“I am chaos. I am the substance from which your artists and scientists build rhythms. I am the spirit with which your children and clowns laugh in happy anarchy. I am chaos. I am alive, and I tell you that you are free.”

This program is a part of the Eris Quartet’s 2023 spring tour, which centers around their program "Paintings, Songs, and Dances," a presentation of contemporary string quartet repertoire through the lens of interdisciplinary performance. "Paintings, Songs, and Dances" highlights major string quartet works of the 21st century from composers Shulamit Ran, Reena Esmail, and Jessie Montgomery as well as Haydn's classic Emperor Quartet.

Amina Knapp (she/her), Maya Irizarry (they/them), Daniel Knapp (he/they), and Felix Veser (he/him) comprise The Ἔrιs Quartet. Based in Oberlin, OH, the quartet formed in 2022 at the Oberlin Conservatory Advanced String Quartet Seminar. They have been mentored by Sibbi Bernhardsson of the Pacifica Quartet, Kirsten Docter of the Cavani Quartet, and members of the Verona Quartet. The name, Ἔrιs, comes from the Greek Goddess of Chaos, a symbol of the quartet’s commitment to the constantly changing landscape of music and collaboration. As such, these musicians serve as advocates of new music in the growing classical world.

Building Rhythm from Chaos with Eris Quartet