Kronos Quartet discography

The discography of the Kronos Quartet includes 43 studio albums, two compilations, five soundtracks, and 29 contributions to other artists' records. The Kronos Quartet plays classical, pop, rock, jazz, folk, world and contemporary classical music (often written especially for them by for instance Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Alexandra Vrebalov, ...) and was founded in 1973 by violinist David Harrington. Since 1978, they are based in San Francisco, California. Since 1985, the quartet's music has been released on Nonesuch Records.

Kronos Quartet discography
Kronos Quartet live in Warsaw, Poland. Photograph by Henryk Kotowski.
Studio albums44
Compilation albums2
Video albums3
Soundtrack albums5
Contributions29

Early recordings by the quartet contain contemporary classical music and adaptations of more popular music, such as jazz and rock and roll. Since the 1980s, and especially with the release of Cadenza on the Night Plain, written as a collaboration between composer Terry Riley and the quartet, much of the quartet's repertoire and album releases contain music written especially for them, by composers such as Terry Riley, Kevin Volans, Henryk Górecki, and Ástor Piazzolla. Their music "covers a who's who of 20th century-composers", as one critic noted in 1998.[1]

Kronos has recorded five soundtracks including the 1998 score by Philip Glass for the scoreless (except for Tchaikovsky title music) 1931 sound movie Dracula, and has contributed to the soundtracks of five other movies, including Heat and 21 Grams. Outside the genre of classical music, Kronos has collaborated with a great number of other artists, especially pop artists, such as Joan Armatrading, Dave Matthews Band, Andy Summers, Nelly Furtado, and Nine Inch Nails.

The quartet has achieved considerable commercial and critical success and by 1998 (the year of the quartet's 25th anniversary) had sold more than 1.5 million albums.[2] Many of Kronos' albums have ranked on various Billboard charts;[3] the 1992 album Pieces of Africa reached #1 in the Top World Albums chart.[4] The quartet won a Grammy for the 2003 album Lyric Suite.

