#3492: 40 Years (and more) of Kronos Quartet

Founding violinist of Kronos Quartet, David Harrington, joins John Schaefer to take a retrospective look at 40 years of musical adventure. Harrington recounts stories, including their very first commission (paid to the composer in coffee and donuts), meeting John Zorn at a New York City noodle restaurant, convincing Steve Reich to write for string quartet, and first meeting their frequent composer-collaborator, “Father of Minimalism” Terry Riley.

Plus, how Kronos picks relatively unknown composers from Vietnam, Uzbekistan, or Serbia for commissions and looks ahead to the next 40 years, working with young groups like Face the Music.  Listen to music from George Crumb, Terry Riley, John Zorn, Vietnamese composer Van-Anh Vanessa Vo, Serbian Aleksandra Vrebalov, Steve Reich, Ken Benshoof, and more.

PROGRAM # 3492, Kronos Quartet at 40, with David Harrington (First aired on 7/25/2013)