In Glasgow I asked why Reich hadn't written anything for orchestra since the Three Movements of 1987. He replied that he felt he was unsuccessful as an orchestral composer because his orchestration was too "heavy". I disagreed and implored him to write a Concerto for Orchestra or even expand his Music for a large Ensemble for full orchestra. People in the audience laughed. But about 18 months later I flew down to London for the premiere of his "Music for Ensemble and Orchestra".
@@qazwerspoil Wow a Steve Reich fan fae Glesga! Too bad the premiere was duff. Not a patch on the music he was writing decades ago. The LSO (I think it was) also premiered the "3rd Piano Concerto" by Glass. What a brass neck. It had about as much authenticity as dumping a packet of oregano on top of a can of spaghetti hoops and calling it Bolognese. It sounded something like Brahms stuck in a food processor. Anyway for me Reich is the greater technician in terms of the architecture of sound (dahling) although Glass did write some extraordinary music i.e Satyagraha, Einstein etc. I guess both composers had two good decades. Roughly from 1970 - 1990 after which it was a law of diminishing returns for Reich and a nosedive into utter dreck for Glass. I guess if all you are working with is a very limited pallette then your going to burn out quick and both of them did I reckon. But hey ho. Btw check a playlist I made up on Spotify if you like. open.spotify.com/playlist/4Tp9yePGfmjgCJI8uytsk4?si=tJ_YesGkTbmml-c37CQg3Q&
@@bsku0765 Cheers! Just arrangements of all the old familiar works. His best stuff circa 74-94... Just a shame that my favourites (Music for Large Ensemble & Variations for Strings Winds & Keyboards) are ignored. Not only by Reich himself, but also his imitators. Like Glass he had 20 good years. I guess that's enough.
Wow. No comments and only a couple of hundred likes. I bought this album waaaay back when. Very hypnotic. This and music for 18 musicians. Still love to put them on when I'm just puttering around the house. Very surprised nobody's picked up on this. For me this was enjoyed along early tangerine dream, oxygene, hawkwind and a band called jade warrior. Love it
I have never heard this recording of the Octet before. Its beautiful and astonishing how Reich's music can work at any tempo. It's mysteries are still revealed to us and novel reflections shine through with different interpretations.
It was played at about this speed under Kent Nagano in Montreal some years ago, I was there. I loved the slower tempo, it meant more time listening to this awesome piece :)
Amusant de nommer cela " minimal effort"quand on sait l'immense difficulté à jouer ces morceaux...une merveille de précision et de subtils décalages. De toute beauté et tant mieux si cela semble demander un minimum d'effort...car la virtuosité est la- dessous, en toute discrétion et humilité. Merci pour le Post.
I prefer this relaxed tempo over the other ECM recording. Here, it is nice and slow, real nice groove that is verging on funk. Well done for this masterpiece interpretation.
Thank you so much for the upload! This is the original version of Music for a Large Ensemble which includes the full third section (beginning at 30:06) which was later discarded.
Wow! Original versions of Octet and Music for a Large Ensemble! Listening to the original concept(s) of the work(s) and comparing with the actual (or “updated”) version(s) is an interesting musical adventure! Keep uploading these jewels!!! 👏👏👏👏
@@dominicgriffiths8125 oui, j'étais parti sur 3, j'en ai aouté 1 mais j'ai oublié d'effacer le 3. Ça arrive, j'espère que l'on me pardonnera un jour ! Ça n'est peut être pas très grave, j'ai lu dans une revue scientifique 1+1=0
The slower tempo probably works better for a live performance to take into account the acoustics (echo, reverb, etc.) of the room whereas the faster tempo is better for a recording since there's probably some amount of sound mixing and producing to make everything sound clean.
When Reich came to Glasgow a few years ago I asked him a question in the Q&A which followed (yet another) performance of his Music for 18 Musicians. That piece (wonderful as it is) and Drumming seem to be the only works from the 70s in which Reich shows any interest. I asked why my favourite piece of his was so neglected. Why there were only two recordings, why it is never performed, why there is no pocket score available to buy and why the full score cannot be purchased and only hired from Boosey & Hawkes. His glib answer was "I'm not keen" on what I consider to be his most beautiful work. Namely the Music for Large Ensemble.
That's crazy! It's also my favorite of his (along with The Desert Music). I literally cannot count the number of times I've listened to it, it's utterly mesmerizing.
@@polaroidcaesar You said it. Mesmerising it is. I must've listened to it many hundreds of times. I lost interest in Reich in the 90s. Like Glass (who is a far lesser talent) Reich had roughly 20 great years from 1970 - 1990. He just changed his harmonic pallete completely in the 90s and gone were the really optimistic modes he used to utilise in the 70s which always made his music sound so upbeat.
I also have a bootleg recording of the world premiere performance at Carnegie Hall of Reich's sublime Variations for Strings Winds and Keyboards presented in the chamber version. This I believe is the only recording of this preliminary version. The music is the same but the forces are smaller. Unfortunately the sonics are terrible. I really hope this version will be recorded anew one day.
