Track Listing

1. Pannonia Boundless, for string quartet
2. Can��o Verdes Anos
3. Aaj Ki Raat (from the film Anamika)
4. La Muerte Chiquita
5. Turceasca
6. Szomor� Vas�rnap (Gloomy Sunday)
7. Requiem Quartets (3) (Requiem for Adam), for string quartet with sound collage: Cortejo F�nebre en el Monte Diablo (Funeral March on
8. Responso
9. Romance No.1
10. Gallop of a Thousand Horses, for string quartet, kamancheh & tombak
11. Ecstasy, for string quartet
12. Misirlou Twist, for pops orchestra (arrangement of 'Misirlou')

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #106680 in Music
• Released on: 2000-04-18
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.com
The Kronos Quartet--apparently tired of performing some of the most riveting Western classical works composed in the last century--decided to take a vacation with Caravan. Where did they go? As evidenced by this globetrotting disc, seemingly everywhere. Music from the Middle East, South America, India, Portugal, and California (to name just a few) find their way onto this genre-blurring disc, along with a few surprises. They do a dizzying take on Dick Dale's "Miserlou," which we learn was originally written by Nicholas Roubanis in the '30s; perform a tune from India's bustling "Bollywood" film music industry; and tackle Terry Riley's inventive "Corgeo Funebre en el Monte Diablo"--the second movement of his Requiem for Adam (written for the late son of Kronos leader David Harrington). These are disparate but enthralling works that run the gamut from frenetic to reflective. Even though Caravan sounds less cohesive than Kronos's other world music foray, Pieces of Africa, this is still an enthralling collection and a must for Kronos fans. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Fascinating international tour by music
In these days when multiculturalism is being forced upon too many with sledgehammer effect, it is good to recall how Nonesuch has been offering wonderful recordings of music from other lands for decades now. An excellent example has reached me by way of a pre-release copy called . It is described in the press release as an all-premiere recording, which collects new music from Portugal and Argentina, India to the Middle East, Mexico and the United States; and it offers us "collaborations with renowned musicians from around the world in diverse repertoire unified by arrangements of Osvaldo Golijov."

Most of this is exciting stuff, some of it quite beautiful at the same time. Of course I cannot vouch for the authenticity of any of it; but I can assure you that the Kronos Quartet is never below their standards here. They are, to be sure, joined by various musicians on 5 of the 10 tracks. The liner notes, which I assume will be the same when the fully packaged product is released, are copious and informative.

The Near East Shines in this Album of Many Cultures
Kronos has made an album to remember with Caravan. There is a wide variety of cultural music represented and all are performed admirably. My favorites are from the Middle East; however, the Carlos Paredes piece is excellent. The songs are slightly eccentric and full of energy. For any classical music lover who needs to get out of the 'same old' styles and composers, this is a necessity. I can't recommend it highly enough.

Another great Kronos
The positive part is that this is really good but I rank their last "Nuevo" higher because that one holds togheter better.

This is mostly middle eastern/central europe stuff and even if I THINK I know way some argentinian/portuguise tracks are in this (because of that argentininan tango has it roots in middle europe.. portugal cobining bandelon with portuguese fado) it feels misplaced here but artisticially it is very good performed anyway and... hows about "Miserlou Twist" then.. well composer of that old hit has his roots in Libanon so.. :-).

Anyway is this very good, fun, well played and sound, production is also something extra.

You be pleased with this if you like stringquartets with more of a folklore style but my advice is that you by this togheter with Nuevo then you have two great great discs.

People used to Kronos cooperation with Glass, Steve Riech should like this but it is def. NOT minimalism att all.