The Tashi Quartet (originally known as TASHI) is an ensemble of violinist Ida Kavafian, pianist Peter Serkin, cellist Fred Sherry and, later, clarinetist Richard Stoltzman, founded in 1973 for the purpose of playing Quartet for the End of Time by Olivier Messiaen, as well as commissioning new works.
[1] Peter Serkin was fascinated by the concept of ‘sound color,’ created by composer Olivier Messiaen.
It was based on the color of visions Messiaen had while suffering internment, and it was written for the only musicians at the camp.
Thus, the debut record album by the Tashi Quartet has a brightly colored Tibetan painting of this symbol as its cover.
The record cover was painted by Wendy Serkin together with Tibetan master thangka painters Noedrup and Rinzen Rongae.