Recordings

Witness

Kronos Quartet

2025

Witness features the works of Pulitzer Prize-nominated Armenian-American composer and documentarian Mary Kouyoumdjian — released Friday, March 14, 2025 on CD, vinyl and streaming on Phenotypic Recordings. The works featured on Kouyoumdjian’s first portrait album exemplify her use of the arts as an amplifier of expression, often integrating testimonies from resilient individuals and field recordings of place to invite empathy. Kouyoumdjian’s work seeks to humanize complex experiences around social and political conflict.

Armenian-Canadian filmmaker (and Kouyoumdjian’s frequent collaborator) Atom Egoyan contributes the liner notes introduction, writing, “This collection is an open letter to the tragic hymn of transmitted trauma and the possibility of art and magnificently gifted artists to help create new life.” Cover artwork and design has been contributed by Armenian-Canadian photographer Osheen Harruthoonyan, who merges movement with themes of cultural heritage and renewal.

Phenotypic Recordings will donate all streaming proceeds from the album to Kooyrigs and the Lebanese Red Cross and to support the Armenian and Lebanese communities.

About the album

Select credits:

KRONOS QUARTET:
David Harrington – violin
John Sherba – violin
Hank Dutt – viola
Paul Wiancko – cello

Produced by Reshena Liao and Kronos Quartet
Recorded Dec. 9–13, 2023 at 25th Street Recording (Oakland, CA)
Scott Fraser, Engineer
Gabriel Shepard and Karishma Kumar, Assistant Engineers
Edited and mixed by Scott Fraser and David Harrington
Recorded testimonies and music edited by Mary Kouyoumdjian
Mastered by Scott Fraser

Executive Producer: Janet Cowperthwaite
Cover art and design by Osheen Harruthoonyan
Graphic design by BaronArts
For the Kronos Quartet/Kronos Performing Arts Association:
Mason Dille, Associate Director; Lucinda Toy, Business Manager; Jackie Power, Administrative Manager
Project Supervisor for Kronos: Reshena Liao

Kronos extends special thanks to David Barsamian, Laurie Olinder; Kenneth Foster, Nayan Shah; Janet Cowperthwaite, Mason Dille, Dana Dizon, Sarah Donahue, Nikolás McConnie-Saad; Regan Harrington, Ian Nagoski; Mizue, Holland, Agnes, Darren, Jason, and Ashlyn; Greg Dubinsky; and Ayane Kozasa.

Mary Kouyoumdjian extends special thanks to the Kronos Quartet; Janet Cowperthwaite; Scott Fraser, Reshena Liao, the Kronos Performing Arts Association staff and board; Phenotypic
Recordings; David Barsamian; Ian Nagoski; Tompkins Square Records; Traditional Crossroads; The Armenian Film Foundation; Taleen Babayan; Laurie Olinder; Atom Egoyan, Osheen Harruthoonyan, and her family and friends who generously shared their experiences and support. She thanks those involved with the Kronos Quartet’s entire discography, for shaping her listening and dreams for as long as she can remember.

Groung [Crane] and I Haven’t the Words published by Track Pack Productions, New York; Bombs of Beirut and Silent Cranes published by Project Schott New York

TRACK LISTING

1. Groung [Crane] (1917) – Traditional arr. Mary Kouyoumdjian [04:20]

Bombs of Beirut (2014) – Mary Kouyoumdjian [22:30]

2. I. Before the War
3. II. The War
4. III. After the War

5. I Haven’t the Words (2020) – Mary Kouyoumdjian [04:22]

Silent Cranes (2015) – Mary Kouyoumdjian [30:08]

6. I. slave to your voice
7. II. you did not answer
8. III. [with blood-soaked feathers]
9. IV. you flew away