The Cusp of Magic

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Kronos’s career-long collaboration with minimalist pioneer Terry Riley continues with this work, written for the Quartet and pipa virtuoso Wu Man. The piece, "with its lullabies and entrancing Chinese songs and sweet disposition, brims with joy," writes the Los Angeles Times. Exclusive Nonesuch Store bonus download with CD: “Tusen Tankar,” a traditional Scandinavian folk song.

Description

The Cusp of Magic, with its lullabies and entrancing Chinese songs and sweet disposition, brims with joy.” —Los Angeles Times

Nonesuch Records releases the latest Kronos Quartet album, comprising the debut recording of Terry Riley’s six-movement piece, The Cusp of Magic. Commissioned by Kronos on the occasion of their longtime friend and collaborator Riley’s 70th birthday, the piece features the Quartet joined by Wu Man on pipa (a Chinese plucked string instrument, similar to a lute) and vocals, with all musicians also playing a variety of percussion instruments, toys, and noisemakers. The Quartet premiered The Cusp of Magic in 2005, and the piece was performed at Carnegie Hall as part of Kronos’ 2006 Live Mix series.

Kronos Artistic Director and Violinist David Harrington says, “No composer has been as much a part of Kronos as Terry Riley. We first met at Mills College in 1978, and he has written 23 works for us so far. We knew Terry was turning 70 in 2005, and it seemed like a perfect time to commission another new piece from him. I was sure he would spend the time and take the care needed to bring his knowledge of the pipa up to the point where he could write an amazing work, and over a period of more than a year, he learned about the instrument from Wu Man.

“One day I was talking with him and he said he wanted this piece to be ‘magical.’ My granddaughter Emily was an infant at the time. We had little toys and noisemakers around the house, which we would play as I carried her around. Of all the experiences I’ve had, that is the most magical. ‘Why don’t you just come over, and we’ll play some of Emily’s toys?’ I said. So he brought over his computer and recording equipment, and we played all of her toys while she was taking a nap.”

Riley adds, “In this work, the different timbre and resonance of the Chinese pipa and the Western string quartet highlight the crossover regions of cultural reference, so that the Western musical themes might be projected with an Eastern accent and vice-versa.  My plan was to make these regions seamless so that the listener is carried between worlds without an awareness of how he/she ends up there.”

Previous recordings of Terry Riley’s work on Nonesuch include Salome Dances for Peace (Kronos, 1989), Cadenza on the Night Plain and G Song on 25 Years (Kronos, 1998), and Requiem for Adam (Kronos, 2001).

Kronos dedicates this recording of The Cusp of Magic to the memory of Hamza El Din, who was introduced to them by Terry Riley. Hamza’s gentle, pioneering work connected music and musicians in countless ways.

ProductionCredits

PRODUCTION CREDITS
Produced by Judith Sherman
Recorded August 7-12, 2006, at Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, CA
Engineered by Scott Fraser
Assistant engineer: Dann Thompson
For track 5: Elisabeth Commanday vocals recorded August 8, 2007, at The Plant, Sausalito, CA; Engineered by Scott Fraser
Electronic music compiled and mixed by David Dvorin
Mixed by Judith Sherman and David Harrington
Editing and mixing assistant: Jeanne Velonis
Mastered by Robert Ludwig, Gateway Mastering & DVD, Portland, ME
Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

Art direction and design by Frank Olinsky
Cover: Yellow Road (detail), by Dean Chamberlain

Published by Ancient Word Music (BMI)

Terry Riley's The Cusp of Magic was written and commissioned for the Kronos Quartet and Wu Man as part of a national series of works from Meet the Composer Commissioning Music/USA, made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Helen F. Whitaker Fund, and the Target Foundation.  Major support was generously provided by The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, with additional funds from The Margaret E. Lyon Trust.

