This album collects Kronos’ recording of Polish composer Henryk Górecki’s second string quartet with that of his first, which Kronos previously released on Already It Is Dusk / “Lerchenmusik”. Both pieces were commissioned by Lincoln Center and dedicated to Kronos.

From Adrian Thomas’ liner notes: “Quasi una Fantasia shares some preoccupations with these [Already It Is Dusk and “Lerchenmusik”] and other predecessors: the slow pulsing opening is characteristic, as are the monodic fragments that gradually unfold in the first movement. These back-references to Górecki’s heritage in the Polish Catholic church and its music are matched by his rock-like belief in the values of Polish folk culture… However we may surmise his creative intentions, Górecki has composed in Quasi una Fantasia a stark and passionate confrontation of musical ideas that follow in a long line of potent visions which he initiated more than 35 years ago.”

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