Del Sol Quartet

The Del Sol Quartet is a string quartet based in San Francisco, California that was founded in 1992 by violist Charlton Lee.

Del Sol Quartet
Origin	San Francisco, CA
Genres	Contemporary classical, minimalism, just intonation
Occupation(s)	String Quartet
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Bright Shiny Things, Sono Luminus, Other Minds, New World, Sacred Bones, Innova, Navona
Members	Hyeyung Sol Yoon, violin Benjamin Kreith, violin Charlton Lee, viola Kathryn Bates, cello
Past members	Kate Stenberg, violin Rick Shinozaki, violin Hannah Addario-Berry, cello Samuel Weiser, violin
Website	https://www.delsolquartet.com/

Del Sol has commissioned and premiered thousands of works from a diverse range of international composers, including Terry Riley, Frederic Rzewski, Tania León, Mason Bates, Gabriela Lena Frank, Huang Ruo, Michael Harrison, Ben Johnston, Chinary Ung, Daniel Bernard Roumain, Kui Dong, Mohammed Fairouz, Theresa Wong, Erberk Eryilmaz, Ken Ueno, Peter Sculthorpe, Pamela Z, Reza Vali, Per Nørgård.

As of 2023, quartet members are Benjamin Kreith (violin), Hyeyung Sol Yoon (violin), Charlton Lee (viola), and Kathryn Bates (cello). Hyeyung Sol Yoon, formerly of the Chiara String Quartet, succeeded violinist Samuel Weiser.

Founding

Founded in 1992, the Del Sol String Quartet began its life in residence at the Banff Centre for the Arts, followed by residency at San Francisco State University in association with the Alexander String Quartet. In 2002, Del Sol released its CD Tear. Del Sol was named winner of the Chamber Ensemble/Mixed Repertory category for 2005-2006 by Chamber Music America and ASCAP, and also received an ASCAP award for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music^[1] Other early appointments included the 2003 "Emerging Quartets and Composers Residency" with the Muir String Quartet and Joan Tower in Park City, Utah; Quartet-in-Residence at University of New Mexico; residencies at The Walden School and Tahoe Music Festival; and Northeastern University in 2007. Del Sol appears on programs presented by Other Minds, San Francisco Performances, Montalvo Arts Center and Santa Fe New Music/Santa Fe Opera. (from website)

Interest in Just Intonation

The quartet demonstrates a particular interest in string quartet writing in just intonation, particularly in the work of American composer Ben Johnston, along with composers such as Michael Harrison, Theresa Wong and Mathew Rosenblum. They are currently the only string quartet touring multiple quartets by Ben Johnston, which are notoriously difficult, and were the first group to premiere Johnston's music at the Library of Congress^[2] in Washington, D.C in 2016. In 2019, the quartet launched the "Pacific Pythagorean Music Festival", a music festival dedicated to works of just intonation.^[3] They were highlighted performers at the Pittsburgh "Beyond 2020: Microtonal Music Festival".^[4] They premiered "One-Footed" by composer Taylor Brook with the Partch Ensemble at REDCAT in 2022.^[5][6]

Amplifying Asian Voices

The Quartet's repertoire has always been chosen from the vantage point of San Francisco, looking across the Pacific Ocean, with a dedicated interest in the Pacific Rim and Asia. With the launching of the Angel Island Project in 2017,^[7][8] alongside the increase in violence and hate crimes against Asian-Americans, the Quartet deepened its commitment to champion the musical and artistic voices of both Asian and Asian-American composers. This work includes majors projects, commissioning of composers, and community work.

In 2021, the Quartet premiered Huang Ruo's ANGEL ISLAND – Oratorio with Volti inside the Angel Island Immigration Station as well as San Francisco's Presidio Theatre. They previewed excerpts at Bard College's China Now music festival.^[9] Since the premiere, the Quartet has performed a new version at the Santa Fe Opera^[10] and with the UC Berkeley Choir, which launched an entire year of curriculum and events based on Angel Island.^[11] Future performances include the Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art^[12] with the US Air Force Band Singing Sergeants.

