Kronos Quartet

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[They] elevated a concert of music to a spiritual trip through our common humanity—it was universal.

—Globe and Mail

Kronos Quartet has broken the boundaries of what string quartets do.

—New York Times

For 45 years, San Francisco’s Kronos Quartet—David Harrington (violin), John Sherba (violin), Hank Dutt (viola), and Sunny Yang (cello)—has pursued a singular artistic vision, combining a spirit of fearless exploration with a commitment to continually reimagine the string quartet experience.

Kronos Quartet’s adventurous approach dates back to the ensemble’s origins. In 1973, David Harrington was inspired to form Kronos after hearing George Crumb’s Black Angels, a highly unorthodox, Vietnam War–inspired work featuring bowed water glasses, spoken word passages, and electronic effects. Kronos then began building a compellingly eclectic repertoire for string quartet, performing and recording works by twentieth-century masters, contemporary composers, jazz legends, rock artists, and artists who truly defy genre. Integral to the group’s work is a series of long-running, in-depth collaborations with many of the world’s foremost composers.

In addition to composers, Kronos counts numerous performers from around the world among its collaborators and has performed live with the likes of Paul McCartney, David Bowie, Patti Smith, Allen Ginsberg, Jarvis Cocker, Zakir Hussain, Modern Jazz Quartet, Noam Chomsky, Rokia Traoré, Tom Waits, and many others.

Program (subject to change)
Islam Chipsy (arr. Jacob Garchik): “Zaghlala (Blurred vision caused by strong light hitting the eyes)”
Traditional (arr. Jacob Garchik): “The House of the Rising Sun” (inspired by the Everly Brothers)
Abel Meeropol (arr. Jacob Garchik): “Strange Fruit”
George Gershwin (arr. Jacob Garchik): “Summertime” (inspired by Janis Joplin)
Stacy Garrop: Glorious Mahalia featuring the recorded voices of Mahalia Jackson and Studs Terkel

I. “Hold on”
II. “Stave in the ground”
III. “Are you being treated right”
IV. “Sometime I feel like a motherless child”
V. “This world will make you think”

John Coltrane (arr. Jacob Garchik): “Alabama”
Antonio Haskell (arr. Jacob Garchik): “God Shall Wipe All Tears Away” (inspired by Mahalia Jackson)
Zachary James Watkins: “Peace Be Till” featuring the recorded voice of Dr. Clarence B. Jones