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
Contemporary classical, minimalism, just intonation
1992–present
Bright Shiny Things, Sono Luminus, Other Minds, New World, Sacred Bones, Innova, Navona
- Hyeyung Sol Yoon, violin
- Benjamin Kreith, violin
- Charlton Lee, viola
- Kathryn Bates, cello
- Kate Stenberg, violin
- Rick Shinozaki, violin
- Hannah Addario-Berry, cello
- Samuel Weiser, violin
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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]