Windborne's The Music of David Bowie: A Rock Symphony with The Seattle Symphony, S. Mark Taper Foundation Auditorium, Benaroya Hall, Seattle, WA, January 10, 2017.
From the Seattle Symphony's website: "The genius of David Bowie's innovative range of musical styles influenced multiple generations of groundbreaking music. Now, hear his iconic music performed as never before with the Seattle Symphony featuring Guest Conductor Brent Havens and a full rock band; taking you on a symphonic odyssey that pays tribute to the legendary musician and epic storyteller David Bowie."
Two strands converged for this one: the cottage industry of Bowie "tribute" shows and tours in the wake of his 2016 death and the need to get more traffic into urban symphony halls. It is a bit unfortunate that this convergence has been addressed by increasing the number of "pop" shows and relying ever-more-heavily on a narrow repertoire from the Western canon, especially when there is recurring anecdotal evidence that a younger audience wants more diverse, interesting and challenging music.
Given my attitude about it, why did I support this show, which was on the one-year anniversary of Bowie's passing? I guess you can say I needed it.
I was still living in New York, wrapping up work on a project to support the release of his album ★ when he died. We delayed the launch of the project (which ultimately rolled out a month or so later) and life went on but a lot had transpired in the subsequent year. I really just wanted to hear the music.
I have come around to the position that the tribute bands, shows and tours - with or without musicians directly connected to the music being celebrated - is very important longterm. Why shouldn't people be able to hear the popular music, the rock music, of the 20th century live? The music will die otherwise. There is a "classical canon" and books of jazz standards "everyone knows" because generations of performers are taught them, train on them, record them and yes, play them year in and year out.
I enjoy the different takes on the music that I know so well. It is not always amazing but it is typically worthwhile.
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