David Harrington – Kronos Quartet

Violinist and founding member of the Kronos Quartet, David Harrington, speaks with Jim Cunningham about the fifty year anniversary of the group. Topics include how the group was named, listening to George Crumb’s Black Angels on the radio and deciding he must play it, the Pittsburgh concert for Chamber Music Pittsburgh with Stacy Garrop utilizing Mahalia Jackson’s voice, his admiration for composer David Stock, love of jazz including Bill Evans and Thelonius Monk, the many influences of world music and how it all ties together, his optimistic view of the music scene and working with a quartet at CMU in the Kresge Theater where the interview took place, the New York and DC 50th celebrations, the influence of radio on composers and more. After the interview ended, David told Jim Cunningham that Kronos had played Jimi Hendrix’ Foxy Lady for David Stock’s wife Celia because one of their earlier concerts took place on her birthday.