Bryce Dessner
Encyclopedia
Bryce Dessner is a Brooklyn based composer
, guitarist
, and curator
primarily known as a member of The National
. In addition to his work with The National, he is a founding member of Clogs
, and the founder of the MusicNOW Festival
. Bryce has a master's degree in classical guitar from Yale University
. He is the twin brother of Aaron Dessner
.
in Cincinnati, Ohio
in 1994. The brothers are co-founders, alongside Alec Hanley Bemis, of Brassland Records
, a label that was home to artists including the early releases from The National
, the Clogs
catalog and releases by Doveman
and Nico Muhly
.
The two Dessners also write, produce, and perform contemporary music internationally in collaboration with many artists. In August, 2008, Aaron and Bryce performed a collaborative concert with David Cossin, and Luca Tarantino as a part of Soundres, an international residency program for contemporary music and art in Salento
, Italy
and at the Guitare Au Palais Festival Perpignan
France
. They also performed at Matthew Ritchie
's Ghost Operator opening at the White Cube Gallery in London
.
. The record features exclusive new recordings and collaborations from a long list of artists including David Byrne
, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens
, Feist, Sharon Jones, Cat Power
, Grizzly Bear
, My Morning Jacket
, and Spoon
. Dark Was the Night has raised over 1.5 million dollars for AIDS charities as of January 2011.
On May 3, 2009 4AD and Red Hot
produced Dark Was the Night - Live, a concert commemorating the newest Red Hot album. The show took place at Radio City Music Hall
and featured several of the artists that contributed to the compilation.
, Bryce was commissioned by the internationally renowned, Grammy Award
-winning Kronos Quartet
, to compose a piece in honor of Steve Reich
’s 75th birthday. That piece, “Aheym”, Yiddish for “homeward”, premiered March 12, 2009 at the MusicNOW Festival
, and July 18, 2009 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
In 2011, Bryce was commissioned by Kronos Quartet
to compose a piece for Barbican Centre
's “Reverberations: The Influence of Steve Reich
” festival in London. That piece, “Tenebre”, is based on the traditional Holy Week
service, in which 15 candles are gradually extinguished. Dessner, in his own words, “inverts the service,” drawing the listener from darkness into light. “Tenebre” premiered May 7, 2011 at LSO St. Luke’s and featured the pre-recorded vocals of Sufjan Stevens
.
is an improvising quartet that has toured with The Books
in the UK and at the Sydney Festival
. Clogs' music served as the soundtrack to the Chris Eigeman
film Turn the River
.
. Together they created a work loosely based on the Mayan creation story ‘Popol Vuh’ that includes a 12 piece orchestra and four guest singers; Kim Deal
, Kelley Deal
, Matthew Berninger, and Shara Worden
. The work had its world premiere on September 11, 2009 at The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, as part of the Ellnora Festival. The work had its New York premiere in October 2009 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
and was performed at the Holland Festival
in June, 2011.
, Bang on a Can All-Stars, and Glenn Kotche
. Dessner served as the musical director for Matthew Ritchie
's The Morning Line installation, collaborating with Ritchie and a number of contemporary composers, including Lee Ranaldo
, Evan Ziporyn
. He founded and serves as the artistic director of the MusicNOW Festival
, an annual showcase of the best in contemporary music held in Cincinnati, Ohio. On July 2, Bryce performed Steve Reich
's "2x5" premiere alongside Reich at the Manchester International Festival, and is composing a piece for Kronos Quartet
in honour of Reich's 75th birthday. In March 2010, Dessner co-curated the Big Ears Festival
in Knoxville Tennessee
.
Each commission is linked to a larger story or inspiration. For the "Lincoln Shuffle" Dessner visited the Rosenbach Museum & Library
and used historical material to inspire the set of pieces, "Long Summer", "Rose of Lincoln", "Lincoln's Dixie", "Uncle Bob Ledbetter", "Uncle Bob's Union Guitars", and "Lincoln's Triumph (A Funeral March)."
was founded by Bryce Dessner in April 2006 in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. A variety of contemporary musicians from around the world have performed at the annual festival. The festival is held at the 100-year old Hamilton County Memorial Hall where artist Karl Jensen has created an art installation for the event. Each year's festival has included world premieres of new works commissioned by the festival. These include a collaboration between David Cossin and Glenn Kotche
, new arrangements for string quartet from Sufjan Stevens
, new work from Clogs and new music by Richard Reed Parry
(of Arcade Fire).
and featured Awadagin Pratt
, CelloProject, Bell Orchestre
, Glenn Kotche
, David Cossin, Kyaw Kyaw Naing
, Erik Friedlander
.
