Structure of "Music for 18 Musicians" by Steve Reich (visualization)

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  • Опубликовано: 29 авг 2024
  • Small Dots Ensemble plays "Music for 18 Musicians" composed by Steve Reich in 1976.
    Although I used my own interpretation on this visualization, I referred heavily to the analysis of the famous dissertation by Marc Mellits.
    Hope you enjoy the differences between each sections.
    The text quoted at the ending is a part of "Hojoki, Visions of a Torn World" by Kamo-no Chomei (1155-1216), Japanese Buddhist monk contemporary with Pérotin who Reich mentions in the composer's note for Music for 18 Musicians. I was constantly reminded of this sentence while creating this video.
    #SteveReich
    #MusicFor18Musicians
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Комментарии • 129

  • @geoffroyclop
    @geoffroyclop Год назад +97

    You should be paid for this, this is culturally important no bullshit.
    I can’t tell you how much easier it is to understand what’s going on, I’m more of a visual person and having every note appear on time and laying that harmonically on each others makes me appreciate the effort put into creating and performing this masterpiece so much more.
    And it’s so visually pleasing

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Год назад +9

      Thank you so much. Your comment cheered me up.

    • @stvp68
      @stvp68 7 месяцев назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 i wondered if you ever work with outside composers-this is like its own cross-disciplinary artform in its own right

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  7 месяцев назад +1

      ​@@stvp68 I had several offers, but they did not materialize due to cost. It takes too long to make.

  • @pspgoman9934
    @pspgoman9934 Год назад +29

    This rules so hard.

  • @dewdperson767
    @dewdperson767 Год назад +33

    0:00 Title
    0:10 Parts and instrument setup
    0:30 Pulses I
    5:22 Section I
    9:04 Section II
    12:48 Section IIIA
    16:17 Section IIIB
    19:43 Section IV
    24:56 Section V
    29:34 Section VI
    34:05 Section VII
    37:47 Section VIII
    41:25 Section IX
    45:39 Section X
    46:39 Section XI
    51:08 Pulses II
    54:23 Quote from "Hojoki, Visions of a Torn World" by Kamo-no Chomei
    55:30 End

  • @The_CGA
    @The_CGA 4 месяца назад +6

    This feels like a shortcut to the synesthesia I wrought inside my brain through countless hours of bus commuting with this piece, and I’m glad for it, better chance more folks can experience the beauty of it-it’s like a Holodeck Program, a whole pocket universe with its own physical laws and natural beauty and weather patterns.

  • @gustavograffe5146
    @gustavograffe5146 5 месяцев назад +5

    The creator of this video deserves a ticket to Saturn. I only hope that Steve Reich himself know about this extraordinary work. Congrats!

  • @lucaviggiani2189
    @lucaviggiani2189 8 месяцев назад +4

    Having loved this music for many years, I can’t tell you how much this meant to me. I was lucky enough to see Steve in London performing this at the Royal Festival Hall, years ago with my late mother. Superb composer. I could listen to part V on a loop forever.

  • @HectorRodriguez-music
    @HectorRodriguez-music Год назад +10

    Hi there! I want to congratulate on this excellent electronic rendition of "18"! I've been hearing this work since 2016 when I discovered it (that's 8 years now!). The visualization helps a lot on what's going on and kudos for that! Having said that, I found a few things in this version:
    1. Section 9: Piano 4 player 1 was playing the pattern an octave higher, when it should be lower (bass clef). On Section 10 is when it goes higher
    2. Section 1: On the clarinets pulses in mid section ("Pulse A B A B"), I would've let the pulses a little bit longer to make the swelling more effective (a perfect example of this is on the original ECM recording). This also can be applied on all instruments that pulses in mid sections during these Sections.
    3. Section 8: You nailed the atmospherical/ethereal sound in this section! Most electronic versions don’t arrive at this type of sound, but you did! 👏👏👏 (this section sounded very similar as Ensemble Modern with Synergy Vocals’ performance in Tokyo, Japan on 2008)
    These are my observations based on your interpretation/rendition. Once again, bravo on this rendition of “18”! I hope to see more of Steve Reich in this channel! You have my subscription! 😄
    - A fellow Steve Reich fan 🙂
    P.S.: the maracas on Sections 6-8 sounds phenomenal! 👌

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Год назад +2

      Thanks for your candid feedback.
      I did not notice the mistake in Section IX. I regret it!
      I hope you enjoy the other pieces on my channel.

    • @HectorRodriguez-music
      @HectorRodriguez-music Год назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058No worries my friend! You did the best you could! After all, transcribing a non stop hour long piece is VERY daunting 😅 Hopefully to see your full rendition of Drumming! 👍🙂

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Год назад +1

      Thank you so much!

  • @jcwdog
    @jcwdog Год назад +17

    This is amazing!!! Thank you so much for doing this piece. You have made me so very happy.