Studio albums

YearAlbum detailsNotes
1979Music of Dane Rudhyar
  • Their first release; includes two string quartets, "Advent" and "Crisis and Overcoming"
1982In Formation
  • Released: 1982
  • Label: Reference (#9)
  • Format: LP; CD
  • "In imaging, transient accuracy and timbre, one of the finest string quartet discs ever issued."[5]
1985Monk Suite: Kronos Quartet Plays Music of Thelonious Monk
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Landmark (#1505)
  • Format: LP, CD, MP3
1985Terry Riley: Cadenza on the Night Plain
  • Released: 1985
  • Label: Gramavision R2 79444
  • Format: 2LP, CD
  • Collaboration between composer Terry Riley and the Quartet.[9] "Charming music that grows on one, in really committed performances."[10] Rereleased on CD (Gramavision #18-7014-2), August 1, 1992; rereleased on CD (Hanibal #1509), January 31, 2006.
1986Music of Bill Evans
  • Released: 1986
  • Label: Landmark (#1510), Savoy (#17405)
  • Format: LP, CD
1986Kronos Quartet
  • Released: August 15, 1986
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79111)
  • Format: LP, CD, MP3
1987White Man Sleeps
  • Released: July 15, 1987
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79163)
  • Format: LP, CD, MP3
1988Winter Was Hard
  • Released: September 30, 1988
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79181)
  • Format: LP, CD, MP3
1989Steve Reich: Different Trains/Electric Counterpoint
  • Released: March 3, 1989
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79176)
  • Format: LP, CD, MP3
  • Two Steve Reich compositions. Kronos Quartet play tracks 1–3 (Different Trains); Pat Metheny (guitar) plays tracks 4–6 (Electric Counterpoint). Different Trains written for the quartet.[18] Listed at #16 in the Los Angeles Times Classical Top 25 of 1989.[17] Reich won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Composition, with Kronos Quartet as performing artist.[19]
1989Kronos Quartet Plays Terry Riley: Salome Dances for Peace
  • Released: October 27, 1989
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79127)
  • Format: 2LP, 2CD, MP3
  • Collaboration between the composer and the quartet,[9] nominated for a Grammy.[20]
1990Black Angels
  • Released: June 29, 1990
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79242)
  • Format: LP, CD, MP3
1991Witold Lutosławski: String Quartet
  • Released: January 25, 1991
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79255)
  • Format: CD single, MP3
1991Kevin Volans: Hunting:Gathering
  • Released: January 27, 1991
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79253)
  • Format: CD single, MP3
1991Five Tango Sensations
  • Released: January 25, 1991
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79254)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1991Henryk Mikolaj Górecki: Already It Is Dusk/"Lerchenmusik"
  • Released: May 28, 1991
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79257)
  • Format: CD
  • Two compositions by Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Górecki. "Already It Is Dusk" (String Quartet No. 1, Op. 62, 1988) played by Kronos Quartet; "Lerchenmusik" (Recitatives & Ariosos, Op. 53, for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano, 1984) by the London Sinfonietta.
1991Music of Claude Ballif
  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Adda MFA 581283
  • Format: CD
  • Quatuor a cordes No. 3
1992Pieces of Africa
  • Released: February 21, 1992
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79275)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • Music written for the quartet by seven African composers.[7][27][28] Reached #1 in Billboard's "Top World Albums", and spent 29 weeks on the chart.[4]
1993Short Stories
  • Released: March 5, 1993
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79310)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1993Henryk Górecki: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2
  • Released: June 25, 1993
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79319)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1993At the Grave of Richard Wagner
  • Released: September 24, 1993
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79318)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1993Morton Feldman: Piano and String Quartet
  • Released: September 24, 1993
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79320)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1993Bob Ostertag: All the Rage
  • Released: October 22, 1993
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79332)
  • Format: CD single, MP3
1994Night Prayers
  • Released: September 2, 1994
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79346)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1995Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass
  • Released: February 3, 1995
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79356)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • "An ideal combination of composer and performers."[37] Reached #9 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums,"[38] and spent 12 weeks on the "Billboard Classical 50" chart.[39]
1996Howl, USA
  • Released: May 31, 1996
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79372)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1997Osvaldo Golijov: The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind
  • Released: March 14, 1997
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79444)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1997Tan Dun: Ghost Opera
  • Released: March 14, 1997
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79445)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1997Early Music (Lachrymæ Antiquæ)
  • Released: September 12, 1997
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79457)