Nonesuch Selection Number

360508

Number of Discs in Set
1disc
ns_album_artistid
67
ns_album_id
701
ns_album_releasedate
ns_genre_1
0
ns_genre_2
0
Album Status
Artist Name
Terry Riley
Kronos Quartet
MusicianDetails

MUSICIANS
Kronos Quartet:
David Harrington, violin
John Sherba, violin
Hank Dutt, viola
Jeffrey Zeigler, cello

Wu Man, pipa

With
Elisabeth Commanday, vocals (5)

Cover Art
UPC/Price
Label
CD+MP3
UPC
075597995985BUN
Label
MP3
Price
9.00
UPC
075597979824
  • 360508

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

    The Cusp of Magic, with its lullabies and entrancing Chinese songs and sweet disposition, brims with joy.” —Los Angeles Times

    Nonesuch Records releases the latest Kronos Quartet album, comprising the debut recording of Terry Riley’s six-movement piece, The Cusp of Magic. Commissioned by Kronos on the occasion of their longtime friend and collaborator Riley’s 70th birthday, the piece features the Quartet joined by Wu Man on pipa (a Chinese plucked string instrument, similar to a lute) and vocals, with all musicians also playing a variety of percussion instruments, toys, and noisemakers. The Quartet premiered The Cusp of Magic in 2005, and the piece was performed at Carnegie Hall as part of Kronos’ 2006 Live Mix series.

    Kronos Artistic Director and Violinist David Harrington says, “No composer has been as much a part of Kronos as Terry Riley. We first met at Mills College in 1978, and he has written 23 works for us so far. We knew Terry was turning 70 in 2005, and it seemed like a perfect time to commission another new piece from him. I was sure he would spend the time and take the care needed to bring his knowledge of the pipa up to the point where he could write an amazing work, and over a period of more than a year, he learned about the instrument from Wu Man.

    “One day I was talking with him and he said he wanted this piece to be ‘magical.’ My granddaughter Emily was an infant at the time. We had little toys and noisemakers around the house, which we would play as I carried her around. Of all the experiences I’ve had, that is the most magical. ‘Why don’t you just come over, and we’ll play some of Emily’s toys?’ I said. So he brought over his computer and recording equipment, and we played all of her toys while she was taking a nap.”

    Riley adds, “In this work, the different timbre and resonance of the Chinese pipa and the Western string quartet highlight the crossover regions of cultural reference, so that the Western musical themes might be projected with an Eastern accent and vice-versa.  My plan was to make these regions seamless so that the listener is carried between worlds without an awareness of how he/she ends up there.”

    Previous recordings of Terry Riley’s work on Nonesuch include Salome Dances for Peace (Kronos, 1989), Cadenza on the Night Plain and G Song on 25 Years (Kronos, 1998), and Requiem for Adam (Kronos, 2001).

    Kronos dedicates this recording of The Cusp of Magic to the memory of Hamza El Din, who was introduced to them by Terry Riley. Hamza’s gentle, pioneering work connected music and musicians in countless ways.

    Credits

    MUSICIANS
    Kronos Quartet:
    David Harrington, violin
    John Sherba, violin
    Hank Dutt, viola
    Jeffrey Zeigler, cello

    Wu Man, pipa

    With
    Elisabeth Commanday, vocals (5)

    PRODUCTION CREDITS
    Produced by Judith Sherman
    Recorded August 7-12, 2006, at Skywalker Sound, Nicasio, CA
    Engineered by Scott Fraser
    Assistant engineer: Dann Thompson
    For track 5: Elisabeth Commanday vocals recorded August 8, 2007, at The Plant, Sausalito, CA; Engineered by Scott Fraser
    Electronic music compiled and mixed by David Dvorin
    Mixed by Judith Sherman and David Harrington
    Editing and mixing assistant: Jeanne Velonis
    Mastered by Robert Ludwig, Gateway Mastering & DVD, Portland, ME
    Executive Producer: Robert Hurwitz

    Art direction and design by Frank Olinsky
    Cover: Yellow Road (detail), by Dean Chamberlain

    Published by Ancient Word Music (BMI)

    Terry Riley's The Cusp of Magic was written and commissioned for the Kronos Quartet and Wu Man as part of a national series of works from Meet the Composer Commissioning Music/USA, made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, The Helen F. Whitaker Fund, and the Target Foundation.  Major support was generously provided by The Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation, with additional funds from The Margaret E. Lyon Trust.

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