, My Brightest Diamond
and more. Vincent Moon
documented performances from the 2007 festival for a Take-Away Show on the French website La Blogothèque in a 30 minute video special.
, fresh from recording shared many of the songs from his recent release. The first evening of festival featured world premieres from Doveman
and Aaron Dessner
, Nico Muhly
, and Sufjan Stevens
.
was in residence. Acclaimed kora
player, Toumani Diabate
performed a solo concert at the Cincinnati Zoo. The Books
made a return appearance previewing material from their 2010 release. Festival commissions included two pieces for the Kronos Quartet, one from Richard Reed Parry and one from Tyondai Braxton
.
, Joanna Newsom
, yMusic, St. Vincent, Colin Stetson
, and Justin Vernon
featured performances from The National
, Sharon Van Etten
, Little Scream, Owen Pallett
, Tim Hecker
, Shara Worden
& yMusic, and Sounds of the South, a collaboration between Megafaun and Fight the Big Bull
.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
, and curator
Curator
A curator is a manager or overseer. Traditionally, a curator or keeper of a cultural heritage institution is a content specialist responsible for an institution's collections and involved with the interpretation of heritage material...
primarily known as a member of The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
. In addition to his work with The National, he is a founding member of Clogs
Clogs (band)
Clogs are a mostly instrumental project led by Bryce Dessner and Australia's Padma Newsome. Their existence predates Dessner's other band The National...
, and the founder of the MusicNOW Festival
MusicNOW Festival
The MusicNOW Festival was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by guitarist and composer, Bryce Dessner. Originally held at the Contemporary Arts Center, then moved to Memorial Hall, a small historic theater located in the city's historic Over-the-Rhine district...
. Bryce has a master's degree in classical guitar from Yale University
Yale University
Yale University is a private, Ivy League university located in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Founded in 1701 in the Colony of Connecticut, the university is the third-oldest institution of higher education in the United States...
. He is the twin brother of Aaron Dessner
Aaron Dessner
Aaron Dessner is a founding member of The National. Together with Matt Berninger, who writes the lyrics, Aaron writes much of the music for the band...
.
Aaron and Bryce Dessner
Aaron and Bryce write and play guitar for The National. The brothers both graduated from Cincinnati Country Day SchoolCincinnati Country Day School
Cincinnati Country Day School is a private, Independent School located in Indian Hill, Ohio, a suburb of Cincinnati....
in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
in 1994. The brothers are co-founders, alongside Alec Hanley Bemis, of Brassland Records
Brassland Records
Brassland is an artist-operated independent record label started in 2001 by Alec Hanley Bemis and Aaron and Bryce Dessner. On their 10th anniversary, The Guardian said of it that it is at "the centre of New York's other music scene."...
, a label that was home to artists including the early releases from The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
, the Clogs
Clogs (band)
Clogs are a mostly instrumental project led by Bryce Dessner and Australia's Padma Newsome. Their existence predates Dessner's other band The National...
catalog and releases by Doveman
Doveman
Doveman is a band founded by Thomas Bartlett. Originally from Vermont, Bartlett studied piano in London with Maria Curcio before moving to New York City to attend Columbia University. He attended Columbia for one year, when he left to focus on his studies of classical music. After leaving Columbia,...
and Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly is a contemporary classical music composer, who has worked and recorded with classical and pop/rock musicians. He currently lives in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan in New York City.-Early years:...
.
