The Russian National Orchestra performs Dead Symphony No. 6: An Orchestral Tribute to the Grateful Dead. This work was composed and conducted by Lee Johnson. Released on cd just a couple of days ago, it has been available for a month for download from iTunes and other outlets. The website for the work is www.deadsymphony.com.
Johnson describes the Dead Symphony as “a musical embrace of American culture” … “The Grateful Dead lived in the musical moment. Theirs was a world of perpetual exploration and endless possibility.” Johnson said the work is a continuation of the band’s spirit, but prior to being approached by producer Mike Adams about the project, he wasn’t familiar with the band’s music.
Unfortunately, he still isn’t.
Dennis McNally, Greatful Dead Historian and Publicist says, “The essence of the Dead’s music was improvisation, and the root of that is an attitude that says transformation is at the center of all art.”
(unsaid: but this project has nothing to do with that essence or attitude!)
More from McNally: “Dead Symphony takes different fragments of the Dead’s music and reweaves them into a sparkling tapestry that satisfies a whole ‘nother realm of possibility.”
(unsaid: ’cause this project certainly has nothing to do with the Grateful Dead!)
Playbill in typical fashion is noncommittal, but gives a positive-ish review; Opera Chic says it’s muzak.
(the cover art by Barry Williams is pretty cool, though!)
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July 3, 2007 at 1:26 pm
Mike Adams
I can not discern from the aricle above that you have heard the Symphony as a whole. Have you?
Mike Adams
July 3, 2007 at 3:41 pm
JOS
I would think my comment regarding Johnson’s continuing unfamiliarity with the band’s music, despite his composing of this symphony, to be an indication that I have indeed listened to this collection. However, for clarity’s sake, I have listened to this collection of music in its entirety.
I honestly find it to be another merchandizing scheme, like “Rick’s Picks,” designed to capitalize on the band’s niche success. I have nothing against this, mind you, I just don’t hear “the Dead” in this “symphony” other than a familiar melody. If others like it, great! I don’t care for it.
I do like the cover art!
July 6, 2007 at 12:48 am
Mike Adams
So, which movement would you say most accurately captures the polymetric nature of the “Dead’s” music?
July 6, 2007 at 4:53 pm
JOS
Your question is moot. Since I don’t consider this work representative of the Dead’s music, I’m hard-pressed to select the track that best represents their polymetric or polyrhythmic underpinnings.
I’m curious what the surviving band members think about this work. I’m unable to find much more than a quote from Bob Weir saying he was “flattered,” which is hardly an ovation. Also, I can find no reference to the “Dead Symphony” on the band’s “official” website (which former publicist McNally is affiliated with, I believe).
(By the way, a quote from McNally, who is the publicist for this project, is hardly unbiased, and listing him as “Grateful Dead Historian and Publicist” is misleading. I take offense to that.)
The “Dead Symphony” is a tribute. Fine. I’m happy to see someone taking the band’s music in another direction and exploring the possibilities it presents. A noble experiment; however, the experiment didn’t work for me.
July 9, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Mike Adams
I’m convinced, you didn’t listen to it.
MDA
July 9, 2007 at 8:34 pm
JOS
I’m convinced you simply can’t accept the fact that I don’t like this album, and for more reasons than the soulless music.