Caravan

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Release Date
DescriptionExcerpt

Kronos traces the flow of music from Northeastern Europe to the Mediterranean to Asia and back, using contemporary work to illustrate ancient traditions. Billboard declares, “Kronos Quartet continues to amaze with its conceptual acuity and cultural breadth.”

Description

Much of the color and variety that has infused the long career of Kronos Quartet is the result of collaborations with composers from more than 50 countries. Unquestionably the most globally minded ensemble of its kind, the Quartet is familiar with an astonishing number of musical traditions and master players. These explorations have resulted in some of their most striking projects, particularly Pieces of Africa, which achieved the unprecedented distinction of being # 1 on the World and Classical charts simultaneously.

Kronos Caravan is inspired by that part of the world once known as “Pannonia”—the territory that connects northeastern Europe with the Mediterranean and the Orient. This crossroads of peoples and cultures is the starting point for a collection of arrangements and compositions that includes Portuguese fados; an Indian film theme; a Romanian Gypsy theme, featuring Taraf de Haïdouks; tunes from Iran, Hungary, and the Arab world; and a ritual elegy by composer Terry Riley. Also included is a version of the Lebanese-derived Misirlou Twist by Richard Monsour (better known as Dick Dale) and a Mexican piece written originally for Café Tacuba.

The natural energy and verve that Kronos brings to this material is enhanced by an assortment of superior instrumentalists including Zakir Hussain, Ali Jihad Racy, Kayhan Kalhor, and others.

One unifying force that serves to bring some of these seemingly disparate musical elements together is the work of Argentinean composer Osvaldo Golijov, who arranged much of the material on this album. Golijov, whom the New York Times describes as “a musical alchemist (who) conjures up new worlds,” has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Kronos, highlighted by recordings of two of his works for Nonesuch: K’vakarat (1994) for Night Prayers, and The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind (1995), released as a single in 1997.

Golijov’s search for a meaningful integration of widely different musical sources has lead to work with a diverse group of performers. In commenting on Golijov’s involvement with Kronos Caravan, David Harrington said, “Osvaldo Golijov has the remarkable ability to bring musicians together through his work. We needed a voice—a compositional voice—that provided coherence. I think he is the perfect collaborator in an idea like this because he instinctively understands the relationship between Terry Riley’s piece and Misirlou Twist. He is Kronos’s Gil Evans.”

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Judith Sherman
Recorded March–September 1999 at Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, Calif.
Engineer: Craig Silvey
Assistant engineer: Bob Levy
Editing assistance: Jeanne Velonis, Tom Luekins
Mastered by Judith Sherman and the Kronos Quartet at SoundByte Productions, New York City
Turceasca:
Recorded May 1999 at Saarländischer Rundfunk, Funkhaus Halberg, Großer Sendesaal, Saarbrücken, Germany
Engineers: Rolf Schnellback, Saarländischer Rundfunk, and Kees de Visser, Galaxy Classics, Mol, Belgium
La Muerte Chiquita:
Produced by Gustavo Santaolalla
Session co-producer: Judith Sherman
Associate producer: Aníbal Kerpel
Engineer: Craig Silvey
Cortejo Fúnebre en el Monte Diablo:
Backing track made by Terry Riley from playback samples created on an Ensoniq TS12. The sequencing engine used was Emagics Logic
Tracks 2-6, 8, 9, and 12 arranged by Osvaldo Golijov

Art Direction and Design by Frank Olinsky
Cover: Tapestry by Alighiero E. Boetti and Mimmo Paladino, courtesy of Archivio Alighiero Boetti and Mimmo Paladino. Photographed by Mimmo Capone, courtesy of Galleria d’arte contemporanea Emilio Mazzoli.

Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

Nonesuch Selection Number

79490

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
ns_album_artistid
67
ns_album_id
196
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Artist Name
Kronos Quartet
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Kronos Quartet:
David Harrington, violin
John Sherba, violin
Hank Dutt, viola
Jennifer Culp, cello

Zakir Hussain, tabla (3)
Taraf de Haïdouks (5): Anghel “Caliu” Gheorghe, Constantin “Costică” Lautaru, violin; Ionel “Ioniţă” Manole, Marin “Marius” Manole, accordion; Ion “Ionică” Tanase, cymbalum; Viorel Vlad, double bass
Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh (10)
Ziya Tabassian, tombak (10)
Ali Jihad Racy, nay (11)
Souhail Kaspar, tar (11)
Martyn Jones, drums (12)

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597949063
  • 79490

News & Reviews

  • Following Kronos Quartet’s historic 50th-anniversary season, longtime members John Sherba (violin) and Hank Dutt (viola) will retire from the ensemble at the end of June. Dutt joined Kronos in 1977; he and founder David Harrington (violin) recruited Sherba to join the group in 1978. Between now and the end of June, Sherba and Dutt will perform more than 20 shows with Harrington and cellist Paul Wiancko, who joined the quartet in 2023, culminating at the ninth annual Kronos Festival at the SFJAZZ Center. Kronos will enter its sixth decade with two new members: violinist Gabriela Díaz and violist Ayane Kozasa will join Harrington and Wiancko.