The two Dessners also write, produce, and perform contemporary music internationally in collaboration with many artists. In August, 2008, Aaron and Bryce performed a collaborative concert with David Cossin, and Luca Tarantino as a part of Soundres, an international residency program for contemporary music and art in Salento
Salento
Salento is the south-eastern extremity of the Apulia region of Italy. It is a sub-peninsula of the main Italian Peninsula, sometimes described as the "heel" of the Italian "boot"...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and at the Guitare Au Palais Festival Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. They also performed at Matthew Ritchie
Matthew Ritchie
Ritchie attended the Camberwell School of Art 1983-86. He describes himself as "classically trained" but also points to a minimalist influence.Ritchie's art revolves around a personal mythology drawn from creation myths, particle physics, thermodynamics, and games of chance, among other...
's Ghost Operator opening at the White Cube Gallery in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Dark Was the Night
In 2009, brothers Aaron and Bryce Dessner produced an extensive AIDS charity compilation, Dark Was the Night, for the Red Hot OrganizationRed Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
. The record features exclusive new recordings and collaborations from a long list of artists including David Byrne
David Byrne
David Byrne may refer to:*David Byrne , musician and former Talking Heads frontman**David Byrne , his eponymous album*David Byrne , Irish footballer*David Byrne , English footballer...
, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
, Feist, Sharon Jones, Cat Power
Cat Power
Charlyn Marie Marshall , also known as Chan Marshall or by her stage name Cat Power, is an American singer/songwriter and occasional actress and model. Cat Power was originally the name of Marshall's first band, but has come to refer to her musical projects with various backing bands...
, Grizzly Bear
Grizzly Bear (band)
Grizzly Bear is a Brooklyn-based indie rock band, composed of Edward Droste , Daniel Rossen , Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear . The band employs traditional and electronic instruments...
, My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
, and Spoon
Spoon (band)
Spoon is an American rock band formed in Austin, Texas. The band is composed of Britt Daniel ; Jim Eno ; Rob Pope and Eric Harvey .-History:...
. Dark Was the Night has raised over 1.5 million dollars for AIDS charities as of January 2011.
On May 3, 2009 4AD and Red Hot
Red Hot Organization
Red Hot Organization is a not-for-profit, 501 3, international organization dedicated to fighting AIDS through pop culture.Since its inception in 1989, over 400 artists, producers and directors have contributed to over 15 compilation albums, related television programs and media events to raise...
produced Dark Was the Night - Live, a concert commemorating the newest Red Hot album. The show took place at Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall
Radio City Music Hall is an entertainment venue located in New York City's Rockefeller Center. Its nickname is the Showplace of the Nation, and it was for a time the leading tourist destination in the city...
and featured several of the artists that contributed to the compilation.
Kronos Quartet
Following the production of Dark Was the NightDark Was the Night
Dark Was the Night is the twentieth compilation release benefiting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS...
, Bryce was commissioned by the internationally renowned, Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
-winning Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
, to compose a piece in honor of Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
’s 75th birthday. That piece, “Aheym”, Yiddish for “homeward”, premiered March 12, 2009 at the MusicNOW Festival
MusicNOW Festival
The MusicNOW Festival was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by guitarist and composer, Bryce Dessner. Originally held at the Contemporary Arts Center, then moved to Memorial Hall, a small historic theater located in the city's historic Over-the-Rhine district...
, and July 18, 2009 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
In 2011, Bryce was commissioned by Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
to compose a piece for Barbican Centre
Barbican Centre
The Barbican Centre is the largest performing arts centre in Europe. Located in the City of London, England, the Centre hosts classical and contemporary music concerts, theatre performances, film screenings and art exhibitions. It also houses a library, three restaurants, and a conservatory...
's “Reverberations: The Influence of Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
” festival in London. That piece, “Tenebre”, is based on the traditional Holy Week
Holy Week
Holy Week in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter...
service, in which 15 candles are gradually extinguished. Dessner, in his own words, “inverts the service,” drawing the listener from darkness into light. “Tenebre” premiered May 7, 2011 at LSO St. Luke’s and featured the pre-recorded vocals of Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
.
Clogs
The ClogsClogs (band)
Clogs are a mostly instrumental project led by Bryce Dessner and Australia's Padma Newsome. Their existence predates Dessner's other band The National...
is an improvising quartet that has toured with The Books
The Books
The Books are an American duo, formed in New York City in 1999, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Nick Zammuto and cellist Paul de Jong. Their releases typically incorporate samples of obscure sounds and speech...
in the UK and at the Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival
Sydney Festival is Australia's largest and most attended annual cultural event running every January since it was first held in 1977. Its program features around 80 events including contemporary and classical music, dance, circus, drama, visual arts and artist talks...