  • @joaoguerreiro52
    @joaoguerreiro52 Год назад +6

    That's some godlike work, take my like!

  • @Flaaroni
    @Flaaroni 4 месяца назад +2

    Thanks for making this, I feel like I understand this piece way more now. I'd kill to see a visualizer for Electric Counterpoint

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  4 месяца назад

      Thanks for watching.
      Electric Counterpoint is in the making and I want to finish it.

  • @matekon2
    @matekon2 Год назад +9

    This video is a gem!

  • @PedestrianBridge-vr5hm
    @PedestrianBridge-vr5hm Год назад +6

    Finally, you've done it!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Год назад

      I think there is still room for improvement, though...
      Please give me your opinion.

    • @npchong
      @npchong 27 дней назад +1

      First of all, this is truly incredible. Thank you-truly-for making this and sharing it. Humanity is bettered by your helping make this piece more understandable. One thing I wonder is whether the canons might be more informative if the various parts of the canon were vertically superimposed, rather than offset in space. That way you could see how they more directly interact with one another, and you would see the shift in the rhythm more clearly. The dots on the left could still help you see how the rhythmic line is being assembled to equal the same line as the other parts. Don’t know if that makes any sense. Just a thought. Thanks again.

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  26 дней назад

      Thanks for your valuable input!🌝
      I will use it as a reference for next time.

    • @npchong
      @npchong 25 дней назад +1

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 ​​⁠ Any plans to do the Reich Sextet? Would absolutely love to see that one!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  25 дней назад +1

      @@npchong Sextet is a fascinating piece to visualize.
      I have no plans for now, but hope to realize it at some point.

  • @matthewjohnwilliam498
    @matthewjohnwilliam498 11 месяцев назад +8

    Excellent work - you clearly have a depth of understanding of this magnificent piece of music!

  • @PugCuber
    @PugCuber Год назад +6

    welcome back!

  • @shun6240
    @shun6240 Год назад +6

    I’m glad to listen to and watch your high-quality video again! (from Japan)

  • @inner4653
    @inner4653 Месяц назад +1

    It's awesome how much more understandable and accessible this piece becomes after watching this video

  • @ironmaz1
    @ironmaz1 11 месяцев назад +6

    this is a blessing from God. You have brought me great joy through your efforts!

  • @amadeus5889
    @amadeus5889 5 месяцев назад +1

    This is absolutely mesmerizing. Feels like I’m hurtling through the Star Gate.

  • @kaylaalicia5679
    @kaylaalicia5679 9 месяцев назад +3

    This is so freaking beautiful.

  • @jiafeiskinnyproducts
    @jiafeiskinnyproducts Год назад +4

    YOU'RE BACK!! AYYY

  • @dominikwab9612
    @dominikwab9612 Год назад +2

    Spellbinding! When I start watching this video I just can't stop ':P

  • @isaiahisbored
    @isaiahisbored 10 месяцев назад +1

    I can’t believe only this little amount of views for such a great effort of visualisation

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  10 месяцев назад

      Thanks. I don't know how to get more views. Give me some advises if you have.

    • @VenetianSnus
      @VenetianSnus 4 месяца назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058Change the title to “Composer DESTROYS minimalism”. 😆
      Jk but sincerely great video and rendition Ty.

  • @BassamAbusamra
    @BassamAbusamra Год назад +4

    Masterpiece ✨✨✨ thank you so much ❤❤❤

  • @AMAsix-pw4yu
    @AMAsix-pw4yu Год назад +3

    Beautiful as always. I am so pleased to see you're back!

    • @AMAsix-pw4yu
      @AMAsix-pw4yu Год назад +1

      The way you laid out the arch-forms, in particular, is really a blessing!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Год назад

      Thanks always. I had a hard time visualizing the structure of the piece.

  • @donjuanpond1
    @donjuanpond1 3 месяца назад

    listening / watching while sick is a very nice experience

  • @MichaelWarner-k8o
    @MichaelWarner-k8o 22 дня назад +1

    I have been listening to S.R.'s music over a number of years and the only way I can find to describe it is to liken it to slowly drowning in a vat full of warm delicious honey. 😊

  • @fburton8
    @fburton8 Год назад +6

    What a joy, and such insights! This is just so lovely.

  • @twiglet2214
    @twiglet2214 10 месяцев назад

    This is extraordinary - i came across this piece on a BBC documentary - Tones Drones and Arpeggios The Magic of Minimalism ( Charles Hazlewood ) and it led me here and it's magnificent - is this what synesthesia is like ?
    Synesthesia is when your brain routes sensory information through multiple unrelated senses, causing you to experience more than one sense simultaneously. Some examples include tasting words or linking colors to numbers and letters.
    It's like a whirlpool that draws you in deeper and deeper and then gently lets you go......

