ePub Writings on Music; 1965-2000 by Steve Reich in Arts-Photography

Description

In the mid-1960s; Steve Reich radically renewed the musical landscape with a back-to-basics sound that came to be called Minimalism. These early works; characterized by a relentless pulse and static harmony; focused single-mindedly on the process of gradual rhythmic change. Throughout his career; Reich has continued to reinvigorate the music world; drawing from a wide array of classical; popular; sacred; and non-western idioms. His works reflect the steady evolution of an original musical mind. Writings on Music documents the creative journey of this thoughtful; groundbreaking composer. These 64 short pieces include Reichs 1968 essay "Music as a Gradual Process;" widely considered one of the most influential pieces of music theory in the second half of the 20th century. Subsequent essays; articles; and interviews treat Reichs early work with tape and phase shifting; showing its development into more recent work with speech melody and instrumental music. Other essays recount his exposure to non-western music--African drumming; Balinese gamelan; Hebrew cantillation--and the influence of these musics as structures and not as sounds. The writings include Reichs reactions to and appreciations of the works of his contemporaries (John Cage; Luciano Berio; Morton Feldman; Gyorgy Ligeti) and older influences (Kurt Weill; Schoenberg). Each major work of the composers career is also explored through notes written for performances and recordings. Paul Hillier; himself a respected figure in the early music and new music worlds; has revisited these texts; working with the author to clarify their central narrative: the aesthetic and intellectual development of an influential composer. For long-time listeners and young musicians recently introduced to his work; this book provides an opportunity to get to know Reichs music in greater depth and perspective.