# Kronos Quartet discography

The discography of the Kronos Quartet includes 43 studio albums, 2 compilations, 5 soundtracks, and 29 contributions to other artists' records. The Kronos Quartet plays classical, pop, rock, jazz, folk, world and contemporary classical music (often written especially for them by for instance Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Alexandra Vrebalov) and was founded in 1973 by violinist David Harrington. Since 1978, they have been based in San Francisco, California. Since 1985, the quartet's music has been released on Nonesuch Records.
Early recordings by the quartet contain contemporary classical music and adaptations of more popular music, such as jazz and rock and roll. Since the 1980s, and especially with the release of Cadenza on the Night Plain, written as a collaboration between composer Terry Riley and the quartet, much of the quartet's repertoire and album releases contain music written especially for them, by composers such as Terry Riley, Kevin Volans, Henryk Górecki, and Ástor Piazzolla. Their music "covers a who's who of 20th century-composers", as one critic noted in 1998.
Kronos has recorded five soundtracks including the 1998 score by Philip Glass for the scoreless (except for Tchaikovsky title music) 1931 sound movie Dracula, and has contributed to the soundtracks of five other movies, including Heat and 21 Grams. Outside the genre of classical music, Kronos has collaborated with a great number of other artists, especially pop artists, such as Joan Armatrading, Dave Matthews Band, Andy Summers, Nelly Furtado, and Nine Inch Nails.
The quartet has achieved considerable commercial and critical success and by 1998 (the year of the quartet's 25th anniversary) had sold more than 1.5 million albums. Many of Kronos' albums have ranked on various Billboard charts; the 1992 album Pieces of Africa reached #1 in the Top World Albums chart. The quartet won a Grammy for the 2003 album Lyric Suite.

## Studio albums

| Year | Album details | Notes |
| 1979 | Music of Dane Rudhyar Released: 1979 Label: Composers Recordings, Inc. (CRI) SD 418 Format: LP; later CD | Their first release; includes two string quartets, "Advent" and "Crisis and Overcoming" |
| 1982 | In Formation Released: 1982 Label: Reference (#9) Format: LP; CD | "In imaging, transient accuracy and timbre, one of the finest string quartet discs ever issued." |
| 1985 | Monk Suite: Kronos Quartet Plays Music of Thelonious Monk Released: 1985 Label: Landmark (#1505) Format: LP, CD, MP3 | Compositions by Thelonious Monk. With Ron Carter (bass improvisation). Re-released in 2005 as CD, on Savoy. Re-issued with Music of Bill Evans on 2CD as 32 Jazz: The Complete Landmark Sessions. |
| 1985 | Terry Riley: Cadenza on the Night Plain Released: 1985 Label: Gramavision R2 79444 Format: 2LP, CD | Collaboration between composer Terry Riley and the Quartet. "Charming music that grows on one, in really committed performances." Rereleased on CD (Gramavision #18-7014-2), August 1, 1992; rereleased on CD (Hanibal #1509), January 31, 2006. |
| 1986 | Music of Bill Evans Released: 1986 Label: Landmark (#1510), Savoy (#17405) Format: LP, CD | Compositions written by or associated with Bill Evans. With Jim Hall (guitar) and Eddie Gómez (bass). Leonard Feather gave the album five stars; Stephen Holden, for the New York Times, named it "Jazz Album of the Week." Reissued with Monk Suite on 2CD as 32 Jazz: The Complete Landmark Sessions. |
| 1986 | Kronos Quartet Released: August 15, 1986 Label: Nonesuch (#79111) Format: LP, CD, MP3 | Music by Peter Sculthorpe, Aulis Sallinen, Philip Glass, Conlon Nancarrow, and an arrangement of Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze." "The best recorded anthology yet to capture the heady diversity of musical idioms that this San Francisco quartet espouses." |