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  10 месяцев назад

      Thank you for coming and watching this video.
      I will check the BBC docmentary.

  • @darylcumming7119
    @darylcumming7119 4 месяца назад +1

    Congratulations on this interpretation. 😊

  • @mathemusique
    @mathemusique Год назад +2

    Amazing work!!! :)

  • @alexandermacaulay7421
    @alexandermacaulay7421 10 месяцев назад +1

    Your videos are absolutely amazing! Thanks so much for sharing them. I’ll be enjoying these for years 😊

  • @jwbarna
    @jwbarna 2 месяца назад

    Thanks!

  • @OIL_HAM
    @OIL_HAM Год назад +2

    Small dots ensembleが帰って来たぞ!

  • @chrisrenaud8588
    @chrisrenaud8588 Месяц назад +1

    thank you so much for this. i'm curious, how did you get a hold of that dissertation? i've always been fascinated by this piece and would love to read more analysis of it

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Месяц назад +1

      I don't remember the url, but I found it through a Google search.

    • @chrisrenaud8588
      @chrisrenaud8588 Месяц назад +1

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 thanks! i actually just found it through another comment you responded to previously 😅

  • @Atom.-md6xk
    @Atom.-md6xk 3 месяца назад +1

    Hey ! That's litterally incredible, It really helps to understand what's going on ! I love it !
    How do you make these (the visualization part) ?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  3 месяца назад

      Thank you for enjoying!
      I made this with the music score, Adobe AfterEffects and a bit of passion.😊

    • @Atom.-md6xk
      @Atom.-md6xk 3 месяца назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 That's amazing that you're posting these for free, I feel like I should have paid to see this. Don't stop, that's amazingly good !

  • @Goran_D
    @Goran_D 11 месяцев назад +4

    I have been liste it to this piece for over 15 years and as a classically trained composer and musician who studied at the Conservatorium or music in Sydney I have never in my days come across something this detail on the piece. To be honest this goes on in my head because I can hear each instrument due to my training but for other people this is a great help.
    Did you do this from a midi file? If so can you message me please. I need to source a midi version for a project. Thank you for this masterpiece.

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  11 месяцев назад

      Thank you for watching!
      I'm afraid that I didn't use a midi file for this piece. Every single sound is assigned to each dot to adjust the timing.

    • @Goran_D
      @Goran_D 11 месяцев назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 thanks for replying :) so was it a live recording? Or was it imported to a specific program for audio like pro tool or logic? I ask because the instruments sound a bit different to live recordings. Would love to know as I need the individual parts for réorchestration I’m working on.

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  11 месяцев назад +3

      I use the following method of creation.
      First, I prepare sound files for all pitches of each instrument used in the piece such as pf-c4.aif, vn-f#5.aif...
      Then, when I create the animation using Adobe AfterEffects, the sound files are applied to every single dot.
      See figure.
      ibb.co/LpnfMKZ
      The beige in the upper half is the dot and the blue in the lower half is the sound.
      This way, the dot and the sound are perfectly synchronized.
      In my visualization of Double Sextet and Well-Tempered Clavier, I used live recordings by professional performers, but with this method, I have to adjust the timing of each dot to the recording.
      You may find some unsynchronized dots in Well-Tempered Clavier.
      It is a dilemma because the musical quality will be poor and cannot please your ears with my method.
      Pardon my bad English.

    • @Goran_D
      @Goran_D 11 месяцев назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 heheh English is perfect! No worries. I’m just not sure how to extract the individual instruments into aif files individually

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  11 месяцев назад

      I use an open-source MIDI sequencer like Aria Maestosa, sometimes sampling from CD's. The maracas sounds in Music for 18 Musicians are from Four Organs.

  • @ThereThere56
    @ThereThere56 11 месяцев назад

    How beautiful it is, amazing!

  • @TheRdgrdg
    @TheRdgrdg 7 месяцев назад

    Fantastic! 🙏🏼

  • @lucase.2546
    @lucase.2546 7 месяцев назад +1

    Put this on the next Golden Record for Voyager

  • @paulm8473
    @paulm8473 Год назад +2

    I love this! So cool. As a huge fan of Reich, this being one of my favorites, how could I get a copy of that dissertation you mentioned? As a visual artist working in photography/video, I'd love to read it myself. Any help in this is greatly appreciated!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Год назад +2

      Thank you for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed.
      The dissertation I mentioned is here.
      ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/13529
      The second half of this dissertation is a discussion of "Music for 18 musicians".

    • @paulm8473
      @paulm8473 Год назад +1

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 Thanks so much.

