Kronos Quartet

Composers

Biography

Active: 1973 - ; United States
The Kronos Quartet has for years cultivated a chimeric image: is it a highbrow ensemble with pop leanings, or a crossover group with classical expertise? Yet whatever its methods and motivations may be, the Kronos Quartet has blurred musical categories for decades and attracted interest from audiences who might never have otherwise encountered a string quartet. Respected for its charisma and innovation, Kronos was founded at Mills College in 1973 Read more by violinist David Harrington. By the end of the 1970s, violinist John Sherba, violist Hank Dutt, and cellist Joan Jeanrenaud rounded out the group's original personnel. Since then, Kronos has aggressively commissioned new music, including over 450 of its repertory of 600 pieces. This unprecedented zeal for commissioning has been credited with reviving and revitalizing the otherwise stagnating medium of the string quartet.

The ensemble made a strong impression with guest appearances on recordings by Warren Benson, Dane Rudhyar, and David Grisman before cutting its own debut on the Sounds Wonderful label in 1982. Since then, Kronos has recorded over 30 albums for Nonesuch, receiving six Grammy nominations and one award for Best New Composition, (Different Trains by Steve Reich). Kronos specializes in performing modern and contemporary music, music by jazz pioneers Ornette Coleman and John Zorn, and artists as varied as Jimi Hendrix, Anton Webern, and Béla Bartók. The group has devoted entire albums to such diverse figures as Thelonious Monk (Monk Suite, 1985), Bill Evans (Music of Bill Evans, 1986), Alfred Schnittke (The Complete String Quartets, 1998), and Philip Glass (on several discs, including Dracula, 1999). For its recording of Black Angels (1990), the quartet provided spirited, effective accompaniment to a scratchy, decades-old recording of American iconoclast composer Charles Ives singing one of his own songs.

Kronos has been profiled on the television show CBS Sunday Morning, has produced its own syndicated radio program that combined interview and performance segments, and has been consistently nominated for Grammy awards.

