David Bowie cover of the Week: Project String Quartet performs “Changes”

The Project String Quartet of St. Louis has been posting YouTube videos of their classical adaptations of Bowie songs over the past two weeks. My selection for “cover of the week, “Changes,” is compelling on its own but also representative of what the group does. The arrangement captures the essence of Bowie’s original, with each instrument bringing out different facets of the song’s complex emotions. The violins lead with a dynamic interplay that mirrors Bowie’s vocal fluctuations, while the viola and cello provide a rich, grounding harmony that underscores the song’s introspective lyrics. The performance is a tribute to Bowie, underscores the flexibility of his music and successfully bridges rock and classical music.

I sometimes get a response to this weekly feature along the lines of, “nobody can do Bowie better than Bowie.” I’ll stipulate that I agree, but part of the point is that the music has a life of its own, and it lives on. Classical string quartets usually perform music that has been performed thousands of times before, by countless artists over hundreds of years. We wouldn’t say that this quartet “covered” Mozart or Beethoven. Stripped of its vocals, “Changes” in this case is not an attempt to mimic Bowie or outdo his original. Classical music performers seek to bring personal interpretation, preserve tradition, honor the composer’s intent, achieve technical mastery, connect with audiences, and innovate within the framework of time-honored works. All that can be done with Bowie, as is the case here.

This is not the first time I’ve come across classical adaptations of Bowie– and I hope it isn’t the last. Well done!

According to their web site, which you can link to HERE, “Project String Quartet is comprised of highly-trained musicians who hold advanced degrees from conservatories across the country, including The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Indiana University, Washington University in St. Louis, Northwestern University, The Curtis Institute of Music, and the Yale University School of Music.” The group adapts popular songs into classical pieces and is performing a Bowie show in Kirkwood, MO (near St. Louis) on October 11th. For more information on that show, click HERE.