Joan Jeanrenaud
Photographer: Michele Clement

During my trip to the west coast in mid November, I was fortunate enough to meet up with Joan Jeanrenaud -- cellist, composer, and former member of the Kronos Quartet (for 20 years!). Many of the recordings that she made with Kronos made a huge impression on me when I was a student; those CDs helped me to gain the enthusiasm and focus necessary to pursue a career in contemporary music. In the last couple of years, her work has inspired me again: her recent (Grammy® winning) CD, Strange Toys, is a phenomenal piece of work - a great example for anyone interested in the art of solo string recording.

Dufallo: What are some of your biggest musical influences?

Jeanrenaud: Peter Spurbeck, Fritz Magg, Pierre Fournier, Kronos Quartet, Janos Starker, David Baker, Jacqueline Du Pre, Pablo Casals, Joe Henderson, Charlie Mingus, Jaco Pastorius, Buddy Guy, old blues guys in Memphis, and of course Elvis! But of course there are all the composers -- from John Cage, Witold Lutoslawski, Elliot Carter to Steve Mackey, Terry Riley, Kevin Volans to Frank Zappa, John Zorn, Annie Gosfield.....this list could go on and on.

Dufallo: How does your career as a performer of new music inform your compositional process?

Jeanrenaud: It totally informs my compositional process. Since I really only began seriously composing after I left Kronos, my time with the group performing countless new works was my education. I did study one semester of composition at IU with Fred Fox. But playing so much contemporary music along with some study of improvisation with David Baker, Joe Henderson and Hal Stein were the catalyst for turning my hand at composing.

Dufallo: When did you start composing and why?

Jeanrenaud: I started composing in 1999 when I had left Kronos. I have always considered myself a cellist first (since I began playing in 1967) and now a composer second. I was interested in exploring electronics and improvisation when I was on my own and these two pursuits lead to composing. Perhaps also the continued desire to hear four parts prompted me to use looping devices to perform several parts at once but on my own.

Dufallo: Can you discuss the concepts and creative process behind your recent CD Strange Toys?

Jeanrenaud: Strange Toys is selection of compositions I created in the beginning years of my composing career (2001-2007). I chose what I thought were the strongest works so it was a documentation in a sense. Also it was representative of the ideas I had been working with.....multiple cellos, electronics and looping with me performing all the parts.

Dufallo: Do you have any advice for performers who would like to start composing?

Jeanrenaud: Fool around, improvise and have fun with your instrument! If you like something, write it down, record it or remember it. Then just keep working with it. It is a blast!!