| 1987 | White Man Sleeps Released: July 15, 1987 Label: Nonesuch (#79163) Format: LP, CD, MP3 | Ten compositions, by Kevin Volans and others. |
| 1988 | Winter Was Hard Released: September 30, 1988 Label: Nonesuch (#79181) Format: LP, CD, MP3 | Music by Aulis Sallinen, Terry Riley, Arvo Pärt, Anton Webern, John Zorn, John Lurie, Ástor Piazzolla, Alfred Schnittke, and Samuel Barber. Listed at #11 in the Los Angeles Times Classical Top 25 of 1989. |
| 1989 | Steve Reich: Different Trains/Electric Counterpoint Released: March 3, 1989 Label: Nonesuch (#79176) Format: LP, CD, MP3 | Two Steve Reich compositions. Kronos Quartet play tracks 1–3 (Different Trains); Pat Metheny (guitar) plays tracks 4–6 (Electric Counterpoint). Different Trains written for the quartet. Listed at #16 in the Los Angeles Times Classical Top 25 of 1989. Reich won the Grammy for Best Contemporary Composition, with Kronos Quartet as performing artist. |
| 1989 | Kronos Quartet Plays Terry Riley: Salome Dances for Peace Released: October 27, 1989 Label: Nonesuch (#79127) Format: 2LP, 2CD, MP3 | Collaboration between the composer and the quartet, nominated for a Grammy. |
| 1990 | Black Angels Released: June 29, 1990 Label: Nonesuch (#79242) Format: LP, CD, MP3 | Includes George Crumb's Black Angels, the inspiration for David Harrington to found the Kronos Quartet. |
| 1991 | Witold Lutosławski: String Quartet Released: January 25, 1991 Label: Nonesuch (#79255) Format: CD single, MP3 | Compositions by Witold Lutosławski. "Integrates notated music with chance performance." |
| 1991 | Kevin Volans: Hunting:Gathering Released: January 27, 1991 Label: Nonesuch (#79253) Format: CD single, MP3 | Composition by South-African composer Kevin Volans, commissioned by the quartet. |
| 1991 | Five Tango Sensations Released: January 25, 1991 Label: Nonesuch (#79254) Format: CD, MP3 | Written for the quartet by Ástor Piazzolla (bandoneón). Piazzolla's last studio recording. |
| 1991 | Henryk Mikolaj Górecki: Already It Is Dusk/"Lerchenmusik" Released: May 28, 1991 Label: Nonesuch (#79257) Format: CD | Two compositions by Polish composer Henryk Mikolaj Górecki. "Already It Is Dusk" (String Quartet No. 1, Op. 62, 1988) played by Kronos Quartet; "Lerchenmusik" (Recitatives & Ariosos, Op. 53, for Clarinet, Cello, and Piano, 1984) by the London Sinfonietta. |
| 1991 | Music of Claude Ballif Released: 1991 Label: Adda MFA 581283 Format: CD | Quatuor a cordes No. 3 |
| 1992 | Pieces of Africa Released: February 21, 1992 Label: Nonesuch (#79275) Format: CD, MP3 | Music written for the quartet by seven African composers. Reached #1 in Billboard's "Top World Albums", and spent 29 weeks on the chart. |
| 1993 | Short Stories Released: March 5, 1993 Label: Nonesuch (#79310) Format: CD, MP3 | With Steven Mackey (guitar), Pran Nath (voice), Krishma Bhatt (tabla), Terry Riley, and John Constant (tamboura). |
| 1993 | Henryk Górecki: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 2 Released: June 25, 1993 Label: Nonesuch (#79319) Format: CD, MP3 | Two string quartets "rooted in Polish folk song." |
| 1993 | At the Grave of Richard Wagner Released: September 24, 1993 Label: Nonesuch (#79318) Format: CD, MP3 | Works by Alban Berg and Anton Webern. With Aki Takahashi (piano) and Marcella DeCray (harp). |
| 1993 | Morton Feldman: Piano and String Quartet Released: September 24, 1993 Label: Nonesuch (#79320) Format: CD, MP3 | One of Morton Feldman's final works, recorded with pianist Aki Takahashi. |
| 1993 | Bob Ostertag: All the Rage Released: October 22, 1993 Label: Nonesuch (#79332) Format: CD single, MP3 | Composition by Bob Ostertag, condemning California governor Pete Wilson's veto of pro-gay legislation in 1991; proceeds for AIDS research. |
