Lauded for their “palpable chemistry and remarkable warmth” (San Francisco Classical Voice), the Poiesis Quartet is the First Prize and Commission Prize winners of the 2025 Banff International String Quartet Competition. In 2023, they were named the Grand Prize and Lift Every Voice Prize winners of the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, as well as Gold Medal and BIPOC Prize winners at the 2023 St. Paul String Quartet Competition. Derived from ancient Greek (ποιεῖν), the word Poiesis means “to make;” specifically, to create something that has not existed before.
With an emphasis on expanding the string quartet repertoire with vibrant new works by emerging composers, the Poiesis Quartet infuses each performance with unique moments of synchronicity and verve. In addition to a recent commission of Chinese-Canadian composer Kevin Lau’s seventh string quartet, an exciting new endeavor spearheaded by Poiesis – the Oberlin Commission Project (TOCP) – presents world premieres of five newly commissioned works by LGBTQ+ composers of color from Oberlin Conservatory in March 2026. Poiesis is also honored to serve as the 2025-26 Ernst Stiefel Quartet-in-Residence at the Caramoor Center for Music and the Arts.
Hi! We’re the Poiesis Quartet and we’re super excited to make this playlist for I CARE IF YOU LISTEN. As an ensemble, we’re extremely passionate about expanding what chamber music and string quartet playing really means, and a lot of the time that means we branch out into different genres or play contemporary classical music that is influenced by different genres, and representing those different forms and traditions is extremely important to us.
Contemporary chamber music does look like now and could evolve into so many things in the future and it’s really exciting to be able to share some of our most inspirational tracks. These tracks have influenced us, affected the way we approach and play music in many different ways, and come from many different instrumentations, backgrounds, genres, and we really hope you enjoy listening. Thanks so much. Bye!
No-Man’s-Land Lullaby by Eleanor Alberga, Performed by Albert and Thomas Bowes
This recording of Eleanor Alberga’s No-Man’s-Land Lullaby, performed by Alberga herself and husband Thomas Bowes on violin, profoundly captures a wide range of emotional qualities. This piece is based around the infamous Brahms “Lullaby” which only emerges at the very end, preceded by reflections of a desolate, barren war zone which turns searingly violent. The duo’s deep commitment to broadcasting these various environments make this a deeply inspirational track for us!
Yearnin’ by Oliver Nelson, Performed by Nelson, Freddie Hubbard, Eric Dolphy, George Barrow, Bill Evans, Paul Chambers, and Roy Haynes
Oliver Nelson’s Yearnin’ features seven irrefutable giants on their instruments. This track serves as an example of “chamber music” on the absolute highest level, with every aspect of each musician’s entire being showing complete immersion into the music. From the horn arrangements, to the rhythm section, to the solos, there is a palpable whole-soul commitment to expression and openness which one can only hope to achieve in their musical pursuits!
Suite pou Dantan: 1. “Prelid” by Nathalie Joachim, Performed by Joachim and the Spektral Quartet
Nathalie Joachim’s Suite pou Dantan: 1. “Prelid” is just one piece of the puzzle of the incredible album/project Fanm d’Ayiti. The combination of Joachim’s vocals, the Spektral Quartet, electronics, and recorded choir immediately immerses the listener in a wondrous atmosphere, brimming with energy. The project as a whole is a really beautiful celebration of some of Haiti’s greatest known female voices, and in this track you can really feel the love and admiration Joachim has for these women and for her ancestry.
American Haiku by Paul Wiancko, Performed by Wiancko and Ayane Kozasa
Paul Wiancko’s American Haiku is an absolutely gorgeous viola/cello duo that incorporates a wide array of genre influences ranging from Japanese folk to Appalachian fiddling. Wiancko describes American Haiku as both a reflection on his Japanese American identity and an ode to the evocative concision of haiku. Ayane and Paul’s magical sound and incredible musical connection in this performance adds an extra layer of depth to the already vibrant and meaningful piece. This piece is what inspired the duo to form and as such really embodies the essence of chamber music.
Marejada by Angélica Negrón, Performed by the Kronos Quartet
Angélica Negrón wrote this string quartet in 2020 to be performed on Zoom. The backing track is an ambient soundscape with field recordings of bird calls from Puerto Rico. Glistening arpeggios in the upper strings converse with twangy interjections in the cello over an internet delay, so the audience — either joined on the call or listening to a recording — experience the wonderful effect of a spontaneous overlap in all entrances and exits.
A Cockroach’s Tarantella by Du Yun, Performed by JACK Quartet
Combining the storytelling forces of string quartet, electronics, and narrator, Du Yun imagines a weary, perpetually pregnant cockroach who yearns to feel human emotion. The JACK Quartet’s album features the composer narrating in both English and Chinese. Du Yun said about this being her first quartet: “Writing with a story like this attached it feels a lot more lighthearted … That way I can free myself from the associations of Beethoven, Bartok and Ligeti.”
“Naglingniq” by Kathleen Ivaluarjuk Merritt
“Naglingniq” is written by Kathleen Ivaluarjuk Merritt, known professionally as Ivaluarjuk, is an Inuk and Irish throat singer who blends traditional Inuit throat singing with Celtic influences. Performed by two throat singers with live renditions featuring drum dancers, the title of the song translates to ‘love’ and signifies the strong traditions of interconnectedness, reciprocity, and kindness in Inuit culture. In Ivaluarjuk’s rendition, she weaves in themes grounded in land and connection to the earth. Her powerful storytelling exemplifies the core features of the future of music: grounded in community and centered in cultural sovereignty.
Bubbles by Yosi Horikawa
Yosi Horikawa is an Osaka-born musician and sound designer who utilizes the sounds of nature as well as everyday noises like kitchen utensils to create beautifully compelling artistic soundworlds. Weaving in vivid birdsongs through field recordings amidst sounds of bouncing balls, Horikawa challenges our understanding of the ‘mundane’ and encourages us to hear music in everything we come across.
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