  • Format: CD, MP3
1998Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets
  • Released: May 15, 1998
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79500)
  • Format: 2CD, MP3
  • "Kronos can play like demons."[44]
1998John Adams: John's Book of Alleged Dances
  • Released: April 21, 1998
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79465)
  • Format: CD, MP3
2000Caravan
  • Released: April 7, 2000
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79490)
  • Format: CD, MP3
2001Terry Riley: Requiem for Adam
  • Released: September 4, 2001
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79639)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • Written by Terry Riley in memory of Adam Harrington, David Harrington's son. Also includes "The Philosopher's Hand", piano improvisation by Riley.
2001Steve Reich: Triple Quartet
  • Released: October 16, 2001
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79546)
  • Format: CD, MP3
2002Nuevo
  • Released: April 9, 2002
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79649)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • Music by Mexican composers: "A full-throttled celebration of the multitextured sounds of Mexico."[47] Reached #8 in Billboard's "Top Classical Crossover Albums" and stayed on the chart for 14 weeks.[48]
2003Pēteris Vasks: String Quartet No. 4
  • Released: August 19, 2003
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79695)
  • Format: CD single, MP3
  • Written by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks for the quartet;[49][50][51] achieves "both feverish intensity and active rumination as the piece requires."[52]
2003Alban Berg: Lyric Suite
  • Released: August 19, 2003
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79696)
  • Format: CD single, MP3
2003Harry Partch: U.S. Highball
  • Released: August 19, 2003
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79697)
  • Format: CD single, MP3
2005Mugam Sayagi: Music of Franghiz Ali-Zadeh
  • Released: January 11, 2005
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79804)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • Four works by the Azerbaijani composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, three of which ("Oasis" (1998), "Apsheron Quintet" (2001), and "Mugam Sayagi" (1993)) commissioned by the Quartet. Fourth track is Ali-Zadeh's "Music for Piano", which is performed by the composer, who also plays piano on "Apsheron Quintet." Reached #14 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums."[55]
2005You've Stolen My Heart: Songs From R.D. Burman's Bollywood with Asha Bhosle
  • Released: August 23, 2005
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79856)
  • Format: CD, MP3
2007Henryk Górecki: String Quartet No. 3 ('...songs are sung')
  • Released: March 20, 2007
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79993)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • "Editor's Choice" for Strings magazine: "a solemn, spiritual, and revolutionary work."[60] Entered at #6 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums" on March 30, 2007.[61]
2007Kronos Quartet Plays Sigur Rós
  • Released: September 4, 2007
  • Label: Nonesuch (#307452)
  • Format: MP3
2008Terry Riley: The Cusp of Magic
  • Released: February 4, 2008
  • Label: Nonesuch (#360508)
  • Format: CD, MP3
*Written for the quartet, with Wu Man (pipa).[63] Reached #3 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums" and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks.[64]
2008Kronos plays Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen
  • Released: 2008
  • Label: Dacapo #6.220548
  • Format: CD
  • Concerto Grosso, for string quartet and symphonic ensemble
  • Moving Still, for baritone and string quartet
  • String Quartet No. 9, Last Ground, for string quartet and ocean
2009Floodplain
  • Released: May 19, 2009
  • Label: Nonesuch (#518349)
  • Format: CD, MP3
Music written or arranged for the quartet, "from cultures based in areas surrounded by water and prone to catastrophic flooding."[65] Includes long piece by Serbian composer Aleksandra Vrebalov.
2010Rainbow: Music of Central Asia Vol. 8
  • Released: 2010
  • Label: Smithsonian Folkways 40527
  • Format: CD, MP3
With Alim and Fargana Qasimov (tracks 2–6) and Homayun Sakhi (track 1)
2011Uniko
  • Released: February 1, 2011
  • Label: Ondine (ODE 1185-2)
  • Format: CD, MP3
Features Kronos Quartet, Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen (live electronics).[66] Seven-part suite for string quartet, accordion and live electronics composed by Pohjonen and Kosminen.
2012Music of Vladimir Martynov
  • Released: 2012
  • Label: Nonesuch #529776-2
  • Format: CD
  • The Beatitudes (1998; rescored for Kronos 2006)
  • Schubert-Quintet (Unfinished) (2009), with special guest, Joan Jeanrenaud
  • Der Abschied (2006)
2013Under 30 Project: 1–4
  • Released: April 24, 2013
  • Label: Digital only #KR 2013-01
Part of the Kronos' "Under 30 Project", presenting the first four commissions by: Alexandra du Bois (USA), Felipe Pérez Santiago (Mexico), Dan Visconti (USA), and Aviya Kopelman (Israel).
2013Aheym – Music by Bryce Dessner
  • Released: November 5, 2013
  • Label: Anti #87296-2
2015Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector: Music of Terry Riley
  • Released: June 23, 2015
  • Label: Nonesuch #549523
Originally released as part of the 2015 compilation "One Earth, One People, One Love: Kronos Plays Terry Riley".
2015Tundra Songs
  • Released: 2015
  • Label: Centrediscs
Music by Derek Charke. Featuring Tanya Tagaq and Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory.
2016Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen: Green Ground
  • Released: 2016
  • Label: Dacapo #8.226153
  • Format: CD

