Kronos Quartet (McFarlin Auditorium SMU)
If you're planning on attending one high priced high brow concert this year (and the nosebleeds are only $14 anyway), this is probably the one to go to. Its impossible to give you much of an idea of what Kronos Quartet does since they've covered so much ground throughout their legendary career, but a short list of artists who have either 1) worked with the famous string quartet or 2) allowed them to interpret their work will give you an idea of the group's prestige: Ornette Coleman, Terry Riley, Philip Glass,John Zorn, Steve Reich (on his most famous work), Allen Ginsberg, Tom Waits, David Bowie, Thelonius Monk and Bjork. Now thats a hell of a list, isn't it? Playing everything from pre-Renaissance European music to jazz to Jimi Hendrix to traditional Mexican to a full interpretation of Television's Marquee Moon, Kronos has consistently pushed boundaries during their thirty plus years in existence, breathing life into the concept of a "string quartet" and remaining on the cutting edge in multimedia performance, jazz, minimalist composition and more. Tonight they'll be performing Terry Riley's Sun Rings, which will feature the quartet (two violins, a viola and a cello) along with the Turtle Creek Chorale and the Women's Chorus of Dallas. The piece is a lengthy, 10 movement composition commissioned by NASA that features sounds and images from space. I have no idea what this will sound like, but I'm looking forward to finding out. Here is what the psychedelic minimalist master Riley has to say about it:



"Space is surely the realm of dreams and imagination and a fertile feeding ground for poets and musicians. Ancient astrologers were aware of the significant influences of planetary movements on our lives. I feel these influences are somehow responsible for this amazing collaboration which has been so enthusiastically undertaken by all the participants responsible for its outcome. Do the stars welcome us into their realms? I think so or we would not have made it this far. Do they wish us to come in Peace? I am sure of it."



You can call Titas at 214-528-5576 for info and tickets, or you can just pick them up at the performance I'm sure.

yep

didn't they do music for requiem for a dream too? kronos quartet that is

10:49, they misspelled theloniOus. sorry i'll be more blunt next time. fucking loser.

Just don't waste your time actually *seeing* the Fountain.

Despite the fact that I love Pi and Requiem for a Dream

Yeah the lower balcony would be well worth the extra scrilla.

10:49 = Chode.

oh yeah, and the 2nd balcony at McFarlin auditorium SUCKS. i should've payed more to sit lower.

i went and it was gorgeous. kronos had a nice little Q&A after the show also and talked about their works with multiple artists across the scale, like darren aronofsky's film scores, working with japanese and mexican artists. really interesting stuff. if you haven't heard it yet, listen to 'the fountain' soundtrack with kronos and mogwai. it's f-ing great.

biggest thing missing from the it list tonight: the bellrays.

seriously. but the snob aside, this was a phenomenal show, and I regret that I was out on the field all day, because I wasn't able to post it in the comments for the three of yous that might've shown up had you known.

oh.my.god.

Great performsnce, wish I was a little closer, though. The choir was lovely.

no um i'd say just about everyone knows who thelonious monk is...

i don't know. if you don't know who thelonious monk is....uuuum c'mon. really? i don't think it's snobby to act shocked when someone has never heard of thelonious monk on an underground music blog such as this. i mean do you really expect someone to EXPLAIN who thelonious monk is. it seems like a joke. do we need to enlighten you about coltrane, davis, mingus, and parker too? i mean you just feel stupid explaining who these people are. not snobby. you should already know this shit. c'mon.

Not EVERYONE knows who Thelonius Monk is you fucking snob.

space is surely the realm of dreams and imagination. and anythings possible, in the world of magic...........

still...

i REALLY wish i could go to this. fuck! they did harry partch's US HIGHBALL. but i thought their version sucked. still kronos quartet is awesome.

I will regret NOT seeing this, that's what I meant.

who were weather report? damn but some sheeple are stupid. damn. and fuck as well. you can never have too much fuck.
who is thelonius monk? geez, i dunno, a monk?????????????

who is thelonius monk?

im ready to get one with the universe

do the stars welcome us into their realms?
not really. typically they will have a restraining order placed on you.
whoopededoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will regret seeing this, after I totally get into their back catalog.