| 1994 | Night Prayers Released: September 2, 1994 Label: Nonesuch (#79346) Format: CD, MP3 | Composers of Eastern Europe and Central Asia. With Throat Singers of Tuva, Dawn Upshaw (soprano), Djivan Gasparian (duduk), and Mikhail Alexandrovich (cantor). |
| 1995 | Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass Released: February 3, 1995 Label: Nonesuch (#79356) Format: CD, MP3 | "An ideal combination of composer and performers." Reached #9 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums," and spent 12 weeks on the "Billboard Classical 50" chart. |
| 1996 | Howl, USA Released: May 31, 1996 Label: Nonesuch (#79372) Format: CD, MP3 | Allen Ginsberg's poem Howl set to music, and other Cold War pieces. With the voices of Allen Ginsberg, J. Edgar Hoover, and I.F. Stone. |
| 1997 | Osvaldo Golijov: The Dreams and Prayers of Isaac the Blind Released: March 14, 1997 Label: Nonesuch (#79444) Format: CD, MP3 | Collaboration with Argentina-born Osvaldo Golijov. With David Krakauer (clarinet). |
| 1997 | Tan Dun: Ghost Opera Released: March 14, 1997 Label: Nonesuch (#79445) Format: CD, MP3 | Composition for strings and pipa by Tan Dun, performed by Kronos Quartet and Wu Man. |
| 1997 | Early Music (Lachrymæ Antiquæ) Released: September 12, 1997 Label: Nonesuch (#79457) Format: CD, MP3 | 21 compositions, from the 9th to the 20th century. Critic's Choice in The New York Times. |
| 1998 | Kronos Quartet Performs Alfred Schnittke: The Complete String Quartets Released: May 15, 1998 Label: Nonesuch (#79500) Format: 2CD, MP3 | "Kronos can play like demons." |
| 1998 | John Adams: John's Book of Alleged Dances Released: April 21, 1998 Label: Nonesuch (#79465) Format: CD, MP3 | Besides John's Book of Alleged Dances, also contains John Adams' Gnarly Buttons by the London Sinfonietta. |
| 2000 | Caravan Released: April 7, 2000 Label: Nonesuch (#79490) Format: CD, MP3 | With Zakir Hussain, Taraf de Haïdouks, Kayhan Kalhor, Ziya Tabbassian, Ali Jihad Racy, Souhail Kaspar, and Martyn Jones. Music by ten different composers incl. Carlos Paredes. Reached #4 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums" and stayed on the chart for 15 weeks. |
| 2001 | Terry Riley: Requiem for Adam Released: September 4, 2001 Label: Nonesuch (#79639) Format: CD, MP3 | Written by Terry Riley in memory of Adam Harrington, David Harrington's son. Also includes "The Philosopher's Hand", piano improvisation by Riley. |
| 2001 | Steve Reich: Triple Quartet Released: October 16, 2001 Label: Nonesuch (#79546) Format: CD, MP3 | With Dominic Frasca (guitar), Alan Pierson, and the Ossia ensemble (Eastman School of Music). |
| 2002 | Nuevo Released: April 9, 2002 Label: Nonesuch (#79649) Format: CD, MP3 | Music by Mexican composers: "A full-throttled celebration of the multitextured sounds of Mexico." Reached #8 in Billboard's "Top Classical Crossover Albums" and stayed on the chart for 14 weeks. |
| 2003 | Pēteris Vasks: String Quartet No. 4 Released: August 19, 2003 Label: Nonesuch (#79695) Format: CD single, MP3 | Written by Latvian composer Pēteris Vasks for the quartet; achieves "both feverish intensity and active rumination as the piece requires." |
| 2003 | Alban Berg: Lyric Suite Released: August 19, 2003 Label: Nonesuch (#79696) Format: CD single, MP3 | Complete recording of Alban Berg's Lyric Suite. Grammy winner for Best Chamber Music Performance, 2004; proves "that the quartet is indeed the 'real thing,' an excellent, multifaceted classical ensemble." With restored setting of Baudelaire's poem "De profundis clamavi", sung by Dawn Upshaw, soprano. |
| 2003 | Harry Partch: U.S. Highball Released: August 19, 2003 Label: Nonesuch (#79697) Format: CD single, MP3 | Ben Johnston's arrangement of Harry Partch's recollections. "Performed with pitch-perfect spirit." |
