The National's Bryce Dessner on the concert hall vs the algorithm
He has worked with Taylor Swift, Paul Simon and Philip Glass, and this month, The National guitarist and composer teams with the Sydney Symphony.
Bryce Dessner, the guitarist and keyboardist of The National, lives across two worlds. Growing up in Ohio, he studied classical music at Yale and later composed experimental music in Brooklyn. Dessner has earned accolades in both alternative and chamber music, and has collaborated with notable figures like Philip Glass and Steve Reich.
This month, he will embark on the first solo Australian tour of his orchestral work with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Dessner views composing for orchestra and rock music as complementary, both requiring collaborative effort and human connection. His new cello concerto, Trembling Earth, draws inspiration from Edvard Munch's landscape paintings and reflects on the human condition in challenging times.
Dessner's works often explore themes of impermanence and renewal, with his newest pieces featuring electric guitars functioning like harps. He believes live music and human connection hold more value in the age of algorithmic culture, with the concert hall serving as a haven for creativity.
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