Jennifer Koh & Missy Mazzoli: Tiny Desk Concert

Tom Huizenga | March 20, 2024
Thankfully, few no longer believe that playing classical music requires an evening gown or a tux. When composer Missy Mazzoli and violinist Jennifer Koh made their way into our Tiny Desk office space, we took note of the beautiful ink on Mazzoli‘s arm, her clunky black boots, and Koh’s bright blue hair and sleeveless leather dress.
The two artists have been collaborating for 15 years and this ferocious and beautiful set traces that history. It also reveals an essential equation of how classical music works: Mazzoli, the composer, who is currently writing a work for the Metropolitan Opera, conjures up music in her head, and Koh, the performer, breathes life into it.
Koh opens with Hail, Horrors, Hail, a recent solo piece she included on Alone Together, a homespun album recorded during the height of the pandemic which earned her a Grammy. Mazzoli joins at the keyboard in a bespoke arrangement of the final movement from Procession, Mazzoli’s sumptuous violin concerto, inspired by medieval healing rituals, which Koh premiered in 2022 with the National Symphony Orchestra.
Dissolve, O my Heart, the first piece Mazzoli wrote for Koh, spirals out into an emotional journey touched with spasms of joy and grief. It’s rooted in late-night discussions fueled by Chinese food, cupcakes and Bach’s revered Chaconne D minor that is quoted at the beginning. Koh closes with Kinski Paganini, unsettled music inspired by the German actor Klaus Kinski’s volatile performances.
Hearing this set, in all its rugged delight, feels like we’re eavesdropping on something personal - a fruitful, collaborative friendship between composer and performer that has yielded amazing music.
SET LIST
Mazzoli: Hail, Horrors, Hail
Mazzoli: Violin Concerto (Procession): “Procession Ascending”
Mazzoli: Dissolve, O my Heart
Mazzoli: Kinski Paganini
MUSICIANS
Jennifer Koh: violin
Missy Mazzoli: keyboard
TINY DESK TEAM
Producer: Tom Huizenga
Director/Editor: Kara Frame
Audio Technical Director: Neil Tevault
Series Producer: Bobby Carter
Videographers: Kara Frame, Joshua Bryant
Audio Engineer: Ted Mebane
Production Assistant: Elle Mannion
Photographer: Keren Carrión
Tiny Desk Team: Maia Stern, Ashley Pointer, Hazel Cills
Executive Producer: Suraya Mohamed
Series Creators: Bob Boilen, Stephen Thompson
VP, Visuals and Music: Keith Jenkins
#tinydesk #jenniferkoh #missymazzoli

[@eliznaomistuart]

Thank you again Tiny Desk for including fabulous contemporary chamber music composers and performers! This was sublime!!

[@jeanwestcott915]

I saw them a few weeks ago at the Kennedy Center. I bought tickets with no knowledge of either artist as I was in town for a few hours and looking for an affordable performance to indulge in. I was bowled over by their music, their performance. They explained that they had just recorded a Tiny Desk and I was excited to be able to look forward to share my excitement at the beautiful and transportive music with friends. The set I saw included more of Missy Mazzoli's keyboard and electronic music so I will look forward to learning more about both of their creations.

[@ChilleBruh]

What a lovely surprise of a show that must have been! ❤😮

[@xtendedline]

wonderful peformance, many thanks for great morning inspiration! Music matters!!

[@MLHunt]

I'm not at all familiar with contemporary classical music. This was eye-opening (ear-opening?). That just by subscribing to this channel I know I'll be exposed to a wide spectrum of musicians and musical styles/genres is one of the great things about it. Thanks Tiny Desk!

[@RobertSlover]

great player, but less blue hair and more interesting compositions! the music is all that matters.

[@Kowzorz]

@@RobertSlover Did someone with blue hair hurt you? Or are you just incapable of following your own wisdom about "all that matters"?

[@bshayc79]

@Kowzorz yeah that guy just sucks apparenly. He replied dumb stuff like this on a few people's comments. Mine included.

[@FranktheBlindArtist]

Robert is apparently just an unabashed SNOB

[@anapaulalourenco7188]

Good morning to everyone here in Brazil! I loved this presentation, Congratulations.

