Home to earthquake swarms and volcanic eruptions, the countries of the Pacific Rim also produce some of the world’s most groundbreaking composers. San Francisco’s Del Sol String Quartet leads an inspiring seven- country tour. 20-page booklet essay by Charles Amirkhanian with photos. Works by: John Adams, Jack Body, Kui Dong, Gabriela Lena Frank, Hyo-shin Na, Peter Sculthorpe, Chinary Ung, and Zhou Long. Performed by the Del Sol String Quartet: Kate Stenberg, Rick Shinozaki, Charlton Lee, and Hannah Addario-Berry.

The San Francisco-based Del Sol String Quartet are masters of all musical things they survey on this disc, playing with a combination of ferocious attack, riveting interplay and silken splendour. Donald Rosenberg, Gramophone Magazine, December 2008

The Del Sol String Quartet, house band for the Other Minds Festival and a gallant local champion of contemporary music, checks in with a powerful and diverse compilation of recent work by Pacific Rim composers. Joshua Kosman, SFGATE, August 2008

1 · Kui Dong (1966, China)
“Spring,” from Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter Suite (2006)† (5:59)

2 · Chinary Ung (1942, Cambodia)
Spiral X: “In Memoriam” for amplified string quartet (2007)† (11:38)

3 · Jack Body (1944, New Zealand)
Epicycle (1989; rev. 2005)† (13:14)

4 · Gabriela Lena Frank (1972, USA)
“Chasqui,” from Leyendas: An Andean Walkabout (2001) (3:16)

5 · Hyo-shin Na (1959, South Korea)
Song of the Beggars (1998), 4:53 †

6. Zhou Long (1953, China)
Song of the Ch’in (1982) (8:59)

7 · John Adams (1947, USA)
“Toot Nipple,” from John’s Book of Alleged Dances (1994) (1:22)

8 · Peter Sculthorpe (1929, Australia)
“Yearning,” from String Quartet No. 16 (2005)† (5:14)

9 · Del Sol String Quartet
What Remains (Improvisation, 2007)† (4:11)† world premiere recording