Witness
Phenotypic, 2025
9/10
A portrait record that spotlights the work of the Armenian-American composer and documentarian Mary Kouyoumdjian, the Kronos Quartet further solidify their unparalleled string interaction across these 4 selections.
“Groung (Crane)” starts the listen and is based on an Armenian folk song of the same name, where the heartfelt and intimate strings emit much beauty and mystery, and “Bombs Of Beirut” follows with spoken word from family and friends that discusses their experiences living in war amid the stirring and emotive string presence.
On the back half, “I Haven’t The Words” is a sonic journal that quivers with a darkness that touches on the isolation of the pandemic, while “Silent Cranes” exits with 4 involved chapters that reside in music documentary work and marks the 100th anniversary of the Armenian genocide with powerful singing that gives a voice to the voiceless.
A very complex and human peek at social and political conflict, the strings are executed with much care and expressiveness, as the Kronos Quartet, who are now 70+ recordings deep, continue their ambitious ways.
Travels well with: JACK Quartet- John Zorn: The Complete String Quartets; Third Coast Percussion- Philip Glass: Aguas Da Amazonia