For today's Monday Music post I am happy to share two distinct things I was introduced to at the same time. The first one is the concept of Tiny Desk Concerts on NPR. The other one is Kronos Quartet a music group that left an equally powerful impression on me. But let's look at the concerts first.
Tiny Desk Concerts
What's the best thing about live music? Is it being part of a large crowd, sharing the joy of listening to our favorite performers? Or is it hearing the subtle differences of the live show from its studio recorded equivlent? While both have their own appeal, what I personally like most, is seeing the same emotions reflect on the musicians' faces, that I feel while listening to a piece. That's really what I enjoy most. Thus, I will always prefer small scale concerts, in cafés or bars, to large venues, where all you get to experience is the amplified sounds and digitized images of the musicians, droning out the noise of the enthusiastic crowd.
Of course, with the current pandemic going into overtime, both options are out of the question. Still, this doesn't mean we are reduced to recorded music. Tiny Desk Concerts are the perfect alternative, with or without Covid. Thinking about it, I'm amazed this concept has passed me by so successfully.
Tiny Desk shows have been organized by National Public Radio since 2008. The creators' inspiration was sparked, when they tried to enjoy a small concert of folk music at a jam-packed bar, and felt the crowd was disturbing the audiovisual appeal of the performance. So instead of moping around, they invited the performer to play a couple songs at their desk. While they were at it, they recorded the show and posted it online. It became a raging success, and Tiny Desk Concerts were born.
The concept has been the same since: Not only are the shows performed and recorded in small spaces (desk, homes, kitchens, etc.) but their 20 minute lengths add another reduced dimension to them. Sure, not everyone may agree with me here, but I think this way the performers get to really pack all their magic into an impactful musical experience. Ideal to introduce someone to a musician: long enough to give you a good idea of what they do, and short enough not to overwhelm. Could this be the reason why I'm so amazed by the Kronos Quartet? Nah, they are pretty amazing anyway...!
Kronos Quartet - Not Your Typical String Quartet
So for my first Tiny Desk Concert I just happened to be given this wonderful group to enjoy. And yes, at first you would be completely right to expect the classical chamber music that a string quartet (two violins, a viola, and a violonchello) would play. Something like Haydn or Mozart, right? Well, now that I've mentioned it, you will probably guess that this would not be the case. And again, you would be right.
In this show, their first piece is probably the most "classical sounding" one. Still, categorized as contemporary classical music, it's a far cry from Haydn. The second piece I don't think I could even categorize accurately. Listening to it, it made me think of the mountains of Anatolia (though I may be way off...) Their last piece, with its deep and lazy blues sound got me to think of the Deep South (of the US).
Looking up the Kronos Quartet I was amazed at the numerous partners they work with. Dozens of composers from all over the world have written music for them, which they have played with many other famous artists, or just themselves. Even the list of genres stretches long, from Mexican folk to experimental, tango, gypsy, and jazz.
What I found particularly interesting, is what my friend, a musician himself, said when showing me this group. They love to play around with time-signatures, which will make any piece appear in a completely different light. This is probably also the reason behind their name, Chronos being the god of time in Greek mythology.
Though usually I like to link in a good number of videos, this time I'd prefer to follow the same minimalist approach, and let you get a nice, manageable size of this mind-blowing music group. I'm sure, you're going to want to look for more yourself, just like I am quite eager to do right now. But be warned: their discography is pretty extensive!
Take a Look at the Previous Posts in my Monday Music Series:
The Sound of the Hungarian Zither
Obligatory Line-Dance at Mexican Parties - El Payaso del Rodeo
Floating Into the Night by Julee Cruise
Classic Canadiana - Stan Rogers
Party Like There's No Tomorrow, Cry Like Everything Is Lost - Hungarian Gypsy Music
The Harder Sound of the Middle Ages - Corvus Corax
The First Hip-Hop I Actually Liked - Things Fall Apart by The Roots
No Prophets in Their Own Land - Rodrigo y Gabriela
Beyond the Boundries of Styles and Genres - King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
Accordion-Rock You May Not Know (But Really Should) - Los Tabascos
Songs of the Mexican Revolution - La Adelita
Memorable Weirdness - What Do You Want A Japanese To Do Again?
Gloomy Sunday - The Hungarian Suicide Song
Party Tunes from the Wild East - The "Russendisko" Experience
Folk Songs from Your Home Village - Hungarian Regional Sound Archives
Polynesian Salt Water Music
Images Conjured up by Tom Waits' Music
In Country: Folks Songs of Americans in the Vietnam War
Somebody Tell Me - Translating a Hungarian Song Into [EN] and [SP]
Somebody Tell Me - first trial & live performance [HU] [SP] [EN]
Horst Wessel in Mexico
Playing for Change - Old Favorites Played Around the World
Soothing Tunes and Gentle Rhythms of Mali Music
What Is It About Music? [Ecotrain's Question of the Week]
Halász Judit, Memories from my Childhood
Discovering Rocksteady
The New Generation of Banda
Horrible Music From Hungary: Dáridó or Wedding Rock
[ENG - ESP] 3 Songs From My Youth / 3 Canciones De Mi Adolescencia
Surfer Tunes from the 60's: Dick Dale