| 2005 | Mugam Sayagi: Music of Franghiz Ali-Zadeh Released: January 11, 2005 Label: Nonesuch (#79804) Format: CD, MP3 | Four works by the Azerbaijani composer Franghiz Ali-Zadeh, three of which ("Oasis" (1998), "Apsheron Quintet" (2001), and "Mugam Sayagi" (1993)) commissioned by the Quartet. Fourth track is Ali-Zadeh's "Music for Piano", which is performed by the composer, who also plays piano on "Apsheron Quintet." Reached #14 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums." |
| 2005 | You've Stolen My Heart: Songs From R.D. Burman's Bollywood with Asha Bhosle Released: August 23, 2005 Label: Nonesuch (#79856) Format: CD, MP3 | Recorded with Bollywood playback singer Asha Bhosle; tribute to Rahul Dev Burman., nominated for 46th Grammy Awards for Best Contemporary World Music Album. |
| 2007 | Henryk Górecki: String Quartet No. 3 ('...songs are sung') Released: March 20, 2007 Label: Nonesuch (#79993) Format: CD, MP3 | "Editor's Choice" for Strings magazine: "a solemn, spiritual, and revolutionary work." Entered at #6 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums" on March 30, 2007. |
| 2007 | Kronos Quartet Plays Sigur Rós Released: September 4, 2007 Label: Nonesuch (#307452) Format: MP3 | Two "audience favorites": "Flugufrelsarinn" (by Sigur Rós) and "The Star-Spangled Banner" (trad., arr. S. Prutsman after Jimi Hendrix). |
| 2008 | Terry Riley: The Cusp of Magic Released: February 4, 2008 Label: Nonesuch (#360508) Format: CD, MP3 | *Written for the quartet, with Wu Man (pipa). Reached #3 in Billboard's "Top Classical Albums" and stayed on the chart for 10 weeks. |
| 2008 | Kronos plays Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen Released: 2008 Label: Dacapo #6.220548 Format: CD | Concerto Grosso, for string quartet and symphonic ensemble Moving Still, for baritone and string quartet String Quartet No. 9, Last Ground, for string quartet and ocean |
| 2009 | Floodplain Released: May 19, 2009 Label: Nonesuch (#518349) Format: CD, MP3 | Music written or arranged for the quartet, "from cultures based in areas surrounded by water and prone to catastrophic flooding." Includes long piece by Serbian composer Aleksandra Vrebalov. |
| 2010 | Rainbow: Music of Central Asia Vol. 8 Released: 2010 Label: Smithsonian Folkways 40527 Format: CD, MP3 | With Alim and Fargana Qasimov (tracks 2–6) and Homayun Sakhi (track 1) |
| 2011 | Uniko Released: February 1, 2011 Label: Ondine (ODE 1185-2) Format: CD, MP3 | Features Kronos Quartet, Finnish accordionist Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen (live electronics). Seven-part suite for string quartet, accordion and live electronics composed by Pohjonen and Kosminen. |
| 2012 | Music of Vladimir Martynov Released: 2012 Label: Nonesuch #529776-2 Format: CD | The Beatitudes (1998; rescored for Kronos 2006) Schubert-Quintet (Unfinished) (2009), with special guest, Joan Jeanrenaud Der Abschied (2006) |
| 2013 | Under 30 Project: 1–4 Released: April 24, 2013 Label: Digital only #KR 2013-01 | Part of the Kronos' "Under 30 Project", presenting the first four commissions by: Alexandra du Bois (USA), Felipe Pérez Santiago (Mexico), Dan Visconti (USA), and Aviya Kopelman (Israel). |
| 2013 | Aheym – Music by Bryce Dessner Released: November 5, 2013 Label: Anti #87296-2 | |
| 2015 | Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector: Music of Terry Riley Released: June 23, 2015 Label: Nonesuch #549523 | Originally released as part of the 2015 compilation "One Earth, One People, One Love: Kronos Plays Terry Riley". |
| 2015 | Tundra Songs Released: 2015 Label: Centrediscs | Music by Derek Charke. Featuring Tanya Tagaq and Laakkuluk Williamson Bathory. |
