Press
“One of a kind”
That sentiment could well serve as the mantra for the MusicNOW festival. All of the event’s participants — whether they’re familiar with each other, have worked together in the past or are meeting for the first time — have at least some inkling of what they hope to contribute to the others.
The actual outcome will remain a mystery until the musicians come together and weave their individual creative strands into the sonic tapestry of MusicNOW.
Perhaps the single most important aspect of MusicNOW is its singularity. No other festival is colliding these musical worlds in quite the same way as Bryce Dessner’s brainchild. It’s a point that Worden drives home enthusiastically.
“I don’t know anything of its kind that exists,” she says. “In the Classical world, I’m trying to think of Carnegie or what I know of other halls where people are cross-pollinating, but I seriously don’t know of anything else that’s going on where you’re bringing Classical music and songwriting and all these elements of collaboration. I can’t think of anything that exists like that.”
From City Beat
“A bunch of young, cutting-edge musicians from around the globe have gathered in Cincinnati for a weekend in which the worlds of classical chamber and avant-garde collide. This group includes such hipsters as the indie-rock critics’ darling Sufjan Stevens, Sigur Ros collaborators Amiina, and Cincinnati native Bryce Dessner, who plays in the New York rock band the National and curates the festival.So how does the Music Now Festival begin its opening night, when so many contemporary-minded players are waiting to take the stage? With a septuagenarian playing traditional flamenco music, of course.Actually, watching Pedro Soler strum his guitar on a Thursday-night bill that featured everything from chamber quartets to a solo percussion piece based on sounds produced by water made sense in the context in which Dessner placed it.This festival, Dessner told the Memorial Hall crowd, ‘Is about presenting all different kinds of music that are being performed and written today.’
From Cincinnati Enquirer:
“I’ve long since given up on trying to keep track of my favorite concert moments. But should anyone ever press a gun to my temple and demand such a list, I’d never forgive myself for leaving off Sufjan’s solo encore of “To Be Alone With You.” Like the earlier performance of “Transfiguration,” the religious overtones of the song reflected the “Easter-eve” atmosphere which Sufjan referenced a few times. But more than that, it was the best example of how even a show with a thousand plus audience members can be intimate and emotional with the right performer.”From You Ain’t No Picasso
“Saturday with Sufjan was a truly inspiring night and a fitting end to an amazing festival. The audience was treated to world class performances all three nights that were as moving as they were groundbreaking and original.Sufjan, though, was simply incredible. A lot of the arrangements that he (and other artists) used were composed/arranged especially for the festival. On the indie front, My Brightest Diamond was just phenomenal - she will be doing amazing things in the coming years, so listen up (she already is).All of the artists/performances were breathtaking, none overshadowing the other. Amiina was original, thought-provoking, and just plain fun (a SAW quartet? I mean, come ON!). Irena and Vojtech Havel, who opened for Sufjan, was original and moving - very indicative of comtemporary theme play in “classical” music right now. Frankly, I was most blown away by the Thursday night “marathon” concert, as much of a Sufjan disciple as I am. Words can barely describe.
All together some of the best few days of music I’ve been a part of, either as a performer or audience member. I will not soon forget it. It was a treat for music lovers.
(I haven’t scoured youtube yet, but if anyone posted his rendition of “John Wayne Gacy, Jr.” on the pump organ, it is worth your time)”
From comment on First Night at Each Note Secure
“So, I am stuck with the thought that our little secret from last year is out. The 150 or so of us that gathered last year over the course of four nights of music and tried our best to tell everyone about it afterwards, were finally able to show them first hand. A big congratulations and thanks is due to curator Bryce Dessner and the talented staff and musicians that made the weekend happen. I cannot wait to see how things progress for year three.”
From Each Note Secure, The Secret is Out
This past weekend, Sufjan performed at Cincinnati’s MUSICNOW festival and regaled the crowd in some unreleased material which you are obviously dying to hear.From Stereogum
“For Thursday night, we got the most varied presentation of musical acts that I believe I’ve ever seen in one setting. To start the evening, we saw the U.S. debut of French flamenco guitarist Pedro Soler. Now I’m certainly not an expert in flamenco guitar, and really not a fan, but gosh, this was absolutely amazing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone play like that. At least not in person. Anyways, that was certainly a treat.”From what Zach thinks