Includes:

  • New Ground (String Quartet No. 10 (2011))
  • No Ground (String Quartet No. 11 (2011))

(Also features Theatre of Voices)

2016Alexandra Vrebalov: the Sea Ranch Songs
  • Released: September 30, 2016
  • Label: Cantaloupe Music #CA21122
Video and animation by Andrew Lyndon, on bonus DVD.
2017Folk Songs
  • Released June 9, 2017
  • Label: Nonesuch #559151
Featuring Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, Rhiannon Giddens, and Natalie Merchant. Originally performed for Nonesuch Records 50th anniversary in 2014.
2017Ladilikan
  • Released 2017
  • Label: World Circuit #wcv093
With Trio Da Kali.
2018Landfall
  • Released 2018
  • Label: Nonesuch #564164
With Laurie Anderson.

Winner of the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance.

2018Clouded Yellow
  • Released 2018
  • Label: Cantaloupe Music #CA21140
Compositions by Michael Gordon
2019Sun Rings
  • Released 2019
  • Label: Nonesuch
Compositions by Terry Riley
2019Long Time Passing
  • Released 2020
  • Label: Smithsonian Folkways
Kronos Quartet and Friends Celebrate Pete Seeger
2022Mỹ Lai
  • Released 2022
  • Label: Smithsonian Folkways
composed by Jonathan Berger (music) and Harriet Scott Chessman (libretto) for Kronos Quartet
2023Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of MoondogCompositions by Moondog by Ghost Train Orchestra and Kronos Quartet
2024Outer Spaceways Incorporated[67]
  • Released June 21, 2024
  • Label: Red Hot Records
  • Compositions by Sun Ra

Compilation albums

YearAlbum detailsNotes
1995Released: 1985–1995
  • Released: October 20, 1995
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79394)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • 2-disc set.
1998Kronos Quartet: 25 Years
  • Released: October 16, 1998
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79504)
  • Format: CD, MP3
  • 10-CD box set retrospective.[7] Recorded "with virtuosity, vigor, and astonishing stylistic dexterity."[68]
2014Kronos Explorer Series
  • Released: April 8, 2014
  • Label: Nonesuch #536951
5-CD box of five previously released albums from five different parts of the world: Pieces of Africa, Night Prayers, Caravan, Nuevo, and Floodplain. Includes interview with David Harrington by author Jonathan Cott.
2014A Thousand Thoughts
  • Released: 2014
  • Label: Nonesuch #536952-2
Featuring Asha Bhosle, Zakir Hussain, Tony MacMahon, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Astor Piazzolla, Homayun Sakhi, Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ, Don Walser, Wu Man.
2015One Earth, One People, One Love: Kronos Plays Terry Riley
  • Released June 23, 2015
  • Label: Nonesuch #548925
5-CD box of four albums in honor of American composer Terry Riley's 80th birthday. Includes three albums previously released by Nonesuch and a new record, "Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector".

Video albums

YearVideo detailsNotes
2000In Accord
2002Kronos on Stage
  • Released: September 5, 2000
  • Label: Image Entertainment
  • Format: DVD
2007Polish Quartets (Kwartety polskie)
  • Released: 2007
  • Label: Polskie Wydawnictwo Audiowizualne
  • Format: DVD

Soundtracks

YearSoundtrack detailsNotes
1985Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters
1999Dracula
  • Released: August 27, 1999
  • Label: Nonesuch (#97542)
  • Format: CD, MP3
2000Requiem for a Dream
  • Released: September 29, 2000
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79611)
  • Format: CD, MP3
2006The Fountain
  • Released: November 27, 2006
  • Label: Nonesuch (#79901)
  • Format: CD, MP3
20092081
  • Released: forthcoming
  • Label: Nonesuch
  • Format: CD, MP3
2014Noah: Music from the Motion Picture
  • Soundtrack by Clint Mansell
2015Beyond Zero: 1914–1918
  • A film by Bill Morrison. Soundtrack by Aleksandra Vrebalov.