. Clogs' music served as the soundtrack to the Chris Eigeman
Chris Eigeman
Chris Eigeman is an American actor best known for roles in the Whit Stillman films Metropolitan, Barcelona, and The Last Days of Disco....
film Turn the River
Turn the River
Turn the River is a film that was written and directed by Chris Eigeman. The film debuted at the Hamptons International Film Festival on October 17, 2007.-Cast:*Famke Janssen as Kailey Sullivan*Jaymie Dornan as Gulley*Rip Torn as Teddy Quinette...
.
The Long Count
The Long Count was a large commission for the BAM Next Wave Festival that found Bryce Dessner working alongside his brother Aaron and visual artist Matthew RitchieMatthew Ritchie
Ritchie attended the Camberwell School of Art 1983-86. He describes himself as "classically trained" but also points to a minimalist influence.Ritchie's art revolves around a personal mythology drawn from creation myths, particle physics, thermodynamics, and games of chance, among other...
. Together they created a work loosely based on the Mayan creation story ‘Popol Vuh’ that includes a 12 piece orchestra and four guest singers; Kim Deal
Kim Deal
Kimberley Ann Deal is an American singer, songwriter and musician, best known as the bassist of the alternative rock band the Pixies and the lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for The Breeders. Deal first joined the Pixies in January 1986 as the band's bassist, adopting the stage name Mrs...
, Kelley Deal
Kelley Deal
Kelley Deal is an American musician. The identical twin sister of Kim Deal, she is the lead guitarist of The Breeders, besides having a solo career.- Early days :...
, Matthew Berninger, and Shara Worden
Shara Worden
Shara Worden is the lead singer and songwriter for My Brightest Diamond. She was previously a backup vocalist for Sufjan Stevens and the frontwoman of Awry.-Life:...
. The work had its world premiere on September 11, 2009 at The Krannert Center for the Performing Arts, as part of the Ellnora Festival. The work had its New York premiere in October 2009 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music
Brooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
and was performed at the Holland Festival
Holland Festival
The Holland Festival is The Netherlands' oldest and largest performing arts festival, and takes place every June in Amsterdam. It comprises theater, music, opera and modern dance. In recent years, multimedia, visual arts, film and architecture were added to the festival roster...
in June, 2011.
Other collaborations
Bryce Dessner is also a frequent collaborator with artists including Philip GlassPhilip Glass
Philip Glass is an American composer. He is considered to be one of the most influential composers of the late 20th century and is widely acknowledged as a composer who has brought art music to the public .His music is often described as minimalist, along with...
, Bang on a Can All-Stars, and Glenn Kotche
Glenn Kotche
Glenn Kotche is an American drummer and composer, best known for his involvement in the band Wilco. He was named the 41st greatest drummer of all time by Gigwise in 2008.Prior to working with Wilco, Kotche released a four-track album...
. Dessner served as the musical director for Matthew Ritchie
Matthew Ritchie
Ritchie attended the Camberwell School of Art 1983-86. He describes himself as "classically trained" but also points to a minimalist influence.Ritchie's art revolves around a personal mythology drawn from creation myths, particle physics, thermodynamics, and games of chance, among other...
's The Morning Line installation, collaborating with Ritchie and a number of contemporary composers, including Lee Ranaldo
Lee Ranaldo
Lee M. Ranaldo is an American singer, guitarist, writer, record producer, and visual artist, best known as a co-founder of the alternative rock band Sonic Youth...
, Evan Ziporyn
Evan Ziporyn
Evan Ziporyn is an American composer of post-minimalist music and music for Balinese gamelans. He plays the clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, and metallophone, borrowing from classical music, avant-garde, and jazz...
. He founded and serves as the artistic director of the MusicNOW Festival
MusicNOW Festival
The MusicNOW Festival was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by guitarist and composer, Bryce Dessner. Originally held at the Contemporary Arts Center, then moved to Memorial Hall, a small historic theater located in the city's historic Over-the-Rhine district...