  • As part of Kronos: Five Decades, the year-long celebration of Kronos Quartet’s 50th anniversary, the group is publishing five decade-spanning playlists curated by its founder and violinist David Harrington. The fifth and final playlist, featuring music Kronos performed in its fifth decade, 2013–2022, is out now. It includes music from their album A Thousand Thoughts; Folk Songs, with vocals by Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, Natalie Merchant, and Rhiannon Giddens; their Grammy-winning collaboration with Laurie Anderson, Landfall; and Terry Riley's Sun Rings. You can hear it here.

Buy Now

  • About This Album

    Much of the color and variety that has infused the long career of Kronos Quartet is the result of collaborations with composers from more than 50 countries. Unquestionably the most globally minded ensemble of its kind, the Quartet is familiar with an astonishing number of musical traditions and master players. These explorations have resulted in some of their most striking projects, particularly Pieces of Africa, which achieved the unprecedented distinction of being # 1 on the World and Classical charts simultaneously.

    Kronos Caravan is inspired by that part of the world once known as “Pannonia”—the territory that connects northeastern Europe with the Mediterranean and the Orient. This crossroads of peoples and cultures is the starting point for a collection of arrangements and compositions that includes Portuguese fados; an Indian film theme; a Romanian Gypsy theme, featuring Taraf de Haïdouks; tunes from Iran, Hungary, and the Arab world; and a ritual elegy by composer Terry Riley. Also included is a version of the Lebanese-derived Misirlou Twist by Richard Monsour (better known as Dick Dale) and a Mexican piece written originally for Café Tacuba.

    The natural energy and verve that Kronos brings to this material is enhanced by an assortment of superior instrumentalists including Zakir Hussain, Ali Jihad Racy, Kayhan Kalhor, and others.

    One unifying force that serves to bring some of these seemingly disparate musical elements together is the work of Argentinean composer Osvaldo Golijov, who arranged much of the material on this album. Golijov, whom the New York Times describes as “a musical alchemist (who) conjures up new worlds,” has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with Kronos, highlighted by recordings of two of his works for Nonesuch: K’vakarat (1994) for Night Prayers, and The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind (1995), released as a single in 1997.

    Golijov’s search for a meaningful integration of widely different musical sources has lead to work with a diverse group of performers. In commenting on Golijov’s involvement with Kronos Caravan, David Harrington said, “Osvaldo Golijov has the remarkable ability to bring musicians together through his work. We needed a voice—a compositional voice—that provided coherence. I think he is the perfect collaborator in an idea like this because he instinctively understands the relationship between Terry Riley’s piece and Misirlou Twist. He is Kronos’s Gil Evans.”

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Kronos Quartet:
    David Harrington, violin
    John Sherba, violin
    Hank Dutt, viola
    Jennifer Culp, cello

    Zakir Hussain, tabla (3)
    Taraf de Haïdouks (5): Anghel “Caliu” Gheorghe, Constantin “Costică” Lautaru, violin; Ionel “Ioniţă” Manole, Marin “Marius” Manole, accordion; Ion “Ionică” Tanase, cymbalum; Viorel Vlad, double bass
    Kayhan Kalhor, kamancheh (10)
    Ziya Tabassian, tombak (10)
    Ali Jihad Racy, nay (11)
    Souhail Kaspar, tar (11)
    Martyn Jones, drums (12)

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by Judith Sherman
    Recorded March–September 1999 at Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, Calif.
    Engineer: Craig Silvey
    Assistant engineer: Bob Levy
    Editing assistance: Jeanne Velonis, Tom Luekins
    Mastered by Judith Sherman and the Kronos Quartet at SoundByte Productions, New York City
    Turceasca:
    Recorded May 1999 at Saarländischer Rundfunk, Funkhaus Halberg, Großer Sendesaal, Saarbrücken, Germany
    Engineers: Rolf Schnellback, Saarländischer Rundfunk, and Kees de Visser, Galaxy Classics, Mol, Belgium
    La Muerte Chiquita:
    Produced by Gustavo Santaolalla
    Session co-producer: Judith Sherman
    Associate producer: Aníbal Kerpel
    Engineer: Craig Silvey
    Cortejo Fúnebre en el Monte Diablo:
    Backing track made by Terry Riley from playback samples created on an Ensoniq TS12. The sequencing engine used was Emagics Logic
    Tracks 2-6, 8, 9, and 12 arranged by Osvaldo Golijov

    Art Direction and Design by Frank Olinsky
    Cover: Tapestry by Alighiero E. Boetti and Mimmo Paladino, courtesy of Archivio Alighiero Boetti and Mimmo Paladino. Photographed by Mimmo Capone, courtesy of Galleria d’arte contemporanea Emilio Mazzoli.

    Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

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