Contributions

YearAlbum detailsNotes
1984Dahl, Ivey, Kingman
  • Kronos plays Daniel Kingman: String Quartet No. 2, "Joyful"
1985John Anthony Lennon/Sheila Silver
  • John Anthony Lennon: Voices for string quartet (also a work by Sheila Silver)
1986Philip Glass, Songs from Liquid Days
  • Released: 1986
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Freezing" and "Forgetting." Vocals by Linda Ronstadt (both tracks), backing vocals by The Roches ("Forgetting").
1987John Zorn, Spillane
  • Released: 1987
  • Label: Elecktra/Nonesuch
  • Format: LP & CD
1990Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary
  • Released: 1990
  • Label: Elektra
  • Format: CD
1993Chance Operation: The John Cage Tribute
  • Released: 1993
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Tribute to John Cage; Kronos plays "Thirty Pieces for String Quartet Excerpt."
1995In C: 25th Anniversary Concert
  • Released: February 9, 1995
  • Label: New Albion NA 071
  • Format: CD
1995Joan Armatrading, What's Inside
  • Released: October 10, 1995
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays on "Shapes and Sizes."
1995Heat
  • Released: December 19, 1995
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
1996David Grisman Quintet, DGQ-20
  • Released: July 16, 1996
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays on "Mondo Mando."
1998Dave Matthews Band, Before These Crowded Streets
  • Released: April 28, 1998
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays on "Halloween" and "The Stone."
1999Jay Cloidt, Kole Kat Krush
  • Released: 1999
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays on "Kole Kat Krush."
1999Café Tacuba, Reves/Yosoy
  • Released: July 20, 1999
  • Label:
  • Format: 2CD
  • Kronos plays "M.C." on the "Reves" disc of the double album, a cover of "La Muerte Chiquita" from the "Yosoy" disc.
2000Andy Summers, Peggy's Blue Skylight
  • Released: September 26, 2000
  • Label:
  • Format: 2CD
2001Osvaldo Golijov,[70] The Man Who Cried
  • Released: May 22, 2001
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Close Your Eyes (instrumental)", "Ceasar's Song", "Without A Word", "Close Your Eyes (vocal)." Other tracks by Salvatore Licitra, Taraf de Haïdouks, and others.[71][72]
2001Ingram Marshall, Kingdom Come
  • Released: July 17, 2001
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Fog Tropes II for String Quartet and Tape", originally written for brass sextet and rearranged for Kronos Quartet.
2002Big Bad Love (soundtrack)
  • Released: February 19, 2002
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos Quartet plays "Spiritual" (with Tom Verlaine); "a once-in-a-lifetime teaming of guitarist Tom Verlaine with the Kronos Quartet."[73]
2003Wesla Whitfield, September Songs: The Music of Wilder, Weill and Warren
  • Released: May 13, 2003
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
2003Tiger Lillies, The Gorey End
  • Released: September 16, 2003
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos contribute to 9 of the 13 songs inspired by Edward Gorey.
2003Bird Up: The Charlie Parker Remix Project
  • Released: October 21, 2003
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
2003Nelly Furtado, Folklore
  • Released: November 25, 2003
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays on "One-Trick Pony."
2003The Company (soundtrack)
  • Released: December 9, 2003
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
2003Gustavo Santaolalla,[75] 21 Grams (soundtrack)
  • Released: December 9, 2003
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "When Our Wings Are Cut, Can We Still Fly."
2004Rokia Traoré, Bowmboï
  • Released: August 31, 2004
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Manian", "Bowmboï."
2006Dan Zanes, Catch that Train
  • Released: May 16, 2006
  • Label: Festival Five Records #009
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays on "Grey Goose."
2006Matmos, The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast
  • Released: May 9, 2006
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Solo Buttons for Joe Meek."
2007Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconciliation
  • Released: July 8, 2007
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays on "Way Down in the Hole", "God's Away on Business", "Lost In The Harbor", and "Diamond In Your Mind", four songs with Tom Waits (vocals) and Greg Cohen (bass). "Thanks to Waits' complex sense of the human condition, these are among Kronos' most powerful, satisfying performances. Highly recommended."[76]
2007Osvaldo Golijov, Oceana
  • Released: July 10, 2007
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Tenebrae 1", "Tenebrae 2." "This is Kronos far afield from pop flirtations, spiritually resplendent and leaving you wanting more at the same time."[77]
2007Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero Remixed
  • Released: December 20, 2007
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Another Version of the Truth" with Enrique Gonzalez Müller.
2008Philip Glass, Glass Box: A Nonesuch Retrospective
  • Released: September 30, 2008
  • Label: Nonesuch
  • Format: CD
  • 10-CD collection of the work of Philip Glass on Nonesuch.
2008Kronos Quartet, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Kronos plays Holmgreen
  • Released: October 28, 2008
  • Label:
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Concerto Grosso" with Danish National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Dausgaard.
2009Dark Was the Night
  • Released: February 16, 2009
  • Label: 4AD
  • Format: CD
2011Hazmat Modine, Cicada
  • Released: May 17, 2011
  • Label: Barbès Records
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Dead Crow".
2012Michael Hearst, Songs for Unusual Creatures
  • Released: May 8, 2012
  • Label: Urban Geek Records
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "Aye-aye", and "Weddell Seal".
2014The Great Beauty
  • Released: February 19, 2014
  • Label: Decca International
  • Format: CD
  • Kronos plays "The Beatitudes".
2016Darmstadt Aural Documents · Box 3 · Ensembles
  • Released: March 14, 2016
  • Label: Neos NEOS 11230
  • Format: CD
2017Michael Salvatori, Destiny 2 Original Soundtrack
  • Released: September 5, 2017
  • Label: Bungie Music Publishing
  • Format: Digital
  • Kronos plays "Lost Light", and "Journey".

References

General
Specific

Published music

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

Bibliography

External links