| 2016 | Pelle Gudmundsen-Holmgreen: Green Ground Released: 2016 Label: Dacapo #8.226153 Format: CD | Includes: New Ground (String Quartet No. 10 (2011)) No Ground (String Quartet No. 11 (2011)) (Also features Theatre of Voices) |
| 2016 | Alexandra Vrebalov: the Sea Ranch Songs Released: September 30, 2016 Label: Cantaloupe Music #CA21122 | Video and animation by Andrew Lyndon, on bonus DVD. |
| 2017 | Folk Songs Released June 9, 2017 Label: Nonesuch #559151 | Featuring Sam Amidon, Olivia Chaney, Rhiannon Giddens, and Natalie Merchant. Originally performed for Nonesuch Records 50th anniversary in 2014. |
| 2017 | Ladilikan Released 2017 Label: World Circuit #wcv093 | With Trio Da Kali. |
| 2018 | Landfall Released 2018 Label: Nonesuch #564164 | With Laurie Anderson. Winner of the 2019 Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance. |
| 2018 | Clouded Yellow Released 2018 Label: Cantaloupe Music #CA21140 | Compositions by Michael Gordon |
| 2019 | Sun Rings Released 2019 Label: Nonesuch | Compositions by Terry Riley |
| 2019 | Long Time Passing Released 2020 Label: Smithsonian Folkways | Kronos Quartet and Friends Celebrate Pete Seeger |
| 2022 | Mỹ Lai Released 2022 Label: Smithsonian Folkways | composed by Jonathan Berger (music) and Harriet Scott Chessman (libretto) for Kronos Quartet |
| 2023 | Songs and Symphoniques: The Music of Moondog Released 2023 Label: Cantaloupe Music | Compositions by Moondog by Ghost Train Orchestra and Kronos Quartet |
| 2024 | Outer Spaceways Incorporated Released June 21, 2024 Label: Red Hot Records | Compositions by Sun Ra |

## Compilation albums

| Year | Album details | Notes |
| 1995 | Released: 1985–1995 Released: October 20, 1995 Label: Nonesuch (#79394) Format: CD, MP3 | 2-disc set. |
| 1998 | Kronos Quartet: 25 Years Released: October 16, 1998 Label: Nonesuch (#79504) Format: CD, MP3 | 10-CD box set retrospective. Recorded "with virtuosity, vigor, and astonishing stylistic dexterity." |
| 2014 | Kronos Explorer Series Released: April 8, 2014 Label: Nonesuch #536951 | 5-CD box of five previously released albums from five different parts of the world: Pieces of Africa, Night Prayers, Caravan, Nuevo, and Floodplain. Includes interview with David Harrington by author Jonathan Cott. |
| 2014 | A Thousand Thoughts Released: 2014 Label: Nonesuch #536952-2 | Featuring Asha Bhosle, Zakir Hussain, Tony MacMahon, Le Mystère des Voix Bulgares, Astor Piazzolla, Homayun Sakhi, Vân-Ánh Vanessa Võ, Don Walser, Wu Man. |
| 2015 | One Earth, One People, One Love: Kronos Plays Terry Riley Released June 23, 2015 Label: Nonesuch #548925 | 5-CD box of four albums in honor of American composer Terry Riley's 80th birthday. Includes three albums previously released by Nonesuch and a new record, "Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector". |

## Video albums

| Year | Video details | Notes |
| 2000 | In Accord Released: September 5, 2000 Label: Image Entertainment Format: DVD | Filmed in 1998; contains pieces by John Zorn, Pérotin, and Alfred Schnittke, as well as Jimi Hendrix's "Purple Haze." |
| 2002 | Kronos on Stage Released: September 5, 2000 Label: Image Entertainment Format: DVD | Contains Black Angels and Ghost Opera. |
| 2007 | Polish Quartets (Kwartety polskie) Released: 2007 Label: Polskie Wydawnictwo Audiowizualne Format: DVD | Filmed November 11, 2006 in Kraków. Contains quartets by Witold Lutosławski, Paweł Mykietyn, Krzysztof Penderecki, Henryk Górecki |

## Soundtracks

| Year | Soundtrack details | Notes |
| 1985 | Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters Released: December 11, 1985 Label: Nonesuch (#79113) Format: CD, MP3, Vinyl | Soundtrack by Philip Glass. |
| 1999 | Dracula Released: August 27, 1999 Label: Nonesuch (#97542) Format: CD, MP3 | Soundtrack by Philip Glass. |