  • @2can2do
    @2can2do 7 месяцев назад +1

    Amazing. Is the music on the video your own performance or did you use a pre-existing recording for this?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  7 месяцев назад

      Thank you for watching. The music is my own composition. Pardon that it is not so good musically. ;-)

    • @ClaudioCaldini
      @ClaudioCaldini 3 месяца назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 I'm sorry, do you mean your own performance/interpretation? because "composition" it's supposed to be Steve Reich's. I wonder what it would have sounded like if synthetic, purely electronic sounds had been used instead of sampled instruments. Very interesting visualization, anyway

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  3 месяца назад

      @@ClaudioCaldini Pardon my English.
      Steve Reich composed this and I played it using dots that have each sound.

  • @user-yv6xw7ns3o
    @user-yv6xw7ns3o 11 месяцев назад

    Very cool! How did you record/create this version of the music? MIDI?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  11 месяцев назад

      Thank you for watching!
      No MIDI used in this piece.
      Each sound is assigned to each dot note by note to synchronize with the appearance of the dots.

    • @user-yv6xw7ns3o
      @user-yv6xw7ns3o 11 месяцев назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 Interesting, thanks for responding. Do you mean that you use software specifically designed to do that?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  11 месяцев назад +1

      First, I prepare audio files for all pitches used in the piece, using the common MIDI sequencer.
      Then, imported them into the motion graphics software Adobe AfterEffects.

  • @3Rlink
    @3Rlink 11 месяцев назад +1

    brain massage

  • @TiagoSousaMusician
    @TiagoSousaMusician 11 месяцев назад

    uau!

  • @hermask815
    @hermask815 11 месяцев назад

    Who in this day and age has an attention span long enough for music like this?

    • @johanneskepler873
      @johanneskepler873 8 месяцев назад +2

      I do.

    • @hermask815
      @hermask815 8 месяцев назад

      @@johanneskepler873 how old are you?😆
      I’m of grandpa age.

    • @Atom.-md6xk
      @Atom.-md6xk 3 месяца назад +2

      @@hermask815 I do too, I'm 16.

  • @subbyplayz6332
    @subbyplayz6332 Год назад +2

    Drozdovsky train.

  • @stvp68
    @stvp68 7 месяцев назад

    Took me a while to figure out the Roman numerals aren’t key areas 😅😅

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  7 месяцев назад +1

      Perhaps I should have added the word "section".

    • @stvp68
      @stvp68 7 месяцев назад +1

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 It’s a really great visualization-once I understood all your notations onscreen, the structure of the piece became much easier to understand and appreciate! Thank you for this!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  7 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks for watching too!

  • @whatisiswhatable
    @whatisiswhatable 15 дней назад

    Can someone explain how I should watch this? Is it like a daw where the cue is going left to right in a measure?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  15 дней назад

      That's right!

    • @whatisiswhatable
      @whatisiswhatable 14 дней назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058I’m still a little confused for instance by the marimba hits that basically happen every beat. How come they don’t move but other things do? And the pulses move left to right slower than the other things

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  14 дней назад +1

      @@whatisiswhatable For visually monotonous pulses that do not vary in height like a melody pattern, I thought it would be more visually effective to have them clatter in the same position rather than move along the measure.
      It would be messy if it moved together with the melody pattern.
      Incidentally, the clarinets, strings and female voices pattern stretches time, but in this visualisation I represented this by slowing the movement rather than extending the width of the measure.

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  14 дней назад +1

      @@whatisiswhatable Pardon my poor English.
      Please give me additional questions if you don't get what I mean.

    • @whatisiswhatable
      @whatisiswhatable 14 дней назад +1

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 makes sense. Thank you!

  • @user-vl7pq3ie3o
    @user-vl7pq3ie3o 8 месяцев назад +1

    I want to "see" Music For A Large Ensemble......

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  8 месяцев назад +1

      Thanks for watching.
      Music for a Large Ensemble is on my to-do list, so please look forward to it.

  • @out1312
    @out1312 Месяц назад

    jesus that's insane

  • @MoustiluigiRandom
    @MoustiluigiRandom 11 месяцев назад +1

    C'est FOU.

  • @jimmymack4079
    @jimmymack4079 11 месяцев назад

    Oh dear. Where is the music in this farrago ? Horrible

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  11 месяцев назад

      I am sorry I could not show you the music as you wish.
      Give me some advise.

    • @casulukmc
      @casulukmc 5 месяцев назад

      @@smalldotsensemble2058nah bro’s just hating. Keep grinding we love your shit

  • @gregpidcock
    @gregpidcock 4 месяца назад

    deserves more views

  • @VenetianSnus
    @VenetianSnus 4 месяца назад +1

    Oh my. Amazing, and also I was going to request you also do Eight Lines, only to see that you already have! Ty!!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  4 месяца назад +1

      Thank you for watching! Eight Lines is my first visualization work.

  • @kevansmith5511
    @kevansmith5511 4 месяца назад +1

    thank you from the universe