Five things to know about Bryce Dessner
Bryce Dessner is perhaps best known for his role in the rock band, The National. Dessner, along with his twin brother, Aaron, play guitar, piano, and keyboards. and they also write music in collaboration with lead singer and lyricist Matt Berninger.
The National was founded by Aaron Dessner, Matt Berninger, and Scott and Bryan Devendorf. Bryce only joined the band after they had released their first album through Brassland Records, an independent records label founded by Bryce and Aaron Dessner.
Bryce and Aaron Dessner were named were listed as 243rd for Rolling Stone’s 250 Greatest Guitarists of all time.
Bryce Dessner premiered his Violin Concerto with us in 2021. The concerto was written for Pekka Kuusisto, our Featured Artist 2021/22, and was part of our series Human/Nature.
In an interview with us ahead of the concert, Bryce said that the creative idea of the concerto was born after he ‘considered how journeys by foot create a different connection to the land and environment in which we live. Something about the practice of composing for orchestra, and writing a violin concerto, felt at times like a musical analogue to this pilgrimage. Taking a journey that so many have taken before, and in which so many other musical pilgrims have left some of the most iconic and timeless music.’
Read the full blog here.
Many of his compositions have been film scores, including:
Netflix’s The Two Popes (2019)
Alejandro González Iñárritu’s The Revenant (2015), in collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto and Alva Noto
C’mon C’mon (2021) with Aaron Dessner, directed by Mike Mills
Dessner has also worked with many respected artists, including Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, Taylor Swift, Philip Glass, Caroline Shaw, Nico Muhly, Steve Reich, Jonny Greenwood and Paul Simon.
Dessner has also worked as a producer on tracks, including for The National, as well as David Lang’s album Death Speaks and Richard Reed Parry’s album Music for Heart and Breath to name a few.
In 2009, Bryce and Aaron Dessner produced Dark Was The Night – a compilation album benefitting the Red Hot Organization, an international charity dedicated to raising funds and awareness for HIV and AIDS. Dark Was the Night has raised over 1.6 million dollars for AIDS charities.
In 2016, Bryce and Aaron Dessner returned to produce Day of the Dead for the Red Hot Organization.
The Philharmonia Orchestra will premiere Bryce Dessner’s Piano Concerto on Thursday 15 February 2024, with pianist Alice Sara Ott. Dessner wrote the concerto for Ott, inspired by her beautiful playing, while also dedicating it to his sister, Jessica. The concerto consists of three movements, ‘How to Dance’, ‘How to Breathe’, ‘How to Feel’. Each movement takes direct inspiration from Jessica’s life and artistic practice.
Watch Bryce Dessner talk about the Piano Concerto in his own words in the videos below.
