The Mindful Bard: A Thousand Thoughts

Wanda Waterman
The Voice, Volume 22 Issue 18 2014-05-02

Album: A Thousand Thoughts

Artist: Kronos Quartet

“We have a long way to go before we’re able to hear the voices of everyone on earth, but I believe that providing voices and building bridges is essential for the World Peace we all wish for.”
– Joichi Ito

From the beginning the Kronos Quartet adopted a mission to expand the musical consciousness of the world in all directions, pushing the boundaries of achievement, nationality, imagination, tradition, and form. Their repertoire is among the most diverse imaginable, and there seem to be no restrictions on what score they’ll pick up and play as long as it gets them all excited.

The Kronos Quartet is somehow singularly equipped for such a challenge. They don’t sound as if they’ve lead narrow, sheltered lives; this might be explained by their practice of touring around the world for five months out of every year. It may also have to do with the group’s long and fruitful career and their extremely sophisticated worldview. (Read the rest here.)