🎵Tune Tigue with Owen McTigue: Béla Bartók, Pink Floyd, Roy Orbison, Humble Pie, Genesis, Badfinger, Elton John, Mason Lively

⭐Things worked out so well, and Owen is such a pleasant, knowledgeable and congenial chap, we decided to venture into this classically-tinted, exclusive Tune Tag together, which we hope to make a special, semi-regular Paid-Only Tune Tag (on top of our regular and continuing Tuesday Tune Tags)! Welcome, and thank you for your support! Let’s meet Owen!👇

ODEA is your guide to the most compelling performances in and around New York City. We cut through the noise to bring you events that stand out—whether they challenge tradition, integrate other art forms, or take place in venues that transform how music is experienced.

Oh, and the name — ODEA (oh-DEE-uh) comes from the Greek word for places dedicated to music and performance—think ancient venues where art and ideas came to life. A little nod to the idea that where music is performed is part of the performance itself.

Owen’s rationale: It’s the size of a symphony, but earns the name “Concerto” because the star soloist happens to be the entire orchestra–each section taking its turn in the spotlight!

Bartók’s Concerto for Orchestra stands among the greatest works of the 20th century, and also happens to be one of my favorites. I keep coming back to it for how structured yet surprising it is after all these listens. Bartók’s 145th birthday was back in March, so what better way to celebrate than blasting his masterpiece through my headphones as I walk through the city, lost in reverie!

The piece owes its existence to two fellow Hungarians: Conductor Fritz Reiner (left, who leads this particular recording) and violinist Joseph Szigeti, who couldn’t stand watching their friend wither away and convince himself he’d never compose again.

They knew Bartók needed the money, but more than that, they wanted to give him a reason to live, so they strong-armed Boston Symphony conductor, Serge Koussevitzky (above), to visit the ailing Bartók in a New York City hospital with a commission: Koussevitsky threw down $500 on the hospital bed as a down-payment on the $1000 total, telling Bartók the money was his whether he finished the piece or not.

The commission worked as medicine. Bartók was soon sent by his doctors to a cure cottage in Saranac Lake, a tuberculosis treatment town in upstate New York, where he finished the piece in eight weeks!