[@uptone12111]

That just took me for a ride😮❤

[@Diatonic5th]

Brilliant!! I love her Bach & Beyond albums.

[@OngoingBox]

awesome!!

[@yesloow]

Fantastic work, Missy! And I love how when you entered, you put your hands together in reverence. Galak Tika at heart! ❤️

[@orlandopalosaari2855]

Nice🎉... Good vibes from México ❤

[@otisokg]

I didn’t know I needed to cry, thank you for letting me let it all out to your beautiful masterpiece of artwork. 🙏🏼 🎻 ❤ Bravo 👏🏼

[@slothsby]

This is the kind of performance that just takes my mind to different places and emotions. Amazing!

[@AndSarahAppeared]

❤❤❤❤ Love This Thank You

[@laurahussey8678]

dissolve o my heart is one of my favourite pieces written for solo violin ever

[@soccerchick1]

Fantastic!

[@_dx_dy]

The amount of talent on display here is mind boggling

[@ivan7291]

This bouta have the hood gettin sturdy

[@RobertSlover]

dork.

[@ortem000]

Not only did I enjoy the music, I enjoyed her energy and how she looks like an action hero. This was great. Thanks!

[@TheMetroGnome]

Well worth the wait ❤

[@VeganBalaclava]

loved this! vey unique duet. Love to see women in music NPR.. Bring Young Miko please 🙏

[@jochikondur]

Chappell Roan's Tiny Desk wig spotted!

[@tia8245]

ahhh i was waiting for someone else to say it too!!

[@mccypr]

Thanks! 😎🙂

[@michelet.9233]

Excellent!

[@anthonywhite2960]

That last piece was wonderful.

[@petartumbov1214]

Kinski Paganini IS SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER EVER SEEN BEFORE.... PHENOMENAL, MAGESTIC, ONE OF A KIND!

[@ChilleBruh]

Absolutely phenomonal pieces, played brilliantly! 🫶 Edit: 9:27 “Dissolve, Oh My Heart” 🥲

[@garydiamondguitarist]

Jennifer has unusual violin technique - she reminds me of a guitarist playing in open tuning with a lot of double stops, which is usually more of a rock and blues technique - perhaps partly due to the way Missy writes. Some of her playing is surprisingly violent to the instrument as well, which is refreshing to see as a lot of violinists baby theirs too much. All interesting and convention challenging stuff.

[@Tish1068]

❤❤❤

[@shirtz69r]

Oooh here early. I jave no idea who this is but great vibes already

[@arboldediana5]

niceee

[@aaronedgeart]

Wondrous and moody!

[@paulwhetstone0473]

I kept hearing Yoko Ono screaming in the background.

[@RCshockwave]

Same 😒

[@caca20299]

💐😍

[@jsizemo]

Is she one of those child prodigy violinists that was on the Tonight Show in the late 80s?

[@carolinavaz6483]

cosmo pyke!!

[@bshayc79]

They make kickass music for movies

[@RobertSlover]

thats a product not music.

[@bshayc79]

@@RobertSlover uhh.. okay 👍

[@cometczar]

Open D open G and Bartoks infinite tonality.

[@kricket8ify]

One single thought

[@emersonslidian]

Medical healing rituals … you got me there. I love it! Open minds/open eyes to the alternative ❤✨🤍

[@shroommcfanta2020]

James Jameson used one finger

[@ezrafinkelstein2634]

Talking about "beautiful ink on Mazzoli‘s arm" and "sleeveless leather dress" is an unusual choice to open the description for a classical performance

[@kskirthana]

Agree 👍🏽

[@soccerchick1]

I think she looks great!

[@koflan]

Sometimes people remark on things in the video, and sometimes those remarks aren't limited to praise for the primary subject. There's no intellectual superiority to be gained from this attitude. No one experiences anything in isolation, an idea that Elliott Carter even incorporated into his compositions. Also, a performer doesn't wear unusual or outlandish clothes for a performance just to scold everybody for noticing them. The whole performance is the whole performance.

[@antkn33]

Not really. They were making a point about it.