, an annual showcase of the best in contemporary music held in Cincinnati, Ohio. On July 2, Bryce performed Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
's "2x5" premiere alongside Reich at the Manchester International Festival, and is composing a piece for Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
in honour of Reich's 75th birthday. In March 2010, Dessner co-curated the Big Ears Festival
Big Ears Festival
The Big Ears Festival is an annual music festival in Knoxville, Tennessee, created and produced by AC Entertainment.-History:The festival was founded in 2009 by Ashley Capps, founder of AC Entertainment...
in Knoxville Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
.
Commissions
- "Memorial" for the 2006 New York Guitar FestivalNew York Guitar FestivalThe New York Guitar Festival is a music festival founded by radio host and author John Schaefer and musician, producer and curator David Spelman, who serves at the festival's Artistic Director...
- "An evening of music" for the KitchenThe KitchenThe Kitchen is a non-profit, multi-disciplinary art and performance space located at at 512 West 19th Street, between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City...
, NYCNew York CityNew York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, March 2007 - "Propolis" for The Morning Line, co-composed with David Sheppard and Evan ZiporynEvan ZiporynEvan Ziporyn is an American composer of post-minimalist music and music for Balinese gamelans. He plays the clarinet, bass clarinet, saxophone, and metallophone, borrowing from classical music, avant-garde, and jazz...
, 2008 - "Lincoln Shuffle" for the 21st Century Abe Project, 2009
- "Aheym" for the Kronos Quartet at Celebrate Brooklyn, 2009
- "The Long Count" for the 2009 Brooklyn Academy of MusicBrooklyn Academy of MusicBrooklyn Academy of Music is a major performing arts venue in Brooklyn, a borough of New York City, United States, known as a center for progressive and avant garde performance....
Next Wave Festival - "O Shut Your Eyes Against the Wind" for Bang on a CanBang on a CanBang on a Can is a multi-faceted classical music organization based in New York City. It was founded in 1987 by three American composers who remain its artistic directors: Julia Wolfe, David Lang, and Michael Gordon...
All-Stars, 2010 Ecstatic Music Festival - "Tour Eiffel" for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, 2010
- "Tenebre" for Kronos QuartetKronos QuartetKronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
, 2010 - "Long Winter" for cellist Zachary Miskin, 2010
Each commission is linked to a larger story or inspiration. For the "Lincoln Shuffle" Dessner visited the Rosenbach Museum & Library
Rosenbach Museum & Library
The Rosenbach Museum & Library is located within two 19th-century townhouses at 2008 and 2010 Delancey Place in Philadelphia. The historic houses contain the collections and treasures of Philip Rosenbach and his younger brother Dr. A. S. W. Rosenbach...
and used historical material to inspire the set of pieces, "Long Summer", "Rose of Lincoln", "Lincoln's Dixie", "Uncle Bob Ledbetter", "Uncle Bob's Union Guitars", and "Lincoln's Triumph (A Funeral March)."
MusicNOW Festival
The MusicNOW FestivalMusicNOW Festival
The MusicNOW Festival was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by guitarist and composer, Bryce Dessner. Originally held at the Contemporary Arts Center, then moved to Memorial Hall, a small historic theater located in the city's historic Over-the-Rhine district...
was founded by Bryce Dessner in April 2006 in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. A variety of contemporary musicians from around the world have performed at the annual festival. The festival is held at the 100-year old Hamilton County Memorial Hall where artist Karl Jensen has created an art installation for the event. Each year's festival has included world premieres of new works commissioned by the festival. These include a collaboration between David Cossin and Glenn Kotche
Glenn Kotche
Glenn Kotche is an American drummer and composer, best known for his involvement in the band Wilco. He was named the 41st greatest drummer of all time by Gigwise in 2008.Prior to working with Wilco, Kotche released a four-track album...
, new arrangements for string quartet from Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
, new work from Clogs and new music by Richard Reed Parry
Richard Parry (musician)
Richard Reed Parry is a Canadian multi-instrumentalist, composer and member of the indie rock band Arcade Fire, where he plays double bass, celesta, keyboards, drums, guitar, and accordion. He is also a member of the Bell Orchestre, in which he primarily plays double bass and is the de facto...
