Music Documentaries Discover stories of musicians and the creative process.

Music documentaries

Discover stories of musicians and the creative process

Dave Grohl gives the keynote speech at SXSW 2013. Mito Habe-Evans/NPR hide caption

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Dave Grohl's SXSW 2013 Keynote Speech

Dave Grohl has become the unofficial Mayor of Rock 'n' Roll. Watch Grohl's keynote address at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, Texas.

Dan Deacon at home in his practice space. WQXR hide caption

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Dan Deacon's Practice Space

WQXR

Spaces is Q2 Music's new series of documentaries that capture creative composers in their practice studios. The first installment focuses on the always eccentric Dan Deacon.

David Byrne and Annie Clark of St. Vincent Mito Habe-Evans/NPR hide caption

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David Byrne And St. Vincent

Peek behind the curtain at the final rehearsal before David Byrne (of Talking Heads) and Annie Clark (of St. Vincent) took their collaborative album, Love This Giant, out on the road.

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Jeremy Denk

Jeremy Denk sees his apartment as his own "piano boot camp." Except for books, a coffee pot and a laptop, there's not much to do there but practice. We eavesdropped as he worked on complex etudes.

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In Practice: Jonathan Biss

A building demolition inadvertently helps pianist Jonathan Biss discover the perfect practicing solution. Moving the piano out of his apartment away from the commotion allows him concentration.

New York Polyphony perform Renaissance songs for an In Practice recording session. Mito Habe-Evans/NPR hide caption

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New York Polyphony

New York Polyphony sings ancient music built for big spaces. But cathedrals aren't easy to come by for every practice session. That's when the group falls back on a modest-sized living room.

Jeremy Denk reviews notes on The Goldberg Variations. NPR hide caption

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Jeremy Denk vs. The Goldberg Variations: Contrasting Variations

Bach's Goldberg Variations are filled with contrasts, which swirl inside the head of pianist Jeremy Denk. Seated at his living room Steinway, he muses about how Bach built his opposite variations.

Jeremy Denk performs J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations - Variation No. 15. Mito Habe-Evans/NPR hide caption

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Jeremy Denk vs. The Goldberg Variations: Bach's 'Dark Jewel'

Bach's Goldberg Variations is sweet and beautiful music. But Jeremy Denk, from the comfort of his living room Steinway, digs deeper to focus on one of the Goldberg's "dark jewels."

Jeremy Denk discusses the Aria from Bach's Goldberg Variations. NPR hide caption

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Jeremy Denk vs. The Goldberg Variations: The Musical DNA

What makes Bach's Goldberg Variations tick? Pianist Jeremy Denk reveals how Bach's musical DNA — a simple strand of bass notes — is fleshed out into the beautiful melody that fuels the Goldbergs.

Jeremy Denk plays The Goldberg Variations at his NYC apartment. NPR hide caption

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Jeremy Denk vs. The Goldberg Variations

On a Steinway in a cluttered apartment or on a broken down upright in the streets of Manhattan, Bach's Goldberg Variations invite a variety of unusual observations from pianist Jeremy Denk.

Project Song

Video documentaries of songwriters rising to the challenge of writing and recording a song in 48 hours.

Moby creating "Gone to Sleep" for NPR's Project Song. David Gilkey and John Poole/NPR hide caption

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Moby: One Song, Two Days, Three Versions

Project Song challenges musicians to write and record a song in just two days — and we shoot video of the whole process. Watch Moby and collaborator Kelli Scarr write and record "Gone to Sleep."