[@stefaniap9870]

What about the music?

[@vroomgrrly]

The first piece is like a Bach-ish Chaconne for the 21st century. Brilliant!

[@RobertSlover]

no.

[@AlanDSouza-pe3gx]

It sounded like... Noise

[@aprilrosario6869]

I’m no expert in playing instruments and I haven’t touched a violin since the 4th grade… but um, is she doing that right?

[@miriamharbour5613]

But what does it mean

[@tannerparsons977]

I getting some thing one, thing two vides from that hairstyle 😅

[@karlajusten]

Me too!!! I love her hair so much!

[@karlajusten]

Beside her amazing violin playing skills

[@karlajusten]

Actually the other lady with black hair and light tips also has an amazing hair. I live for it!! ❤🐱

[@githerax5303]

"Thankfully, few no longer believe that playing classical music requires an evening gown or a tux."? Who is writing this copy? You meant to write "many no longer..." And why 'Thankfully'? Is formal wear a problem if someone likes it? Here, let me fix this: "Classical music no longer requires an evening gown or a tux, as artists Jennifer Koh and Missy Mazzoli demonstrate."

[@BigAwkwardChunk]

Every part I skipped to sounded like nails on a chalkboard. I love violin, cello, fiddle etc. This just wasn't doing it for me. Just my personal opinion though.

[@somebloke3869]

That's unfortunate. I found some parts rather jarring, but it had built up to that and didn't turn me off.

[@RobertSlover]

great player, but less blue hair and more interesting compositions! the music is all that matters.

[@AlanDSouza-pe3gx]

Nails on chalkboard. I dont understand it

[@Calinoma]

Skill issue

[@ivonne6088]

Me parece música sicopática, ya que tiene sonidos extremistas, no expresa más que disonancia o caos, distorsión; suena básico y desagradable, con falta de creatividad, etc. Lo otro sicopático es el look, ya que se tiñe el pelo, es decir, no respeta la naturaleza, su naturaleza propia y, como es obvio, tampoco la de su entorno, por los sonidos o ruidos (y eso que a mi tampoco me gusta la música "fifi" o "floripondia" o como se le quiera decir, pero sí me gusta que sea creativa, hermosa, interesante, etc.). Lo del vestido, si es de cuero, da para debatirlo largamente.

[@arboldediana5]

sos un rompe pelotas hermano

[@rd4660]

Can't watch, sorry. Visually and musically too much clutter.

[@shroommcfanta2020]

Thanks for trying, I,m sure you gave your best. Don,t be sorry anymore, it’s not your fault and you are forgiven .

[@jeffsiegwart]

I hate ads! Keep it up and you will loose my subscription. Sorry!

[@goldenageofdinosaurs7192]

You’re gonna get ads on every KZbin video. Why complain to NPR specifically? They have no control over the ads KZbin puts on the videos. You can get ad blocker, or you could pony up & get the ad free KZbin. I think it’s 6/7 bucks a month. This isn’t NPR’s issue though.

[@sirzebra]

Adblockers are free and have existed for two decades, i havent seen a single ad on youtube or anywhere else on the internet since 2007. If you're serious about wanting to live without ads in your space, why are you complaining instead of taking the half minute i'll take you to download and install an adblocker and get rid of them forever ? Entitlement wont help you, grow up, Jeff. So that you can act and realise i'm not just mcritical for the sake of it, i recommend using a combination of adblock+ and ublock origin together for the best adfree experience, wheter you are browsing on chrome or firefox they exist for both and are compatible.

[@shroommcfanta2020]

Oh no ! Please don’t,t ! Without you the whole thing would make no sense !

[@antkn33]

It’s not npr’s fault. You get this free and you’re too cheap to pay for KZbin premium.

[@cardiac666]

I really enjoyed procession ascending very haunting sounding but I think the atmosphere and tension would have ascended better if the keyboard was louder

[@markaprill6501]

I have fancy headphones…..the keyboard sound was very unique and totally blended with the violin in a very interesting way. You may want to upgrade your audio equipment if you can afford it or at least use headphones when watching KZbin.

[@YevhenLozytskyi]

Garage