Transcribing Radiohead

Studio 360

Two years ago the classical pianist and public radio host Christopher O’Riley released a record of songs by the arty rock band Radiohead. It wasn’t a stunt; O’Riley reveres the music of Radiohead. He took the group’s big arena rock melodies and edgy harmonic textures and transcribed them for solo piano — the way music publishers used to transcribe symphonies for amateurs to play at home. He’s back now with a second record of Radiohead transcriptions called Hold Me to This.

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