By Daniel Imwalle
Tiny Desk Concert
uring the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve been starved of experiencing many things we were used to enjoying so easily before: large family gatherings, sporting events, festivals, and much more. Our experience of the arts has changed drastically as well—from watching movies to visiting an art museum, everything is different now. And that certainly extends to the world of music. Virtual concerts might leave a bit to be desired, as they sometimes attempt to recreate the experience of being in-person at large venues. To the rescue for this music lover is NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Gathered around the desk of Bob Boilen (host of the weekly online program All Songs Considered), musicians of all stripes perform intimate renditions from their catalog as well as surprising covers of others’ music. Often, the setting itself changes how the musicians play and stretches them creatively in ways that a performance on a big stage with lighting and theatrics might not. At the Tiny Desk, there’s nothing to hide behind or distract, so the music itself takes center stage. Most of the artists who have been featured are indie up-and-comers or veteran acts with a small but devoted following. However, some big names have taken the leap and embraced
the Tiny Desk concert experience, including Coldplay, Yo-Yo Ma (playing solo cello), the legendary Tom Jones, and superstar Taylor Swift. Coldplay’s concert, which aired this past March, featured a soulful nine-piece choir alongside lead singer Chris Martin and guitarist Jonny Buckland. Smiles splashed across the musicians’ faces as they played a jubilant cover of Prince’s “1999.” Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the recent entries in the series were recorded at the home of an artist or band member, which only seems to accentuate the low-key and personal aspect of the performance. Singer Norah Jones’ August 17 concert, featuring her on an upright piano at home, is mesmerizing. The heartbreaking and bittersweet beauty of Jones’ song “How I Weep,” which introduces her 18-minute set, seems somehow more palpable and real in the home setting. There’s something for everyone with the Tiny Desk Concert series, with over 800 performances from the past 10 years to choose from and a wide variety of genres represented. Most of the concerts are between 10 and 20 minutes in length, so it’s easy to commit to watching a few at a time. For more on this series, visit npr.org/series/tiny-desk-concerts.
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e-learning & online 9/30/20 2:30 PM
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF STORYCORPS
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PHOTO COURTESY NPR/CREATIVE COMMONS 2.0/SELENA N. B. H.
NPR’s Bob Boilen sits behind his desk, where hundreds of musicians have performed on the Tiny Desk Concert series.
