Sufjan Stevens and his Orchestra ride the BQE
Sunday, October 28, 2007
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(photo: David Garland)
Songwriter Sufjan Stevens has always shown a fascination with orchestral color and sound in his recordings, and his popular albums of songs usually include some purely instrumental pieces. Now he brings an orchestra of eleven players (including Sufjan himself) into the WNYC Studio for a live performance of pieces from his new instrumental composition “The BQE.” Sufjan talks with host David Garland about the music and the ideas behind it, which include the story of the Brooklyn Queens Expressway, the consequences of urban planning, and hula hoops. This music, scheduled for sold-out performances November 1 - 3 in BAM’s Next Wave Festival, receives its premier on Spinning On Air!
View photos from the session
About The BQE at The Brooklyn Academy of Music
About Sufjan Stevens at Asthmatic Kitty Records
View photos from the session
About The BQE at The Brooklyn Academy of Music
About Sufjan Stevens at Asthmatic Kitty Records
If you can't see the video click here
Comments [6]
I've been following his work for years and am really enjoying his orchestral vibe. He did a superb gig here at a venue called Oran Mor with cheerleaders and the like. Nice interviews too. Cheers guys! Chris Dooks www.dooks.org
Unity through rhythm! Some good stuff here. I like the fact that the texture never gets too thick. Nice woodwinds.
scalp some tickets tonight! went last night, it was one of my favorite concerts ever -- a the stimuli worked so well together and great to have the hits played in the 2nd half with orchestra accompanying.
I was lucky to attend the concert last night, and it was absolutely amazing. He's such a talented artist, the entire thing was beautifully done. I feel like I need to get off my butt and go buy a guitar or a hula hoop or something!
I swear I hear influences of NPR's "Morning Edition" theme song.
its definitely different. however, i enjoy it greatly. it makes the listener pay attention to sufjan as a composer and not simply a song writer.
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