In 2022, the Quartet recorded The Resonance Between^[13] with Alam Khan (sarode/composer) and Arjun Verma (sitar/composer). This album is set to release in 2023-2024, with a world premiere performance.

The Quartet has an ongoing relationship with the Last Hoisan Poets^[14] (Genny Lim, Flo Oy Wong, Nellie Wong), who work to preserve their native dialect through poetry. The first collaborative performance focused on keeping Angel Island In Sight,^[15] with recent performances at the De Young Museum.^[16]

Environmental Work

The Quartet explores the intersection between environment and music. They are known for their nature performances, including roaming concerts at the Albany Bulb,^[17] pop-up concerts in Mendocino's redwoods, and their annual white water rafting trip on Yampa River the with Holiday Expeditions.^[18]

They also work in the intersection of artists and climate change activism, including a current project with Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music's "Composing Earth" program.^[19]

Joy Project

During the COVID-19 lockdown, the Quartet commissioned over 20 works known as the Joy Project,^[20] which they began performing outdoors in September 2020 to inspire joy in the community. The performances occurred in pop-up locations of street corners, closed movie theatres, coffee shops, and parks. Composers include: Pamela Z, Lisa Mezzaccappa, Andy Akiho, Mark Orton, and more. In 2022-2023, the performances continued through partnerships, including performances at the Salesforce Park^[21] and different branches of the San Francisco Public Library.^[22][23] In 2022, the Quartet was the closing act to the Atlantic Magazine's Pursuit of Happiness Conference.^[24]

Outreach

The quartet has given lectures/performances by invitation from presenters including the San Francisco Symphony Adventures in Music series, San Francisco Libraries, Music at Kohl Mansion, Young Audiences of the Bay Area, American Composers Forum and San Francisco Performances. The quartet has an ongoing relationship with the Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music in Boonville, CA.^[25]

Recordings

Del Sol has released 11 full-length CDs since 2002 garnering international praise from publications including the New York Times,^[26] Gramophone,^[27] The Strad,^[28] Chamber Music,^[29] and the San Francisco Chronicle.^[30]

• A Dust in Time (2021): World premiere recording of Huang Ruo's hour long meditation , released as a coloring book by Felicia Lee (Bright Shiny Things)
  • debuted at #3 on Billboard Classical charts
  • GRAMMY award for Producer of the Year - Classical (Judith Sherman)^[31]
• Kooch-e Khamân (2021): Live concert recording of music by young Iranian composers (Gity Razaz, Adib Ghorbani, Elnaz Sayadi, Hesam Abedini, Nasim Khorassani, Niloufar Shiri and Iman Habibi)
  • debuted at #5 on Billboard Classical charts
• Dark Queen Mantra (2017): World premiere recordings including Terry Riley's "Dark Queen Mantra" & Stefano Scodanibbio "Mas Lugares"(with guitarist Gyan Riley)
• Scrapyard Exotica (2015): World premiere recordings of music by Ken Ueno, Mohammed Fairouz, and Mason Bates (Sono Luminus)
• Peter Sculthorpe Complete String Quartets with Didjeridu (2014) (Sono Luminus) (featuring Stephen Kent, didjeridu)
• Complete String Quartets of Robert Erickson (2014) (New World Records)
• Split EP (digital download): Del Sol with ZOFO, 4 hands piano duo
• ZIA (2013) features contemporary works with influences from Peru, Turkey, Spain, Iran and Uzbekistan. (Sono Luminus)
• First Life (2009), a world premiere recording of the complete string quartets of American composer Marc Blitzstein (Other Minds)
• Ring of Fire: Music of the Pacific Rim (2008), a compilation of works by eight composers from around the Pacific Rim (Other Minds)
• The Complete Works for String Quartet by American composer George Antheil (2005) (Other Minds: OM 1008-2.)
• Tear (2002), featuring a rendition of Ástor Piazzolla's "Libertango", as well as music by Lou Harrison, Earle Brown, Silvestre Revueltas, Ruth Crawford Seeger, Alberto Ginastera, and John Harbison.

