18 musicians how instrumental is reichhow instrumental is reich steve was recently called “our...
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Steve Reich
18 Musicians
How instrumental is Reich
Steve was recently called “our greatest living composer” according to New York Times
The Village Voice says, the most original thinker of our time
Chris Morrison says, “A highly influential avant-garde composer” and that Reich is responsible as one of the key founders of the minimalist school of music
Bio
Born (1936-) birth place New York City
American Composer
Early pioneer in tape music and American minimalism
Reich received honorary doctorates and awards from Juilliard, Budapest's Franz Liszt Academy and other schools;
2007 Polar Music Prize; the 2009 Pulitzer Prize for Music (for Double Sextet); and, in 2012, an American Academy of Arts and Letters Gold Medal for Music.
Early Signs of Experience
Reich’s major musical revelations came at 14, when he stumbled upon the music of Bach and Stravinsky
He had his first exposure to bebop, and immediately started learning drums and playing in a jazz band with friends.
played on weekends while studying at Cornell, which he entered at age 16 and where he received a DEGREE IN philosophy, specializing in the work of Wittgenstein.
Early signs of exposure
In 1970, Reich studied for several weeks at the University of Ghana. His encounter with Ghanaian music and dance inspired his ambitious work Drumming (1970).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=IrQCYW6fv60
He also studied traditional Jewish cantillation and incorporated it into his psalm settings, Tehillim (1981).
SOME GREAT PIECES:
Music for 18 Musicians.
Different Trains.
The Cave (an opera).
Double Sextet.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS:
Many people say he is the greatest living American composer.
Many people also say he has changed the course of musical history.
He more or less invented ‘minimalist’ music. He is certainly the one of the main people to create the idea of minimalist music (as is Philip Glass).
His music is influenced by jazz, as well as classical music.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS:
When he first started composing many people thought his music was crazy. He had to work as a taxi DRIVER and a social worker to earn a living.
He formed his own music group, Steve Reich and Musicians (also called the Steve Reich Ensemble), to play his music.
He went to Ghana in 1971 to learn more about African drumming. When he came back he composed ‘Drumming’.
SOME INTERESTING FACTS:
His music is now very popular. Many people who listen to his music wouldn’t normally listen to classical music.
His music has influenced many musicians, including rock bands.
He has also worked with all sorts of musicians, including rock bands.
Characterizing his music
Strong steady pulse http://youtu.be/BY4bL_bO8sA
Strictly diatonic and tonal harmonies
Grouped with 1st generation minimalist composers such as Phillip Glass, La MonteYoung, John Adams
Deeply American in its roots
TYPE OF MUSIC:
Modern classical music. However his music is better described as minimalist. Minimalist music is made up of short bits of music (phrases) that repeat over and over again. (See also Philip Glass.)
In some good company
In 1957, he entered Juilliard, studying with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti (and meeting fellow student Philip Glass).
At about that time Reich met Terry Riley, who was in the process of writing In C (1964). Reich played in its premiere, and In C's tonal approach and use of repeating patterns had a big influence on Reich's own music.
Building Blocks
Q:What are the 18 Musicians building blocks? Constant Hypnotic Pulse : This is the life blood of the piece. From the opening "chomp chomp" of the marimbas to the closing "screech screech" of the violin, the piece has a consistent pulse running all the way through it. Very early on you are aware that this pulsing will not relent whatsoever during the piece, it will not alter its tempo nor will it pause. It is held mainly by the marimbas which start the piece off however is taken up by the pianos and most noticeably by the Maracas. Human Breath Pulses : at intervals the woodwind players play a pulsing note as long as they can comfortably hold it, in a softer- louder - softer arc. They appear in the piece constantly during the opening, closing and mainly the middle elongated part of each section. They sound a bit like warm but authoritarian waves guiding the piece along. The two stringed instruments mimic this breathing effect along with the woodwind.
Building Blocks
11 chords : these chords are highlighted at the beginning and end of the piece - the sections called "pulses". The resulting 11 sections use these chords as their "base" from which the section emanates from. here is a recording of each of the 11 chords played one after another on piano, for comparison.11 Sections based around one chord per section: The resulting 11 sections use the opening 11 chords as their "base" from which the section emanates from. The Conducting process : rather than use a traditional conductor Steve Reich opted for AUDIBLE and visual prompts which come mostly from the Vibraphone (or as he calls it Metallophone, which is a Vibraphone which is switched off) and the bass clarinet, but also other musicians as the piece progresses. Of course not only does this aid the players but also instructs the listener of the next stage of the music which is to come. Whenever you hear the vibraphone you know something is going to happen! To the minimalist brigade this means "thank God at last things are moving on" but to 18 Musicians fans this means "oh no, not yet, hang on a minute!". I would love to be the Vibe player as I'd keep them going for two hours!
Building Blocks
ABCDCBA structure for the sections: although each section has a repeating pattern which runs through it, the background chord sequence changes and elongates, usually doubling in length until coming to its maximum length and then (on the vibraphones queue) becoming shorter again. The effect is mesmerising as the chord sequences nature changes the way in which you hear the repeating pattern, so although the same pattern is being played it sounds different because of the emphasis of the chords. Building up musical phrases : a phrase which starts with a short couple of notes will gradually build up into a longer more complex rhythmic and melodic phrase. Once you know the piece you tend to anticipate the "next " stage before it happens, which adds to the fun as the phrase is indeed in the mix of the other instruments somewhere, even if not played by the same instrumentalist all the time. Also the start of the musical bar line can become somewhat confused from a rhythmic point of view.
Yes this piece is long
It is long!: One whole hour. It isn’t the longest piece Steve Reich had composed up to this point as Drumming can be longer. An hour seems like a long time to listen to one piece of music, especially one that on the face of it comes from the "minimalist" tradition, yet it is perfect in length. I have never spent such a finer or quicker hour than that spent listening to this music.
The End
Thank You
Blackburn, John. Introduction to Music for 18 Musicians. http://www.18musicians.com/genreunique.html
Steve Reich. http://kidsmusiccorner.co.uk/composers/classical/reich/
Morrison, (2014) Steve Reich.http://www.allmusic.com/artist/steve-reich-mn0000037658/biography
(2014) http://www.boosey.com/cr/music/Steve-Reich-Music-for-18-Musicians/548
(2014) Steve Reich. wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Reich