
  • Jim Shallenberger (violin, 1973–1975)
  • Tim Killian (viola, 1973–1976)
  • Walter Gray (cello, 1973–1978)
  • Roy Lewis (violin, 1975–1977)
  • Michael Jones (viola, 1976–1978)
  • Ella Gray (violin, 1977–1978)
  • Joan Jeanrenaud (cello, 1978–1999)
  • Jennifer Culp (cello, 1999–2005)
  • Jeffrey Zeigler (cello, 2005–2013)
  • Sunny Yang (cello, 2013–2022)
  • John Sherba (violin, 1978–2024)
  • Hank Dutt (viola, 1978–2024)
Websitewww.kronosquartet.org

The Kronos Quartet is an American string quartet based in San Francisco.[1] It has been in existence with a rotating membership of musicians for 50 years. The quartet covers a very broad range of musical genres, including contemporary classical music. More than 1,000 works have been written for it.

History

[edit]

The quartet was founded by violinist David Harrington in Seattle, Washington. Its first performance was in November 1973.[2] Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers (from 1978 to 1999) had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan Jeanrenaud on cello. In 1999, Jeanrenaud left Kronos because she was "eager for something new";[3] she was replaced by Jennifer Culp,[4] who, in turn, left in 2005 and was replaced by Jeffrey Zeigler. In June 2013, Zeigler was replaced by Sunny Yang.[5] In February 2023, cellist and composer Paul Wiancko became the quartet's newest cellist.[6] In March 2024, Kronos Quartet announced that Sherba and Dutt will retire in June of that year, being replaced by violinist Gabriela Díaz and violist Ayane Kosaza.[7]

With over 40 studio albums to its credit and having performed worldwide, the Kronos Quartet has been called "probably the most famous 'new music' group in the world"[8] and been praised in philosophical studies of music for the inclusiveness of its repertoire.[9]

By the time the quartet celebrated its 25th anniversary in 1999, it had a repertoire of over 600 works, including 400 quartets written for it, more than 3,000 performances, seven first-prize ASCAP awards, Edison Awards in classical and popular music, and had more than 1.5 million record sales.[10]

30th anniversary

[edit]

When Kronos turned 30, in 2003, it decided to commission new pieces from composers under age 30, in hopes of encouraging talented young composers. The program, called the Under 30 Project, is now run in cooperation with Carnegie Hall, Cal Performances at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Montalvo Arts Center. The first recipient was Alexandra du Bois (at the time a student at Indiana University, later a Juilliard School graduate),[11] followed by Felipe Perez Santiago (born in Mexico in 1973),[12] and Dan Visconti (born in Illinois in 1982);[13] in 2007, Israeli composer Aviya Kopelman became the fourth.[14]

40th anniversary

[edit]

To celebrate its 40th year, the Kronos Quartet returned to Seattle, the city in which it first played, and worked in collaboration with Seattle's Degenerate Art Ensemble to create a piece incorporating music, dance and video.[2] It celebrated its 40th anniversary with a sold-out performance at Zellerbach Hall, UC Berkeley, in December 2013. The same year, Michael Giacchino, a soundtrack composer who often names his pieces with puns, published a piece named after Kronos, "The Kronos Wartet", as a part of the soundtrack to Star Trek Into Darkness for a scene that takes place on the fictional planet "Kronos".[15] (also spelled "Qo'noS").

Members

[edit]

New music, contemporary classical

[edit]
On stage with Laurie Anderson, after performing LANDFALL at the Harris Theater on March 17, 2015

Over 1,000 pieces have been created for the Kronos Quartet,[16] which has a long history of commissioning new works.[17] It has worked with many minimalist composers, including John Adams, Arvo Pärt, George Crumb, Henryk Górecki, Steve Reich, Roberto Paci Dalò, Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Peter Sculthorpe and Kevin Volans; collaborators hail from a diversity of countries—Kaija Saariaho from Finland, Pēteris Vasks from Latvia, Franghiz Ali-Zadeh from Azerbaijan, Homayun Sakhi from Afghanistan, Hamza El Din from Egypt, Victoria Vita Polevá from Ukraine and Fernando Otero,[18] Astor Piazzolla,[19] and Osvaldo Golijov from Argentina. Some of Kronos's string-quartet arrangements were published in 2007.[20]

