WE BECAME OUR OWN INSTITUTION

"Looking back, being in on the creation of how the group developed was an incredible opportunity. There wasn't anyone to tell us what to do. That's a great feeling. Nobody knew about us, or cared a hoot about us. We were very free." —JJ

In 1980, Kronos expanded its activities around the Bay Area. They played Penderecki at San Quentin Prison, the Star-Spangled Banner at Candlestick Park; and The Rite of Spring and Purple Haze at the Great American Music Hall. They finished out their Mills College residency with a program including James Brown's Sex Machine, and a performance with a robot named Elvik.

"We used to play a standard work on every concert for the first two years, but then it became clear we really enjoyed doing the new music more," says Jeanrenaud.

"Some people would come only to hear new stuff, and others only for the old stuff," adds Dutt. "Consequently it wasn't a very good atmosphere for the audience. So we said, 'Why not try to make a varied program of new music and see if that flies?'"

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