School of Rock
Random article All articles A–Z
2 languages

Bryce Dessner

From HitStory, the pop encyclopedia of School of Rock · Artist

Bryce Dessner is an American composer and guitarist, born in 1976 and living in Paris. He grew up in Cincinnati, Ohio, together with his twin brother Aaron. Together they form the core of the rock band The National, whose music they write in collaboration with the singer and lyricist Matt Berninger. Bryce studied music at Yale University, where he took both his bachelor's and his master's degree.

Music and breakthrough

Besides the band he is an independent composer. His orchestral, chamber and choral works have been commissioned by, among others, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Kronos Quartet, Carnegie Hall and the New York City Ballet. His Murder Ballades is on Filament by the ensemble eighth blackbird, which won a Grammy in 2016. He has worked with Philip Glass, Steve Reich, Paul Simon, Nick Cave, Jonny Greenwood and Taylor Swift. He has composed music for films such as The Revenant, The Two Popes, C'mon C'mon and Cyrano, wrote Music for Wood and Strings with Sō Percussion and founded the MusicNOW Festival. In 2026 he received his first Oscar nomination, for Train Dreams.

Influence

His compositions draw their material from the Baroque and folk music, late Romanticism, modernism and minimalism. Dessner shows how a pop guitarist can find a place among classical ensembles and in the film world without letting go of his rock roots.

Listening

Listening tip. Listen to Music for Wood and Strings and notice how rhythmic patterns of wood and strings alternate. Try to hear how a repeated motif slowly shifts.

Discography

Studio albums

Categories: Artists