Uniko
title: "Uniko" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["2011-albums", "albums-produced-by-valgeir-sigurðsson", "kronos-quartet-albums", "classical-albums-by-finnish-artists"] topic_path: "arts/music" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uniko" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::data[format=table title="Infobox album"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Uniko |
| type | studio |
| artist | Kronos Quartet |
| cover | Uniko-cover.jpg |
| released | |
| recorded | 2007 |
| genre | Contemporary classical |
| label | Ondine (#B004GX91Q6) |
| producer | Valgeir Sigurðsson |
| prev_title | Rainbow: Music of Central Asia Vol. 8 |
| prev_year | 2010 |
| :: |
| name = Uniko | type = studio | artist = Kronos Quartet | cover = Uniko-cover.jpg | alt = | released = | recorded = 2007 | venue = | studio = | genre = Contemporary classical | length = | label = Ondine (#B004GX91Q6) | producer = Valgeir Sigurðsson | prev_title = Rainbow: Music of Central Asia Vol. 8 | prev_year = 2010 | next_title = | next_year =
Uniko is a composition by Finnish musicians Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen, which was commissioned by the Kronos Quartet in 2003. It was first performed in 2003. The composition has seven parts, and combines accordion, strings, and vocals. A version of it was recorded in 2007, and released in 2011.
Performances
Uniko premiered in 2004 and was also performed in 2007 in New York City at the BAM NEXT WAVE festival, and in 2012 at Colours of Ostrava. A 2013 performance at the Barbican Centre in London was criticized by John Allison, writing for The Daily Telegraph, for being "an utterly mediocre easy-listening show". Allison was unimpressed by how much the potential of the accordion was put to use, and did not care for what the strings played either: "the quartet's simple riffs are momentarily haunting only because of the respite they supply, but they are desperately bland".
The composition includes strings, accordion, and vocals. According to Allison, "Live electro-accordion, voice and string quartet are all mixed with sampled accordion, strings and percussion and fed into a multilayered sonic environment that washes over the audience".
Track listing
| all_music = Kimmo Pohjonen and Samuli Kosminen | title1 = Uniko: I. Utu | length1 = 6:58 | title2 = Uniko: II. Plasma | length2 = 6:15 | title3 = Uniko: III. Särmä | length3 = 5:34 | title4 = Uniko: IV. Kalma | length4 = 11:00 | title5 = Uniko: V. Kamala | length5 = 5:38 | title6 = Uniko: VI. Emo | length6 = 10:19 | title7 = Uniko: VII. Avara | length7 = 6:00
Credits
Musicians
- David Harrington – violin
- John Sherba – violin
- Hank Dutt – viola
- Jeffrey Zeigler – cello
- Kimmo Pohjonen – accordion, voice
- Samuli Kosminen – electronic percussion, samples, programming
Production
Recorded at Avatar Studios, New York City, 2007
- Valgeir Sigurðsson – producer
- Pauli Sastamoinen – mastering
- Phillip Page – executive producer
- Rixi Ostariz – graphics and design
- Chikako Harada – photography
References
References
- Westphal, Matthew. "Fifteen-Foot Puppet Joins Kronos Quartet for World Premieres at BAM Oct. 3–6". PlaybillArts.com.
- Kozinn, Allan. (9 September 2007). "Just in Time for Timeless Melodies". [[The New York Times]].
- Allison, John. (September 19, 2013). "Kronos Quartet: Uniko, Barbican, review". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
- Denselow, Robin. (September 19, 2013). "Kronos Quartet/Kimmo Pohjonen/Samuli Kosminen – review". [[The Guardian]].
- "UNIKO: Stream the full album!". Kronos Quartet.
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