An interesting interview in the Telegraph with American composer Nico Muhly features audio streaming of his latest recorded composition, Drones & Piano, which weaves music around a single note over five movements in 14 minutes.
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
One of the things that makes music sound interesting to us is harmonic variation. (I love to turn to Beethoven’s piano sonatas as examples of this, where he’ll alternate between major and minor keys as he develops a subject. Even Philip Glass, with his seemingly static pattern repetitions does this.) So to create a piece around a single note suggests the potential for monotony.
But the result is anything but. It’s worth a listen. Sometimes, the music is a bit busy, but it’s real appeal is in savouring how Muhly creatively uses consonance and dissonance with his chosen drone.
Check it out here — and enjoy how Muhly, a frequent collaborator with pop musicians, puts down those people who keep predicting the death of classical music.
For more on the album, click here.
John Terauds
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
