The music of British composer, Gavin Bryars, will be presented at four different concerts at this year's Big Ears Festival. Two of his earliest compositions will be performed: Jesus' Blood Never Failed Me Yet and The Sinking of the Titanic. Also being performed is his newest composition, The Fifth Century, which will be presented by the chamber choir, The Crossing, and the Prism saxophone quartet. Additionally, his own ensemble, The Gavin Bryars Ensemble, will be performing for the first time in the United States.
Morning Concert host, Melony Dodson, and Mr. Bryars talk about these pieces: how they came to fruition, their deeper meaning, and how audiences' receptions of the pieces have changed over the years. Also discussed is his admiration for the music of Carla Bley (another 2017 Big Ears artist) and his philosophy on why music is so vitally important.