(of Arcade Fire).
2006 edition
The 2006 Festival was held at the Contemporary Arts CenterContemporary Arts Center
The Contemporary Arts Center is a pioneering contemporary art museum located in Cincinnati, Ohio. The CAC is a non-collecting museum that focuses on new developments in painting, sculpture, photography, architecture, performance art and new media...
and featured Awadagin Pratt
Awadagin Pratt
- Life :When he was 3 years old, Pratt moved with his parents to Normal, Illinois, where Illinois State University had offered his mother a position as a professor of social work and his Sierra Leone-born father, Theodore, one as a physics professor...
, CelloProject, Bell Orchestre
Bell Orchestre
Bell Orchestre is a six-piece instrumental band from Montreal, Quebec, Canada.In late 2003, they recorded their first album, at the same time and in the same studio that Arcade Fire recorded Funeral. However, Arcade Fire's popularity was just beginning to break when they asked Bell Orchestre to...
, Glenn Kotche
Glenn Kotche
Glenn Kotche is an American drummer and composer, best known for his involvement in the band Wilco. He was named the 41st greatest drummer of all time by Gigwise in 2008.Prior to working with Wilco, Kotche released a four-track album...
, David Cossin, Kyaw Kyaw Naing
Kyaw Kyaw Naing
Kyaw Kyaw Naing is a modern Burmese traditional musician who is trying to bring this music to the world stage. He is a master of the pat waing or saing waing, a traditional Burmese drum-circle instrument; the player sits in the middle of a horseshoe-shaped shell made of elaborately carved wood...
, Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander
Erik Friedlander is an American cellist and composer based in New York City.A veteran of NYC's experimental downtown scene, Friedlander has worked in many contexts, but is perhaps best known for his frequent collaborations with saxophonist/composer John Zorn...
.
2007 edition
The 2007 festival featured AmiinaAmiina
Amiina is an Icelandic band composed of Hildur Ársælsdóttir , Edda Rún Ólafsdóttir , Maria Huld Markan Sigfúsdóttir , and Sólrún Sumarliðadóttir . They frequently perform live and in the studio along with Sigur Rós...
, My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond is the project of singer–songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shara Worden. The band has released two studio albums, 2006's Bring Me the Workhorse and 2008's A Thousand Shark's Teeth, along with a remix album Tear It Down and a download-only release through iTunes...
and more. Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon
Vincent Moon is an independent filmmaker from Paris mainly known for his field work music videos of indie rock related musicians as well as some notable mainstream artists like Tom Jones, R.E.M. or Arcade Fire. Besides making music videos he also makes experimental films and documentaries...
documented performances from the 2007 festival for a Take-Away Show on the French website La Blogothèque in a 30 minute video special.
2008 edition
In 2008, Andrew BirdAndrew Bird
Andrew Bird is an American musician, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist.- Early life and the Bowl of Fire :...
, fresh from recording shared many of the songs from his recent release. The first evening of festival featured world premieres from Doveman
Doveman
Doveman is a band founded by Thomas Bartlett. Originally from Vermont, Bartlett studied piano in London with Maria Curcio before moving to New York City to attend Columbia University. He attended Columbia for one year, when he left to focus on his studies of classical music. After leaving Columbia,...
and Aaron Dessner
Aaron Dessner
Aaron Dessner is a founding member of The National. Together with Matt Berninger, who writes the lyrics, Aaron writes much of the music for the band...
, Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly
Nico Muhly is a contemporary classical music composer, who has worked and recorded with classical and pop/rock musicians. He currently lives in the Lower East Side section of Manhattan in New York City.-Early years:...
, and Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens
Sufjan Stevens is an American singer-songwriter and musician born in Detroit, Michigan. Stevens first began releasing his music on Asthmatic Kitty, a label co-founded with his stepfather, beginning with the 1999 release, A Sun Came...
.