They are also featured on:

• SPELLLING: The Turning Wheel
• Anthony Brandt: Maternity / Ulysses, Home
• D.J. Sparr: Hard Metal Cantus

Film

They were featured on the soundtrack for the film Lovelace.^[32]

Quartet personnel

Current members

• Hyeyung Sol Yoon - violin (2023-present)
• Benjamin Kreith - violin (2015-present)
• Charlton Lee - viola (1992-present)
• Kathryn Bates - cello (2010-present)

Former members

• Sam Weiser - violin (2018-2023)
• Rick Shinozaki - violin (2003-2018)
• Kate Stenberg - violin (1995-2015)

References

1. http://www.ascap.com/press/2008/0108_chambermusicamerica.aspx ^{[bare URL]}
2. "Frederic Rzewski, Jennifer Koh & the Del Sol String Quartet Webcast | Library of Congress". The Library of Congress. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
3. "Pacific Pythagorean Music Festival". Del Sol String Quartet. Retrieved 2021-03-12.^{[permanent dead link]}
4. Kriegeskotte, Christian (2020-03-13). "University of Pittsburgh Hosts Beyond 2020 Microtonal Music Festival". I CARE IF YOU LISTEN. Retrieved 2020-05-21.
5. "PARTCH Ensemble & Vox Dance Theatre | REDCAT". www.redcat.org. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
6. One-Footed - Del Sol and PARTCH Ensemble - Taylor Brook - Live at REDCAT, LA, retrieved 2023-02-08
7. "The Del Sol String Quartet & Huang Ruo's "Your Wall is Our Canvas": The Angel Island Project". ArtsEd4All. 2020-01-05. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
8. "Angel Island". Del Sol Quartet. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
9. "2021 China Now Music Festival: Asian American Voices". US-China Music Institute at the Bard College Conservatory of Music 巴德音乐学院美中音乐研习院. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
10. "Concerts & Conversations | Santa Fe Opera". www.santafeopera.org. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
11. "Angel Island: Homepage". Future Histories Lab. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
12. Institution, Smithsonian. "Events from Across the Smithsonian's Museums and Zoo". Smithsonian Institution. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
13. "THE RESONANCE BETWEEN". TheResonanceBetween. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
14. "The Last Hoisan Poets 台山最後的詩人 – Nellie Wong, Flo Oy Wong & Genny Lim". Retrieved 2023-02-08.
15. "Angel Island Insight". ArtsEd4All. 2021-09-04. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
16. "National Angel Island Day with the Last Hoisan Poets + Del Sol Quartet". FAMSF. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
17. "Events". Love the Bulb. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
18. "Yampa River Rafting with Del Sol String Quartet". Holiday River Expeditions. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
19. "Composing Earth". Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
20. "Joy Project". Del Sol Quartet. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
21. "Del Sol String Quartet Joy Project". Salesforce Transit Center. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
22. "Performance: The Joy Project: Del Sol String Quartet Live | San Francisco Public Library". sfpl.org. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
23. "Performance: Del Sol Quartet Live Classical Music | San Francisco Public Library". sfpl.org. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
24. "In Pursuit of Happiness 2022 Event". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
25. "Bahlest Eeble Readings Faculty". Gabriela Lena Frank Creative Academy of Music. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
26. Times, The New York (2015-10-07). "Classical Playlist: Conrad Tao, 'Scrapyard Exotica' and More". ArtsBeat. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
27. . Archived from the original on 2014-09-13. Retrieved 2014-09-12.
28. 2016-03-02T00:00:00+00:00. "Scrapyard Exotica. Bates: Bagatelles. Fairouz: The Named Angels. Ueno: Peradam". The Strad. Retrieved 2019-02-06.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
29. http://www.chamber-music.org/pdf/LGen.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
30. "Terry Riley, 'Dark Queen Mantra' - SFChronicle.com". www.sfchronicle.com. 2017-09-27. Retrieved 2019-02-06.
31. "2023 GRAMMY Nominations: See The Complete Winners & Nominees List". www.grammy.com. Retrieved 2023-02-08.
32. "Del Sol String Quartet". IMDb. Retrieved 2023-02-08.

External links

• Official Website
• PBS Video of Del Sol working with composers
• Del Sol and Melody of China 2006-10-08 at the Wayback Machine
• (with video)