About this episode
Hear unusual music for string quartet on this program, as Australian composer Andrew Byrne, now based in New York, uses the string quartet as a percussion instrument in his work called “Striking.” Then, listen to Bang on a Can All-Star saxman, clarinetist and composer Ken Thomson’s work for the JACK Quartet, “THAW.” There’s also folk-informed music from the singer, songwriter and composer Aoife O Donovan as played by Brooklyn Rider. Hear string quartet music by multi-instrumentalist composer Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ, who plays a traditional Vietnamese string instrument on “Green River Delta,” in collaboration with Kronos Quartet. Plus, hear a work from Pulitzer Prize-winning composer John Luther Adams that uses the string quartet as an ambient music ensemble, relying upon harmonics and on tones played on open strings. That, and more. PROGRAM #3686 Music for String Quartet (First aired on 1/21/2015) ARTIST(S) RECORDING CUT(S) SOURCE Ken Thomson (JACK quartet) THAW Thaw, excerpt [1:41] Cantaloupe Records 21095 bangonacan.org Members of Either/Or Ensemble Striking; Whispers and Cries Andrew Byrne: Striking Parts 1 & 2 [7:32] Available for purchase directly through composer here: andrewbyrne.com JACK Quartet John Luther Adams: The Wind in High Places John Luther Adams: The Wind in High Places - Above Sunset Pass [7:24] Cold Blue Music CBM 41 coldbluemusic.com Ken Thomson (JACK quartet) THAW THAW: Thaw [10:55] Cantaloupe Music 21095 bangonacan.org Brooklyn Rider Almanac Aoife O'Donovan: Show Me [4:56] Mercury Classics / In A Circle Records #002159302 mercuryclassics.com Available at iTunes, Amazon.com, Emusic.com Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ with Kronos Quartet Three-Mountain Pass Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ: Green River Delta/Luu Thuy Truong [4:40] Innova 866 innova.mu Members of Either/Or Ensemble Striking; Whispers and Cries Andrew Byrne: Striking Parts 3 & 4 [8:30] Available for purchase directly through composer here: andrewbyrne.com