Nov 24, 2015
Knowing how a piece of classical music
came to be is often a bit of a guessing game. What inspired
Bach to write the Goldberg Variations, or Beethoven to write his
9th Symphony? Context clues, letters, composers’ notes help us put
the story together; we fill in the rest with our imaginations and
mythology. But no more! In this episode of Classical
Classroom, you’ll hear the entire story of a piece of modern
classical music, Music for Wood and Strings,
from commission to performance. Even the instruments on which the
piece is played didn’t exist before this story began. You’ll meet
composer Bryce Dessner (The National), instrument maker Aron
Sanchez (Buke and Gase), and the members of So
Percussion. You’ll hear a lot of awesome music. You’ll laugh!
You’ll cry. Your life will be affirmed. But seriously, it’s a
compelling (and thoroughly American) story about ingenuity,
modernist music, and most importantly, joy.
Music in this episode:
- Music for Wood and Strings. Bryce Dessner. Played by So Percussion.
- “Don’t Swallow the Cap.” The National, from the album Trouble Will Find Me.
- “Seam Esteem.” Buke and Gase.
- So-Called Laws of Nature. David Lang. Played by So Percussion.
- Appalachian Grove I. Laurie Spiegel.
Audio production by Todd “Tex” Hulslander with giddyups from Dacia Clay and editing by Mark DiClaudio.
For more So Percussion: www.sopercussion.com
For more Bryce Dessner: www.brycedessner.com
For more Aron Sanchez (and great pics of the chordsticks and other instruments he’s made): www.polyphonicworkshop.com
Thanks to Emily Motherwell, Stuart Wolferman, Da Camera of Houston, and the people at Brassland for their help with this episode.