| 2000 | Requiem for a Dream Released: September 29, 2000 Label: Nonesuch (#79611) Format: CD, MP3 | Soundtrack by Clint Mansell. |
| 2006 | The Fountain Released: November 27, 2006 Label: Nonesuch (#79901) Format: CD, MP3 | Soundtrack by Clint Mansell. |
| 2009 | 2081 Released: forthcoming Label: Nonesuch Format: CD, MP3 | Soundtrack by Lee Brooks for short film based on Kurt Vonnegut's short story "Harrison Bergeron." |
| 2014 | Noah: Music from the Motion Picture | Soundtrack by Clint Mansell |
| 2015 | Beyond Zero: 1914–1918 | A film by Bill Morrison. Soundtrack by Aleksandra Vrebalov. |

## Contributions

| Year | Album details | Notes |
| 1984 | Dahl, Ivey, Kingman Released: 1984 Label: Grenadilla GSC 1066 Format: Cassette tape | Kronos plays Daniel Kingman: String Quartet No. 2, "Joyful" |
| 1985 | John Anthony Lennon/Sheila Silver Released: 1985 Label: Composers Recordings, Inc. (CRI) SD 520 Format: LP; later CD | John Anthony Lennon: Voices for string quartet (also a work by Sheila Silver) |
| 1986 | Philip Glass, Songs from Liquid Days Released: 1986 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Freezing" and "Forgetting." Vocals by Linda Ronstadt (both tracks), backing vocals by The Roches ("Forgetting"). |
| 1987 | John Zorn, Spillane Released: 1987 Label: Elecktra/Nonesuch Format: LP & CD | Kronos plays "Forbidden Fruit" with Christian Marclay on turntables and vocals by Ohta Miromi with original texts by Reck. |
| 1990 | Rubáiyát: Elektra's 40th Anniversary Released: 1990 Label: Elektra Format: CD | Kronos plays "Marquee Moon", originally performed by Television |
| 1993 | Chance Operation: The John Cage Tribute Released: 1993 Label: Format: CD | Tribute to John Cage; Kronos plays "Thirty Pieces for String Quartet Excerpt." |
| 1995 | In C: 25th Anniversary Concert Released: February 9, 1995 Label: New Albion NA 071 Format: CD | Music by Terry Riley. |
| 1995 | Joan Armatrading, What's Inside Released: October 10, 1995 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays on "Shapes and Sizes." |
| 1995 | Heat Released: December 19, 1995 Label: Format: CD | Soundtrack by Elliot Goldenthal; other artists include Einstürzende Neubauten, Moby, and Brian Eno; Kronos plays "Heat", "Refinery Surveillance", "Predator Diorama." |
| 1996 | David Grisman Quintet, DGQ-20 Released: July 16, 1996 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays on "Mondo Mando." |
| 1998 | Dave Matthews Band, Before These Crowded Streets Released: April 28, 1998 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays on "Halloween" and "The Stone." |
| 1999 | Jay Cloidt, Kole Kat Krush Released: 1999 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays on "Kole Kat Krush." |
| 1999 | Café Tacuba, Reves/Yosoy Released: July 20, 1999 Label: Format: 2CD | Kronos plays "M.C." on the "Reves" disc of the double album, a cover of "La Muerte Chiquita" from the "Yosoy" disc. |
| 2000 | Andy Summers, Peggy's Blue Skylight Released: September 26, 2000 Label: Format: 2CD | Tribute to Charles Mingus; Kronos plays on "Myself When I Am Real." |
| 2001 | Osvaldo Golijov, The Man Who Cried Released: May 22, 2001 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Close Your Eyes (instrumental)", "Ceasar's Song", "Without A Word", "Close Your Eyes (vocal)." Other tracks by Salvatore Licitra, Taraf de Haïdouks, and others. |
| 2001 | Ingram Marshall, Kingdom Come Released: July 17, 2001 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Fog Tropes II for String Quartet and Tape", originally written for brass sextet and rearranged for Kronos Quartet. |
| 2002 | Big Bad Love (soundtrack) Released: February 19, 2002 Label: Format: CD | Kronos Quartet plays "Spiritual" (with Tom Verlaine); "a once-in-a-lifetime teaming of guitarist Tom Verlaine with the Kronos Quartet." |