2009 edition
For 2009, the Kronos QuartetKronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
was in residence. Acclaimed kora
Kora (instrument)
The kora is a 21-string bridge-harp used extensively in West Africa.-Description:A kora is built from a large calabash cut in half and covered with cow skin to make a resonator, and has a notched bridge. It does not fit well into any one category of western instruments and would have to be...
player, Toumani Diabate
Toumani Diabaté
Toumani Diabaté is a Malian kora player. In addition to performing the traditional music of Mali, he has also been involved in cross-cultural collaborations with flamenco, blues, jazz, and other international styles.-Biography:...
performed a solo concert at the Cincinnati Zoo. The Books
The Books
The Books are an American duo, formed in New York City in 1999, consisting of guitarist and vocalist Nick Zammuto and cellist Paul de Jong. Their releases typically incorporate samples of obscure sounds and speech...
made a return appearance previewing material from their 2010 release. Festival commissions included two pieces for the Kronos Quartet, one from Richard Reed Parry and one from Tyondai Braxton
Tyondai Braxton
Tyondai Braxton is an American composer and performer, largely known as the former guitarist/singer of Battles, and as a prominently featured artist on record label Warp Records...
.
2010 edition
The fifth annual event featured three nights of music including performances from Robin PecknoldRobin Pecknold
Robin Noel Pecknold is an American singer, guitarist and principal songwriter for the band Fleet Foxes.-Biography:He formed Fleet Foxes with guitarist and friend Skyler Skjelset while the two were at school...
, Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom
Joanna Newsom is an American harpist, pianist and singer-songwriter from Nevada City, California.- Early life :Newsom grew up in the small town of Nevada City, California...
, yMusic, St. Vincent, Colin Stetson
Colin Stetson
Colin Stetson, born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and currently based in Montreal, Quebec, is a bass saxophone player and touring member of Arcade Fire, Bell Orchestre and Bon Iver...
, and Justin Vernon
2011 edition
In its sixth year, the MusicNOW FestivalMusicNOW Festival
The MusicNOW Festival was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by guitarist and composer, Bryce Dessner. Originally held at the Contemporary Arts Center, then moved to Memorial Hall, a small historic theater located in the city's historic Over-the-Rhine district...
featured performances from The National
The National (band)
The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
, Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten
Sharon Van Etten is an American singer-songwriter based in Brooklyn, New York City.Her songs were described by the music website Pitchfork Media as having "some echoes of folk tradition but generally in a more personal, introspective space." NPR Music asserts: "Her songs are heartfelt without being...
, Little Scream, Owen Pallett
Owen Pallett
Michael James Owen Pallett is a Canadian composer, violinist, keyboardist, and vocalist from Toronto, Ontario. He won the 2006 Polaris Music Prize for the album He Poos Clouds....
, Tim Hecker
Tim Hecker
Tim Hecker is an electronic musician and sound artist based in Montreal, Canada. Hecker previously recorded under the moniker Jetone, but has become better known internationally for his ambient recordings released through Kranky, Mille Plateaux, Alien8, Force Inc, Staalplaat, and Fat Cat under his...
, Shara Worden
Shara Worden
Shara Worden is the lead singer and songwriter for My Brightest Diamond. She was previously a backup vocalist for Sufjan Stevens and the frontwoman of Awry.-Life:...
& yMusic, and Sounds of the South, a collaboration between Megafaun and Fight the Big Bull
Fight the Big Bull
Fight the Big Bull is a Richmond, Virginia based improvisatory ensemble with two 2010 recordings selected for NPR's best of the year lists. The band was founded in the mid-00s by guitarist Matt White, one of the organizers of the Patchwork Collective, an arts group dedicated to creating a vital...
.
Further information
External links
- (official site of the National (band)The National (band)The National is an indie rock band formed in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1999 and currently based in Brooklyn, New York. The band's lyrics are written and sung by Matt Berninger, a baritone...
) - (official site) of Clogs
- The Morning Line
- (official site) of MusicNOW FestivalMusicNOW FestivalThe MusicNOW Festival was founded in 2006 in Cincinnati, Ohio, by guitarist and composer, Bryce Dessner. Originally held at the Contemporary Arts Center, then moved to Memorial Hall, a small historic theater located in the city's historic Over-the-Rhine district...
- (official site of PostHoc Management