Kronos Quartet: In Formation

Different Trains (Nonesuch, 1988)

Reich's oblique but powerful statement on the Holocaust was his first commision for the quartet. "When it came out it shocked both our and Steve's audience; there had never been a classical piece from such a personal perspective before. It opened a lot of people's eyes." A game changer too in the way it ushered in Kronos' move away from acoustic music. Found sounds, train rhythms and beautiful drones from the strings form a classic of minimalism.

Black Angels (Nonesuch, 1990)

A keynote work although not recommended as a first stop for beginners, Kronos' rendering of George Crumb's bleak Vietnam threnody was a long time coming: "When I first heard it in '73 it blew me away, the sound, the composition, everything he expressed with it. It changed everything for me. This will be a real highlight during the Edinburgh shows." Hard going in the most literal sense but well worth persevering with. It's not about war, it is war.

Pieces of Africa (Nonesuch, 1992)

In keeping with the quartet's trailblazing, this was the very first recording of African classical music made. "I really felt we achieved something with this record, and it's the one I'm most proud of. Ever since I first heard African musicans I've been trying to get my violin to sound that way." No cultural tourism here, this evokes aspects of Africa that go beyond the superficial and is augmented by gorgeous kora, drums and vocals to create a rich, multi-faceted and transporting experience.

Requiem for a Dream (2000) / The Fountain (2006, both Nonesuch)

The recordings that opened the quartet's music up to a whole new audience were very much a three way collaborative process. "Darren Aronofsky, the director, was present for all the recording sessions. He is really up on his music and it was heartening to see him take such an interest. Clint Mansell is fantastic to work with too." The tense theme for Requiem threatens to take over the world through media overkill, but both works are exceptional pieces of modern classical composition in their own right.