Anyone who has seen "Requiem for a Dream" knows Kronos Quartet. Kronos is the innovative group of performers behind the music in the movie. "Requiem for a Dream" is just the quartet's most well-known work. Kronos travels the world, playing in venues like the Sydney Opera House and performing works by Philip Glass and Jimi Hendrix, among others.
Kronos brings composer Terry Riley's "Sun Rings" to the Bass Concert Hall in an eveninglong presentation April 6. "Sun Rings" includes sounds from space collected by NASA, as well as a multimedia presentation of space images.
The quartet includes violinists David Harrington and John Sherba, Hank Dutt on the viola and Jennifer Culp on the cello.
Harrington explains that "Sun Rings" actually began with a call from NASA.
"NASA called and asked if Kronos would be interested in including sounds from Voyager expeditions in our concerts. My first questions was, 'Can I hear these sounds?'" Harrington said.
Sound in outer space is a new concept for many people. Harrington listened to the noises to see whether they could be the inspiration for music.
"It sounded like a part of nature," Harrington said. Kronos was then firmly involved in the project.
Kronos is not a stranger to cutting-edge ideas in the realm of music. Since Harrington started the group in 1973, Kronos quickly gained a reputation for commissioning new and exciting works. Harrington began the group because he wanted to play innovative music. He found inspiration in composer George Crumb.
"I happened to be listening to the radio, and I heard George Crumb's 'Black Angels.'" This controversial, Vietnam War-inspired piece gave Harrington the impetus he needed to form Kronos.
"It [hearing Crumb's work] was a pivotal moment for me. I knew that if I wanted to play music like that, I needed a group that was willing to put in the time to make these pieces come to life," Harrington said.
For their newest collaboration, "Sun Rings," to come to life, the group needed more than just space noise - so the group turned to minimalist composer Terry Riley.
"Terry Riley seemed like a natural fit with his exploration and style of music," Harrington said. "His intrigue with cosmology and the unknown seemed perfect for our vision for the piece."
When asked to describe "Sun Rings," Harrington explained, "The way I imagine 'Sun Rings' is much like a vast canvas. It invites the listener to experience a sense of wonder at the universe ... and it always makes me ponder on my place in that universe."
However, he is quick to note that the piece is not over-the-top.
"The piece could have been really bombastic in that whole idea of outer space, but it is not - it is a chance to reflect on things," he added.
The piece really is a reflection, not only for Kronos, but for Riley as well.
"Terry began 'Sun Rings' right before Sept. 11. After the tragedy, he took a step back for a while. Later, when he had some perspective, he started the piece over again."
Harrington feels that this explains why the piece relates to the healing process and provides the listener with a chance to reflect.
Looking at Kronos' concert schedule, it is hard to imagine that Harrington and the other group members can afford to take any time to reflect.
He explained that the group had just returned from a month-long stint in Australia. And while jetting across the globe, the four are constantly commissioning, learning and recording new music. Yet Harrington seems to appreciate his busy schedule, saying only, "There is a lot of music in the world to be played."
He claims that his personal life does not suffer from the hours he keeps.
"Each of us in the group is fueled by what we are able to do when we are home," he said.
Usually the group spends two to four weeks on the road, then they return home to their families for two weeks at a time.
"I feel like I have a lot of personal life. I am lucky to have a wonderful family," Harrington said.
Kronos will be back on the road for their return to UT.
"I have been told by family members and friends who have seen the show that 'Sun Rings' is this astonishing mix of music and visual elements," Harrington said.
The visuals should be stunning; U2's Willie Williams designed them.
Harrington notices that the outer space element of this show unites people from all different backgrounds and interests. The show is designed to bring people together to experience and discover their place, not only in the world, but also the universe.
"I think 'Sun Rings' also unites many different disciplines. Science and art really are closely related, and a piece like this just underlines the fact," Harrington said.
Harrington invites young audiences as well as older audiences to the show.
"I think our concerts are for people with a sense of wonder, and that pretty much includes everyone," he said. "It is always fun to experience something for the first time."
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