Bryce Dessner

Bryce Dessner

Bryce Dessner is a composer/guitarist/curator based in New York City, best known as the guitarist for the acclaimed rock band The National. Their albums Alligator (2005) and Boxer (2007) were named among albums of the decade in publications throughout the world. Their most recent release, High Violet (2010), debuted at #3 on the US Billboard chart and at #5 in the UK charts. Dessner has also received widespread acclaim as a composer and guitarist for the improvising new music quartet, Clogs. Bryce has performed and/or recorded with some of the world’s most creative musicians including songwriters Sufjan Stevens, Bon Iver, and Antony Hegarty, Sonic Youth guitarist Lee Ranaldo, composers Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Nico Muhly and Michael Gordon, and the contemporary ensembles, Kronos Quartet and the Bang on a Can All-Stars, and visual artist Matthew Ritchie.

As a composer, his recent commissions include a Jerome Grant from the American Composer’s Forum and the Kitchen (NYC) for a full concert of his music in March 2007, and a commission from Thyssen Bornemisza Art Contemporary (Vienna) to create a 40-minute spatial sound work for the Morning Line, a large outdoor sound pavilion by artist Matthew Ritchie. Other new works include a commission by the Rosenbach Library in Philadelphia for the Lincoln Shuffle, a composition in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s bi-centennial, and The Long Count, an origins story told in myth, music and video, commissioned by BAM for the 2009 Next Wave Festival. Bryce also recently composed two string quartets, Aheym and Tenebre, for the Kronos Quartet. Other recent commissions include a new piece for the Bang on a Can All-stars, a collaborative work for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus with composer Nico Muhly for St. Ann’s Warehouse in Dumbo NYC, and commissions from the American Composers Orchestra,

In 2012, Bryce and Aaron Dessner brought The Long Count to Barbican in London for its UK debut and are currently creating the score for the film "Big Sur". 2012 also brings a collaborative song cycle with Sufjan Stevens and Nico Muhly and new commissions for the Amsterdam Sinfonietta and the Berlin string ensemeble, Kaleidoskop. Also, on the horizon in 2013, are new works for eighth blackbird and an evening with the Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

Dessner is also the creator and artistic director of the acclaimed MusicNOW Festival in Cincinnati, Ohio, which will present its seventh season in March 2012. He is co-founder and owner of the Brassland record label, which is home to a diverse group of artists including the experimental rock duo Buke and Gass, celebrated young composer Nico Muhly and cellist Erik Friedlander. Bryce and his brother Aaron also recently produced an extensive AIDS charity compilation, Dark was the Night, for the Red Hot Organization. The ambitious record features exclusive new recordings and collaborations from a long list of artists including David Byrne, Arcade Fire, Sufjan Stevens, Sharon Jones, Cat Power, Grizzly Bear, My Morning Jacket and Spoon. Dark was the Night has raised over 2 million dollars for AIDS charities as of January 2012. Bryce Dessner now serves on the board of The Kitchen in New York City and is a graduate of Yale College and the Yale School of Music.

List of Recent Works

1. Memorial (2006)
   Classical Guitar, Viola, Percussion, 8 min.
   Commissioned by the New York Guitar Festival and 92nd Street Y, Premiered NY Guitar Festival at the 92nd Street Y December 1, 2006.
2. Score for feature independent film Turn the River *
   Commissioned by Mr. Nice Film Productions
3. Quintets (2007)
   Three Movements Electric Guitar and String Quartet, 20 min.
   Commissioned by the Kitchen and American Composers Forum, premiered March 13-14, 2007 at the Kitchen (NYC)
4. Raphael (2007)
   Mixed Large Ensemble, 22 min.
   Commissioned by the Kitchen and American Composers Forum, premiered March 13-14, 2007 at the Kitchen (NYC)
5. Propolis ** (2008)
   Live Bass Clarinet and Electronics, 40 min.
   Commissioned by Thyssen Bornemisza Art Contemporary (Vienna) for the Morning Line, a large outdoor sound pavilion by Matthew Ritchie, premiered in October 2008 at the 3rd International Biennial of Contemporary Art of Seville.
6. The Lincoln Shuffle (2009)
   for Brass Ensemble and Electric Guitars, 30 min.
   Series of short pieces commissioned by the Rosenbach Library for Abraham Lincoln's Bi-Centennial. Premiere is April 2, 2009 at the Rosenbach Library.
7. Aheym (2009)
   for Kronos Quartet, 12 min.
   Commissioned by Kronos Quartet for the Celebrate Brooklyn Festival. Soft Premiere March 12, 2009 at the Music Now Festibval. NY premiere July 18, 2009 in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.
8. The Long Count *** (2009)
   for Orchestra and 4 singers, 70 min.
   Commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music Next Wave Festival. To be premiered October 28-31, 2009.
9. O Shut Your Eyes Against the Wind (2010)
   for Bang on a Can All-Stars, 15 min.
   Commissioned by the People's Commissioning Fund and Bang on a Can for the Ecstatic Music Festival, Merkin Concert Hall, NYC.
10. Tour Eiffel (2010)
    for the Brooklyn Youth Chorus, 15 min.
    Co- Commissioned by the Brooklyn Youth Chorus with St. Ann's Warehouse Dumbo, Kaufman Center, Manhattan New Music Project and the Ectstatic Music Festival, Merkin Concert Hall for performances at St Anns on February 10-12, 2011 and at Merkin Concert Hall on March 12, 2011
11. Tenebre (2010)
    for Kronos Quartet, 15 min.
    Commissioned by Kronos Quartet and the Barbican (London).
12. Long Winter (2010)
    for Solo Cello, 7 min.
    Commissioned by Naive Records (FR) for cellist Zachary Miskin.
13. St. Carolyn by the Sea (2011)
    Electric Guitars, Orchestra, 15 min.
    Commissioned by ACO and Muziekcentrum Eindhoven

* co-composed with Padma Newsome
** co-composed with David Sheppard and Evan Ziporyn
*** co-composed with Aaron Dessner