Early Music: Lachrymae Antiquae Kronos Quartet (Nonesuch)
The Kronos Quartet’s first recorded foray into the preclassical repertory is a success. The concept was a natural for the hipper-than-hip foursome: Take a selection of short, mainly somber medieval and Renaissance vocal and instrumental works, arrange them for string quartet with assisting instruments and vocals, and intersperse the early music with such moderns as Arvo Part, John Cage, Harry Partch and Alfred Schnittke.
The result is an alluring tapestry of old music that sounds new and new music that sounds old. The musical juxtapositions establish dialogues across the centuries. We are reminded of the striking affinities between composers who stood outside the classical tradition, then and now. And so we hear a motet by the 12th Century German mystic Hildegard of Bingen alongside traditional Tuva music (arranged by Steven Mackey, who presumably can tell us the country of origin since the album is utterly devoid of information about the selections), a John Dowland “Lachrymae” alongside Part’s austere “Psalom,” and so forth.
The year’s best classical concept album. Highly recommended.