Diverse genres

[edit]

I've always wanted the string quartet to be vital, and energetic, and alive, and cool, and not afraid to kick ass and be absolutely beautiful and ugly if it has to be. But it has to be expressive of life. To tell the story with grace and humor and depth. And to tell the whole story, if possible.

—David Harrington[21]

Kronos covers a very broad range of musical genres: Mexican folk, experimental, pre-classical early music, movie soundtracks (Requiem for a Dream, Heat, The Fountain), jazz and tango. Kronos has also recorded adaptations of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze", Sigur Rós's "Flugufrelsarinn", Television's "Marquee Moon", Raymond Scott's "Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals", and Bob Dylan's "Don't Think Twice, It's All Right".

Kronos has also worked with a variety of global musicians, including Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle;[22] Mexican-American painter Gronk; American soprano Dawn Upshaw; jazz composer/performer Pat Metheny; Mexican rockers Café Tacuba; Azerbaijani mugam singer Alim Qasimov; and the Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haïdouks among others.

Kronos has performed live with the poet Allen Ginsberg, Astor Piazzolla, The National, the Modern Jazz Quartet, Tom Waits, David Bowie, Paul McCartney and Björk, and has recorded with Nelly Furtado, Rokia Traoré, Joan Armatrading, Brazilian electronica artist Amon Tobin, Texas yodeler Don Walser, Faith No More, Tiger Lillies and David Grisman.

In 1984, Frank Zappa wrote "None of the Above" for Kronos, of which it performs the first movement in the 2020 documentary Zappa, directed by Alex Winter. Kronos's artistic director, founder, and violinist David Harrington is also interviewed in the film.[23]

On the 1998 Dave Matthews Band album Before These Crowded Streets, Kronos Quartet performed on the tracks "Halloween" and "The Stone". It also recorded for the 2007 Nine Inch Nails remix album, Year Zero Remixed doing a rendition of the track "Another Version of the Truth"". The group performed Lee Brooks's score for the short film 2081, based on the Kurt Vonnegut short story "Harrison Bergeron".

In 2009, Kronos contributed an acoustic version of Blind Willie Johnson's "Dark Was the Night" for the AIDS benefit album Dark Was the Night produced by the Red Hot Organization.

In 2017, the quartet performed as featured artists on the songs "Lost Light" and "Journey" on the soundtrack to the videogame Destiny 2.

Awards and recognition

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Greeting the audience after a 2005 performance

Le Diapason d'Or de Mai

Rolf Schock Prize
  • 1999 Royal Swedish Academy of Music for Musical Arts in Music

Musical America

  • 2003 Musicians of the Year[24]

Grammy Award for Best Chamber Music Performance

Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance

Grammy Award for Best Engineered Album, Classical

National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences

  • 2005 The Recording Academy President's Merit Award

Polar Music Prize

  • 2011. The announcement of the award said: "For almost 40 years, the Kronos Quartet has been revolutionizing the potential of the string quartet genre when it comes to both style and content."[25]

WOMEX Awards

  • 2018 WOMEX Artist Award – Since the introduction of the WOMEX Award in 1999, the list of extraordinary artists and professionals deserving of this special praise has continued to grow. The award honours exceptional achievements in world music on the international level; musical excellence, social importance, commercial success, political impact, lifetime achievement

Edison Classical Music Awards (Edison Klassiek)

  • 2019 Oeuvreprijs
Kronos Quartet recording at BBC Radio, 2012

Recordings

[edit]
Main article: Kronos Quartet discography

Published music

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  • Kronos Collection, Vol. 1. Boosey and Hawkes. 2007.
  • Kronos Collection, Vol. 2. Boosey and Hawkes. 2013.

