Recently, the Kronos Quartet began a commission process for composers under the age of 30, in the hope of bringing some of the talented young composers of our day to light.
Kronos specializes in new music and has a long history of commissioning new works. In fact, over 850 works have been created for the Kronos Quartet. They have worked with many minimalist composers including Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley and Kevin Volans.
Kronos has collaborated with composers from diverse countries such as Franghiz Ali Zadeh from Azerbaijan and Osvaldo Golijov from Argentina. Golijov is a MacArthur Fellow who has done compositions and arrangements for Kronos CDs such as Caravan and Nuevo.
Kronos covers a very broad range of musical genres: Mexican folk, experimental, pre-classical early music, movie soundtracks (Requiem for a Dream), jazz and tango. Kronos has even recorded adaptations of Purple Haze, Flugufrelsarinn, Marquee Moon, and Dinner Music for a Pack of Hungry Cannibals.
Composers aside, Kronos has teamed up with artists from around the world, including the legendary Bollywood "playback singer" Asha Bhosle; the American soprano Dawn Upshaw; Mexican pop-rockers Cafe Tacuba; and the Romanian gypsy band Taraf de Haidouks.
Kronos has performed live with the likes of the late poet Allen Ginsberg, Modern Jazz Quartet, David Bowie, and Bjork, and has appeared on recordings with such diverse talents as singer-songwriters Dave Matthews, Nelly Furtado, Rokia Traore, Joan Armatrading, and Texas yodeler Don Walser.
Their official site is www.kronosquartet.org
I Was Dead
Kronos Quartet Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I became laughter
The happiness of love came,
and I became eternal happiness
My eyes are full of joy, I have a brave soul
I have courage like a lion, I became the shining Venus
He told me: you are not crazy enough,
I went and became crazy,
I was entangled with chains
He told me: you are not drunk,
go away, you don't belong to this circle!
I went and became intoxicated,
I was filled with joy
I belong to you, my moon, come and
behold you and me!
Because of his laughter,
I became a laughing garden
The lyrics to Kronos Quartet's song "I Was Dead" speak of a transformation from a state of death to life, from tears to laughter, and from sadness to eternal happiness. The singer describes their newfound joy and bravery, feeling as courageous as a lion and as radiant as Venus.
The lyrics also depict a conversation with someone who doubts the singer's sanity and worthiness of a home. In response, the singer embraces madness and becomes entangled with chains, proving their commitment to their chosen path. Similarly, when told they are not intoxicated enough to belong to a certain circle, the singer becomes intoxicated and filled with joy, defying expectations and embracing their true self.
The song takes a romantic turn when the singer declares their belongingness to their lover, calling them "my moon." They invite the lover to witness their union and the transformation they have undergone. The effect of the lover's laughter has made the singer blossom into a "laughing garden," brimming with joy and happiness.
Overall, the lyrics of "I Was Dead" explore themes of transformation, defiance of societal expectations, and the power of love to bring immense happiness and growth.
Line by Line Meaning
I was dead, I became alive, I was tears,
I was once lifeless, but then I came to life. I was filled with sadness and tears.
I became laughter
I transformed into joy and started laughing.
The happiness of love came,
The joyous feeling of love arrived.
and I became eternal happiness
As a result, I experienced everlasting happiness.
My eyes are full of joy, I have a brave soul
I feel immense joy and my spirit is fearless.
I have courage like a lion, I became the shining Venus
I possess the bravery of a lion and radiate brightness like the planet Venus.
He told me: you are not crazy enough, you don't deserve this home
Someone said to me that I lack the necessary insanity and don't deserve to belong here.
I went and became crazy, I was entangled with chains
In response, I decided to go mad and found myself trapped by chains.
He told me: you are not drunk, go away, you don't belong to this circle!
Again, someone told me that I am not intoxicated enough and should leave because I do not fit in this group.
I went and became intoxicated, I was filled with joy
However, I defied their words and became fully intoxicated, experiencing boundless happiness.
I belong to you, my moon, come and behold you and me!
I am bound to you, my beloved, and I invite you to witness our connection.
Because of his laughter, I became a laughing garden
Due to the joy brought about by his laughter, I transformed into a garden filled with laughter and happiness.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Rumi, Mahsa Vahdat
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind