String Circle: Movement V – Overdrive by Kenji Bunch
Confession #1: I’m a violinist but Kenji Bunch’s music really makes me wish I played viola.
Ok, so there’s no reason why I couldn’t play the viola (and on very rare occasion, it’s been known to happen) but the way Bunch plays and composes for his instrument sure makes me feel wary of trying. His music reflects a wide range of American genres – from roots and folk to blues, jazz, and rock – effortlessly blended together by someone with a masterful touch for classical composition and in a way that makes everything feel fresh and fun while keeping your brain churning through all the clever twists and turns.
Confession #2: From time to time I like to think about what my theme music would be á la I’m Gonna Git You Sucka (“every good hero should have some“). It’s like imagining what your walk up music would be if you were a MLB slugger but better. I would definitely walk around to Kenji Bunch’s music but only when I was feeling super cool.
My top choice for this purpose might be “Overdrive,” the fifth movement of String Circle, a work for string quintet composed in 2005 that shines a spotlight on different American styles of string playing. It’s just got such an infectious groove:
But I also love Bunch’s solo works. Top of that list for me: The 3Gs (2006), an absolute barn burner that makes ingenious use of scordatura, the musical technique of tuning an instrument to one or more different pitches than standard tuning. Its usage dates as far back as the Baroque composers of the latter half of the 17th century, but I love to see it pop up in contemporary works. It’s a real vibe.
His tutorial and live performance of this piece is so great. How can you not like this guy?
Bunch also writes some really moving and atmospheric music that reflects everything from everyday life to his reflections on the Japanese-American experience in American internment camps during World War II. Daybreak and Minidoka are two beautiful solo works that you might want to check out if you’re in a more contemplative mood:
Still want more? I’d encourage you to check out this great conversation with Bunch that aired on NPR’s All Things Considered back in 2023.
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