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October 25, 2007

Sufjan Previews The BQE

Rock may be dead, but classical music will live forever (just ask Bach). We posted recently about Sufjan Stevens's new orchestral suite for 38 musicians (and one 16-mm film), The BQE, which opens next week (11/1) at the Brooklyn Academy Of Music's Next Wave festival. The three performances are already sold out, but you can hear portions of the work over the weekend on David Garland's excellent WNYC radio show, "Spinning On Air." So pour yourself a Brandy and put on your smoking jacket and take a listen to Suf and his strings this Sunday (10/28) from 7:00-8:00 EST at 93.9 FM if you're in range or on-line if you aren't. If you can't wait, check out this clip below from a practice run Garland recorded. Love the red milk crate hogging the spotlight.

Via P4K:

Yes, that's Suf on piano. The sound's a bit hissy and sharp, but you get the flourishing idea ... after this tiny tidbit of the road ahead, we're really interested to see where The BQE goes next. (By the way, a couple few months ago Family Vineyard released Garland's Noise In You, on which Mr. Stevens guests vocally and instrumentally on a few tracks ... check it out if you haven't).

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9 Comments

Trey did some good work with the Vermont Orchestra too a couple years back. Oh wait he's a hippie so lets ignore him, this si suf's original idea.

Posted by: dannygutters at 10/25/07 10:41 AM | Reply
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its just so.. shrill. "soof" should stick to rock.

Posted by: nick at 10/25/07 10:50 AM | Reply
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Nothing wrong with Trey, but no one's saying Sufjan invented orchestral music.

ANYWAYS!

Love that Phil Lesh was temporary mayor of Glen Falls for a day last week and tried to pardon Trey.

Are there gonna be more tickets on sale for BQE?

Posted by: Brooklyn at 10/25/07 10:50 AM | Reply
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He should really try his had at film scoring. I think he could make something really special. Not that he already doesn't.

Posted by: Luis at 10/25/07 11:53 AM | Reply
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Meh, if Suf's song's are catchy enough i don't know. The fact that he is actually going through with this is amazing though.

Posted by: B mEEzeeo at 10/25/07 12:04 PM | Reply
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this website has written about this project twice now and i still have no idea what the fuck it all is

Posted by: grover at 10/25/07 5:36 PM | Reply
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I love Sufjan as much as the next stereogummer (circa 2006 at least, you know before the backlash), but i really get the feeling that this is going to suck. big time.

Posted by: Michael at 10/25/07 6:17 PM | Reply
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we gotta wait until rufus wainwright finishes his opera so we can see who the real "modern composer" is. i have my bet on rufus.

Posted by: 1234 at 10/25/07 7:56 PM | Reply
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carlos d. was beaten to the punch and sufjan is way ahead of his time, he's like new wave

Posted by: paul at 10/26/07 12:00 AM | Reply
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