In 1999 Jeanrenaud began a sabbatical leave, and before it was over she had resigned, no longer wishing to maintain Kronos' active travel, performance, and rehearsal schedule. Jeanrenaud was replaced by Jennifer Culp, who remained with the quartet until 2005, after which Jeffrey Zeigler joined as Kronos' cellist. Read less
Browse 1-25 of 59 Available Recordings
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  • 1.
    Shore: A Palace upon the Ruins & Selected Works / Shore, Wicki, Lang, Kronos Quartet, Et al.
    Shore: A Palace upon the Ruins & Selected Works / Shore, Wicki, Lang, Kronos Quartet, Et al.
    Label: Howe   Catalog: 1020 Release Date: 11/04/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Howard Shore
    Performer:  Jennifer Johnson Cano,  Benjamin Hutto,  Clara Sanabras,  Lang Lang
    Conductor:  Judith Clurman,  Ludwig Wicki,  Howard Shore
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival,  Essential Voices USA Youth Workshop,  21st Century Chamber Choir  ... 
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  • 2.
    Philip Glass: The Complete Sony Recordings
    Philip Glass: The Complete Sony Recordings
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 533761 Release Date: 10/28/2016   Number of Discs: 24
    Composer:  Philip Glass
    Performer:  Michael Riesman,  Jack Kripl,  Paul Zukofsky,  Sheryl Woods  ... 
    Conductor:  Michael Riesman,  Christopher Keene,  Dennis Russell Davies,  Robert Shaw  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Philip Glass Ensemble,  New York City Opera Orchestra,  New York City Opera Chorus  ... 
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  • 3.
    Gudmundsen-Holmgreen: Green Ground / Hillier, Kronos Quartet, Theatre of Voices
    Gudmundsen-Holmgreen: Green Ground / Hillier, Kronos Quartet, Theatre of Voices
    Label: Dacapo   Catalog: 8226153 Release Date: 10/14/2016   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgree
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet,  Theatre of Voices
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  • 4.
    Vrebalov: The Sea Ranch Songs / Kronos Quartet
    Vrebalov: The Sea Ranch Songs / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Cantaloupe   Catalog: 21122 Release Date: 09/30/2016   Number of Discs: 2
    Composer:  Aleksandra Vrebalov
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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  • 5.
    Darmstadt Aural Documents, Box 3: Ensembles
    Darmstadt Aural Documents, Box 3: Ensembles
    Label: Neos   Catalog: 11230 Release Date: 04/15/2016   Number of Discs: 7
    Composer:  Hanns Jelinek,  Herbert Brun,  Franco Evangelisti,  Iannis Xenakis  ... 
    Performer:  Roger Heaton,  Fernando Grillo,  Akemi Karaki,  Martine Joste  ... 
    Conductor:  Bruno Maderna,  Pierre Boulez,  Gregg Smith,  Robert HP Platz  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Végh String Quartet,  LaSalle String Quartet,  Parrenin String Quartet  ... 
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  • 6.
    Henryk Gorecki: A Nonesuch Retrospective
    Henryk Gorecki: A Nonesuch Retrospective
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 550588 Release Date: 01/22/2016   Number of Discs: 7
    Composer:  Henryk Mikolaj Górecki
    Performer:  Christopher Van Kampen,  Michael Collins,  John Constable,  Dawn Upshaw  ... 
    Conductor:  Andrey Boreyko,  David Zinman,  John Nelson,  Lucy Ding  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  London Philharmonic Orchestra,  Kronos Quartet,  London Sinfonietta members  ... 
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  • 7.
    DJ Spooky: Rebirth of a Nation / Kronos Quartet
    DJ Spooky: Rebirth of a Nation / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Cantaloupe   Catalog: 21110 Release Date: 08/28/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  DJ Spooky
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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  • 8.
    One Earth One People One Love - Kronos Plays Terry Riley
    One Earth One People One Love - Kronos Plays Terry Riley
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 548925 Release Date: 06/23/2015   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Terry Riley
    Performer:  Wu Man,  John Sherba,  Hank Dutt,  Jennifer Culp  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
    CD: $49.99
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  • 9.
    Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector / Kronos Quartet
    Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 549523 Release Date: 06/23/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Terry Riley
    Performer:  David Harrington,  John Sherba,  Joan Jeanrenaud,  Hank Dutt
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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  • 10.
    Derek Charke: Tundra Songs
    Derek Charke: Tundra Songs
    Label: Centrediscs   Catalog: 21015 Release Date: 03/10/2015   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Derek Charke
    Performer:  Derek Charke,  Tanya Tagaq
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
    CD: $17.99
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  • 11.
    Parry: Music For Heart & Breath
    Parry: Music For Heart & Breath
    Label: Deutsche Grammophon   Catalog: 002105802 Release Date: 07/15/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Richard Reed Parry
    Performer:  Nico Muhly,  Brian Snow,  Arthur Sato,  Caroline Shaw  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Ymusic,  Kronos Quartet
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  • 12.
    Red Hot + Bach
    Red Hot + Bach
    Label: Sony   Catalog: 302933 Release Date: 06/17/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Rob Moose and Chris Thile,  Dustin O'Halloran,  Mia Doi Todd,  Shara Worden  ... 
    Performer:  Chris Thile
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
    CD: $14.99
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  • 13.
    A Thousand Thoughts / Kronos Quartet
    A Thousand Thoughts / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 536952 Release Date: 04/08/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Traditional,  Blind Willie Johnson,  Omar Souleyman,  Getatchew Mekurya  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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  • 14.
    Explorer Series: Kronos Quartet
    Explorer Series: Kronos Quartet
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 536951 Release Date: 04/08/2014   Number of Discs: 5
    Composer:  Dumisani Maraire,  Hassan Hakmoun,  Foday Musa Suso,  Lawrence JKS Tamusuza  ... 
    Performer:  Dumisani Maraire,  Joan Jeanrenaud,  Hank Dutt,  John Sherba  ... 
    Conductor:  Terrence Kelly
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet,  Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir,  Tuvan Singers  ... 
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    CD: $45.99
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  • 15.
    Kotche: Adventureland / Kronos Quartet, Eighth Blackbird
    Kotche: Adventureland / Kronos Quartet, Eighth Blackbird
    Label: Cantaloupe   Catalog: 21098 Release Date: 03/25/2014   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Glenn Kotche
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet,  Eighth Blackbird
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  • 16.
    Aheym / Kronos Quartet
    Aheym / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Anti   Catalog: 87296 Release Date: 11/05/2013   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Bryce Dessner
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet,  Brooklyn Youth Chorus
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  • 17.
    Music Of Vladimir Martynov / Kronos Quartet
    Music Of Vladimir Martynov / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 529776 Release Date: 01/10/2012   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Vladimir Martynov
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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  • 18.
    Uniko / Pohjonen, Kosminen, Kronos Quartet
    Uniko / Pohjonen, Kosminen, Kronos Quartet
    Label: C Major   Catalog: 707108 Release Date: 09/27/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Kimmo Pohjonen
    Performer:  Kimmo Pohjonen,  Samuli Kosminen
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
    DVD: $24.99
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  • 19.
    Steve Reich: WTC 9/11 / Kronos Quartet
    Steve Reich: WTC 9/11 / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 528236 Release Date: 09/20/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Steve Reich
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet,  So Percussion,  Steve Reich and Musicians
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  • 20.
    John Anthony Lennon, Sheila Silver: String Quartets
    Label: Composers Recordings, Inc. (Cri)   Catalog: 520 Release Date: 07/01/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  John Anthony Lennon,  Sheila Silver
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet,  Atlantic String Quartet
    CD: $13.99
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  • 21.
    Music Of Warren Benson
    Label: Composers Recordings, Inc. (Cri)   Catalog: 433 Release Date: 03/01/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Warren Benson
    Performer:  Frederick Hemke
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet,  Chester String Quartet,  Eastman Quartet
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  • 22.
    Uniko / Samuli Kosminen, Kimmo Pohjonen, Kronos Quartet
    Uniko / Samuli Kosminen, Kimmo Pohjonen, Kronos Quartet
    Label: Ondine   Catalog: 1185-2 Release Date: 02/22/2011   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Kimmo Pohjonen
    Performer:  Kimmo Pohjonen,  Samuli Kosminen
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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  • 23.
    Floodplain / Kronos Quartet
    Floodplain / Kronos Quartet
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 518349 Release Date: 05/19/2009   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Traditional,  Anonymous,  Ram Narayan,  Said Rustamov  ... 
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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  • 24.
    Kronos Plays Holmgreen
    Kronos Plays Holmgreen
    Label: Dacapo   Catalog: 6220548 Release Date: 10/28/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgree
    Performer:  David Harrington,  Hank Dutt,  John Sherba,  Jeffrey Zeigler  ... 
    Conductor:  Thomas Dausgaard
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Danish National Symphony Orchestra,  Kronos Quartet
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  • 25.
    Riley: The Cusp Of Magic / Wu Man, Kronos Quartet
    Riley: The Cusp Of Magic / Wu Man, Kronos Quartet
    Label: Nonesuch   Catalog: 360508 Release Date: 02/05/2008   Number of Discs: 1
    Composer:  Terry Riley
    Performer:  Wu Man
    Orchestra/Ensemble:  Kronos Quartet
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