Instead of the screech of brakes, some subway riders have been greeted to the sounds of Bach thanks to Dale Henderson.
Classical music being played in unclassical places is the mentality of Henderson, a musician who will be performing at Music on the Square tonight at 7:30 pm.
Henderson founded the classical music movement “Bach in the Subways,” which strives to keep Johann Sebastian Bach’s work alive by inviting musicians to play the famous composer’s pieces on his birthday, in subways and other public areas.
Henderson grew up surrounded by music, and developed a love for it at a young age. He channeled this love into a job, teaching classical music at a school providing scholarships to students hoping to study music. “[I] became frustrated with classical music in this country, where this type of music didn’t get the attention it deserved,” Henderson said in a phone call with The DePauw.
When Henderson moved to New York City, he was able to fully realize his passion. Although New York is home to many grandiose music halls, Henderson had aspirations to play elsewhere–on the subway platforms. While subway stations are an unconventional venue, he believes it can enhance the music experience. “It brings an unexpected stillness to the room and helps people to open their eyes and relate to the music. There’s a sense of intimacy in the subways…since the platforms are smaller than many New York City concert halls,” he said.
Despite the difficulties of the venue and people’s initial resistance to the project, Henderson’s concerts began to inspire people. DePauw School of Music professor, David Edburg, wants to bring a similar reaction to the DePauw campus. “[Henderson is a] terrific example of someone who’s mission is to bring an awareness to a fantastic genre of music,” Edburg said.
Most people don’t voluntarily turn on Bach when listening on Spotify or Pandora, but Henderson hopes his concerts will allow listeners to gain a sense of curiosity. DePauw School of Music sophomore, Arianna Plett, said “I’m excited to interact with someone who has brought classical music to an audience who may not typically hear it.”
Bach is not the only classical artist with impressive work, but Henderson’s performances will only include Bach’s music on Wednesday night. According to Henderson, Bach holds a unique mass appeal that is admired by musicians from all genres.
Despite the age of his music, Bach included elements in his pieces where “you hear from hip hop to jazz bands, and the Beatles and swing bands” said Henderson.
Henderson’s dream of alerting the public about classical music has lead to a global movement where musicians from multiple countries have begun to perform Bach’s pieces for free. Similar to other modern social movements, it’s “hard to imagine what could’ve happened without social media like Facebook and Twitter,” said Henderson.
Henderson and other musicians will be conducting impromptu performances throughout Putnam County.