Films

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References

[edit]
  1. ^ March 5, Joshua Kosman (March 5, 2024). "Exclusive: Two longtime members of Kronos Quartet plan a joint retirement". Datebook | San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide. Archived from the original on April 10, 2024. Retrieved April 25, 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b Graves, Jen (November 13, 2013). "The Ultimate Collaboration". The Stranger. Seattle, United States. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  3. ^ Templeton, David (March 2004). "Flight of Fancy: The sky is the limit for ex-Kronos cellist Joan Jeanrenaud". Strings. 18 (7). String Letter Publishing: 122.
  4. ^ "News and Notes: People". Strings. 14 (4). String Letter Publishing: 18. November–December 1999.
  5. ^ "Kronos Quartet Welcomes New Cellist, Sunny Jungin Yang" (Press release). Kronosquartet.org. February 28, 2013. Archived from the original on July 15, 2019. Retrieved June 30, 2013.
  6. ^ ""Kronos Quartet names Paul Wiancko as new cellist"". The Strad. September 29, 2022.
  7. ^ Kosman, Joshua. "Exclusive: Two longtime members of Kronos Quartet plan a joint retirement". Datebook. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved April 19, 2024.
  8. ^ McCalla, James (2003). Twentieth-century Chamber Music: Routledge Studies in Musical Genres. Routledge. p. 259. ISBN 978-0-415-96695-5.
  9. ^ Bruce Ellis, Benson (2003). The improvisation of musical dialogue: a phenomenology of music. Cambridge University Press. p. 189. ISBN 978-0-521-00932-4.
  10. ^ Richardson, Derk (January 1999). "Portrait of a Quartet: The Kronos reaps the rewards of 25 years of not fitting the mold". Strings. 13 (5). String Letter Publishing: 49–57.
  11. ^ Cahill, Greg (January 2003). "Kronos@30". Strings. 17 (5). String Letter Publishing: 14.
  12. ^ Sisario, Ben (August 19, 2003). "Arts Briefing". The New York Times. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
  13. ^ Martini, Tiffany (June–July 2006). "Sonic Youth: Kronos Quartet gears up for new round of composition contest". Strings. 21 (1). String Letter Publishing: 18.
  14. ^ "Aviya Kopelman Commissioned Through Kronos: Under 30 Project". MusicalAmerica. March 15, 2007.
  15. ^ "Film Music Friday: Michael Giacchino on Star Trek: Into Darkness". Retrieved October 1, 2017.
  16. ^ "Kronos Quartet's fifth member operates with care and savvy behind the scenes".
  17. ^ "Kronos' David Harrington: 'There Is No Such Thing As Easy Music'". Thought Catalog. April 5, 2016. Retrieved August 7, 2017.
  18. ^ Vivian Schweitzer (February 25, 2008). "Music Review: Kronos Quartet – Premieres Range in Palette From Balkans to Argentina". The New York Times.
  19. ^ Adam Greenberg (February 2001). "Five Tango Sensations-Kronos Quartet Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards All Music". All Music Guide.
  20. ^ Silberman, Daryl (October 2007). "First Edition: Kronos finally publishes its highly coveted string-quartet arrangements". Strings. 22 (3). String Letter Publishing: 90.
  21. ^ Yaple, Carol. "Four Hundred Candles: The Creation of a Repertoire". Kronos Quartet. Archived from the original on July 12, 2007. Retrieved March 30, 2010.
  22. ^ Kettle, David (December 2005). "Kronos Quartet/Asha Boshle (singer)". The Strad. 116 (1388): 86.
  23. ^ "Contact Kronos and Frequently Asked Questions". Kronos Quartet. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
  24. ^ Mattison, Ben (December 13, 2002). "Kronos Quartet Named Musical America's Musicians of the Year for 2003". Andante. Retrieved January 12, 2009.
  25. ^ "Kronos Quartet / Polar Music Prize". May 3, 2011. Retrieved February 10, 2019.
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