#5162, Pyramid Song and Its Echoes

What is it about Radiohead’s “Pyramid Song” that inspires so many renditions? Not only has it been rearranged and performed by countless artists, but it also provided the starting point for new pieces that can hardly be defined as derivative. On this episode of New Sounds, subtitled “For Whom the Piano Tolls,” we study the song’s signature piano chords, harmonic rhythm, and their influence on artists other than Radiohead.

When you hear composer Lucinda Chua’s “An Avalanche” right after “Pyramid Song”, you may notice some similarities, though Chua’s harmonies feel lighter and more mystical in comparison. Pianist Hania Rani’s concerto “Non Fiction” starts out as a classical take on “Pyramid Song” but evolves into a completely distinct piece with fluttering flute, harp, and piano textures. Then, cellist Matt Haimovitz’s fluid performance of the Radiohead classic, arranged by Christopher O'Riley, serves as a reminder of the original’s recurring themes that seem to fit into any musical context.

After another appearance by Hania Rani, this time through her collaborative work titled “Malasana,” featuring Polish cellist Dobrawa Czocher, you’ll hear Turkish pianist Büşra Kayıkçı’s “Tribute To Egyptian Song,” balancing the timbre of the acoustic piano with water-like glitchy textures. Later, jazz trio Turtleboy’s minor-leaning rendition of “Pyramid Song” emerges with guitars, tenor saxophone, and drums, leaving the piano out of the mix altogether. But Penguin Café’s “Coriolis” brings it right back with the addition of violin, taking inspiration from the core rhythmic sequence of “Pyramid Song” to give life to something new. Belgian electronic band Stavroz’s “The Finishing” puts a similar sequence into a straight time context with a steady beat with swung accents and a saxophone topline played by Nathan Daems. - Sırma Munyar

(Photo of Hania Rani, by Olivia Wunsche)

Program #5162, Pyramid Song and Its Echoes  (First aired 7/15/26)

ARTIST: Radiohead
WORK: Pyramid Song [1:47] + [4:49]
RECORDING: Amnesiac
SOURCE: XL Recordings Ltd
INFO: https://radiohead.bandcamp.com/album/amnesiac

ARTIST: Lucinda Chua
WORK: An Avalanche [3:21]
RECORDING: Antidotes 2
SOURCE: 4AD Ltd.
INFO:https://lucindachua.bandcamp.com/album/antidotes-2

ARTIST: Hania Rani, Manchester Collective, Jack Wyllie, Valentina Magaletti, Hugh Tieppo-Brunt
WORK: Non Fiction: I.I Sonore - Animato - Meno Mosso [9:36]
RECORDING: Non Fiction
SOURCE: Decca Records US
INFO: https://haniaranius.lnk.to/NonFiction

ARTIST: Matt Haimovitz, Christopher O'Riley
WORK: Pyramid Song (Arr. C. O'Riley for Cello & Piano) [4:38]
RECORDING: Pyramid Song (Arr. C. O'Riley for Cello & Piano)
SOURCE: PENTATONE
INFO: Available for streaming on Spotify and Apple Music

ARTIST: Hania Rani, Dobrawa Czocher
WORK: Malasana [5:22]
RECORDING: Inner Symphonies
SOURCE: Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
INFO: https://www.deutschegrammophon.com/en/catalogue/products/inner-symphonies-hania-rani-dobrawa-czocher-12404

ARTIST: Büşra Kayıkçı
WORK: Tribute To Egyptian Song [4:26]
RECORDING: Places
SOURCE: Warner Classics
INFO:https://www.warnerclassics.com/release/places 

ARTIST: Turtleboy
WORK: Pyramid Song [5:42]
RECORDING: Smart Matter
SOURCE: Songlines
INFO: Available for streaming on Spotify, Apple Music, and Amazon Music

ARTIST: Penguin Cafe
WORK: Coriolis [2:04]
RECORDING: A Matter of Life…
SOURCE: Erased Tapes Records Ltd.
INFO:https://penguincafe.bandcamp.com/album/a-matter-of-life-2021 

ARTIST: Stavroz
WORK: The Finishing [5:13]
RECORDING: The Ginning EP
SOURCE: Delicieuse Records
INFO: https://stavroz.bandcamp.com/album/the-ginning-ep