| 2003 | Wesla Whitfield, September Songs: The Music of Wilder, Weill and Warren Released: May 13, 2003 Label: Format: CD | |
| 2003 | Tiger Lillies, The Gorey End Released: September 16, 2003 Label: Format: CD | Kronos contribute to 9 of the 13 songs inspired by Edward Gorey. |
| 2003 | Bird Up: The Charlie Parker Remix Project Released: October 21, 2003 Label: Format: CD | |
| 2003 | Nelly Furtado, Folklore Released: November 25, 2003 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays on "One-Trick Pony." |
| 2003 | The Company (soundtrack) Released: December 9, 2003 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "an eerie Kronos Quartet version of "My Funny Valentine." |
| 2003 | Gustavo Santaolalla, 21 Grams (soundtrack) Released: December 9, 2003 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "When Our Wings Are Cut, Can We Still Fly." |
| 2004 | Rokia Traoré, Bowmboï Released: August 31, 2004 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Manian", "Bowmboï." |
| 2006 | Dan Zanes, Catch that Train Released: May 16, 2006 Label: Festival Five Records #009 Format: CD | Kronos plays on "Grey Goose." |
| 2006 | Matmos, The Rose Has Teeth in the Mouth of a Beast Released: May 9, 2006 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Solo Buttons for Joe Meek." |
| 2007 | Healing the Divide: A Concert for Peace and Reconciliation Released: July 8, 2007 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays on "Way Down in the Hole", "God's Away on Business", "Lost In The Harbor", and "Diamond In Your Mind", four songs with Tom Waits (vocals) and Greg Cohen (bass). "Thanks to Waits' complex sense of the human condition, these are among Kronos' most powerful, satisfying performances. Highly recommended." |
| 2007 | Osvaldo Golijov, Oceana Released: July 10, 2007 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Tenebrae 1", "Tenebrae 2." "This is Kronos far afield from pop flirtations, spiritually resplendent and leaving you wanting more at the same time." |
| 2007 | Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero Remixed Released: December 20, 2007 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Another Version of the Truth" with Enrique Gonzalez Müller. |
| 2008 | Philip Glass, Glass Box: A Nonesuch Retrospective Released: September 30, 2008 Label: Nonesuch Format: CD | 10-CD collection of the work of Philip Glass on Nonesuch. |
| 2008 | Kronos Quartet, Danish National Symphony Orchestra, Kronos plays Holmgreen Released: October 28, 2008 Label: Format: CD | Kronos plays "Concerto Grosso" with Danish National Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Thomas Dausgaard. |
| 2009 | Dark Was the Night Released: February 16, 2009 Label: 4AD Format: CD | A 2 disc compilation benefiting the Red Hot Organization, a charity fighting HIV and AIDS. Kronos contributes the title track, a cover of a Blind Willie Johnson song. |
| 2011 | Hazmat Modine, Cicada Released: May 17, 2011 Label: Barbès Records Format: CD | Kronos plays "Dead Crow". |
| 2012 | Michael Hearst, Songs for Unusual Creatures Released: May 8, 2012 Label: Urban Geek Records Format: CD | Kronos plays "Aye-aye", and "Weddell Seal". |
| 2014 | The Great Beauty Released: February 19, 2014 Label: Decca International Format: CD | Kronos plays "The Beatitudes". |
| 2016 | Darmstadt Aural Documents · Box 3 · Ensembles Released: March 14, 2016 Label: Neos NEOS 11230 Format: CD | Kronos plays John Cage: "Thirty Pieces for String Quartet" (1982) (World premiere · Recording: July 27, 1984 – Darmstadt, Orangerie) |
| 2017 | Michael Salvatori, Destiny 2 Original Soundtrack Released: September 5, 2017 Label: Bungie Music Publishing Format: Digital | Kronos plays "Lost Light", and "Journey". |