Hi Survivor! What a fantastic thing to have -- it's a terrific piece. I wish it got more performances than it does. I was disappointed to miss Michael Tilson Thomas perform it with the LSO, back in about 2007, I think.
@@ryanhepburn2583 Hello Ryan. I missed that Tilson Thomas concert in London too. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performed it here in Glasgow years ago. I was hoping their rendition might have made its way onto one of the BBC Music Magazine cover CDs but I don't think so. That leaves only one other recording (live) of the Reich Variations which I'm sure you'll know. Stefan Asbury conducting the LA Philharmonic on the DG Live Jukebox series. It's a nice performance and a little slower than the Edo de Waart version. Reich's music is fascinating because if it's slowed down one can hear all new details. It's just a shame that one of the Oboists in LA Phil plays a bum note continuously for about 20 seconds from the 2:05 timestamp onwards! Listen to it and you'll hear. Why Reich ignored these beautiful Variations as well as his Music for a Large Ensemble is baffling.
I have a bootleg copy of the LP recording of the original version of Music for a Large Ensemble as premiered at the Holland Festival in 1978. Is this the same recording of the world premiere from the Holland Festival?
@@minimaleffort8780 Oh wow I've never heard this. It's sounds so much better actually than the Holland Festival recording. Thankyou for uploading this. Is there any way I can buy these recordings?
There exists an orchestral work by Reich so obscure its not even listed in his catalogue. In fact Reich (in a further dismissal of his own music) stated "forget this piece... I have". In 2006 I travelled to London for a festival of Reich's Music at the Barbican. After a Friday morning concert at St.Giles Cripplegate I approached Reich to ask him about this piece. "Don't even mention that thing to me" came his reply. He can be quite a cantankerous old bugger. I speak of the orchestral version of his late 60s work for tape "My Name is".I discovered the album quite by chance about 20 years ago whilst briefly working in the Classical Department in the old Tower Records at Piccadilly Circus. Mein Name Ist...(Portrait der Schola Cantorum Stuttgart 1981) was released on the obscure Cadenza Label from Bayer Records CAD 800 895 The CD is entitled "Atelier Schola Cantorum Stuttgart" and contains works by Brian Ferneyhough and Mauricio Kagel. Calling it an orchestral work is stretching the imagination a bit far because all the Orchestra does is interject several times with gigantic chords over and above the hypnotic tape loops. But what chords! Beautifully orchestrated statements with gorgeous placing of brass/basses in the same vein as the 1979 Variations and The Desert Music. Whilst listening it seems all the more puzzling why Reich continues to disregard his small orchestral output.
I know it's a bit late but that's also how i discovered Reich's work, one of the OSTs in Tsukimonogatari is eerily close to 'Piano Phase'. Shaft did an awesome job with the music of the series.
@@ACasualWeeb which OST? I’d be interested to hear, I’ve not listened to much from the Monogatari series but if it’s anything like Reich I bet I’d enjoy it
@@salt1ne1 The particular track I'm talking about here is from Tsukimonogatari and is called "Me wo Samasu beki Koro": ruclips.net/video/FYoYsz7H9z0/видео.html A lot of that season's music is very minimalist and it sounds fantastic; could also just be because I'm a huge Mono fan but it's really damn good and I also think you'd enjoy it if you're into Reich's work
![[DRAGON BALL LEGENDS REVEALS ＆ STUFF] LEGENDS FESTIVAL 2024 Special Edition Part 1](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/mV5bGIswTtQ/mqdefault.jpg)
In Glasgow I asked why Reich hadn't written anything for orchestra since the Three Movements of 1987. He replied that he felt he was unsuccessful as an orchestral composer because his orchestration was too "heavy". I disagreed and implored him to write a Concerto for Orchestra or even expand his Music for a large Ensemble for full orchestra. People in the audience laughed. But about 18 months later I flew down to London for the premiere of his "Music for Ensemble and Orchestra".
Great work!
I was there in glasgow. I remember you asking that question. I wish the minimal festival would return
@@qazwerspoil Wow a Steve Reich fan fae Glesga! Too bad the premiere was duff. Not a patch on the music he was writing decades ago. The LSO (I think it was) also premiered the "3rd Piano Concerto" by Glass. What a brass neck. It had about as much authenticity as dumping a packet of oregano on top of a can of spaghetti hoops and calling it Bolognese. It sounded something like Brahms stuck in a food processor. Anyway for me Reich is the greater technician in terms of the architecture of sound (dahling) although Glass did write some extraordinary music i.e Satyagraha, Einstein etc. I guess both composers had two good decades. Roughly from 1970 - 1990 after which it was a law of diminishing returns for Reich and a nosedive into utter dreck for Glass. I guess if all you are working with is a very limited pallette then your going to burn out quick and both of them did I reckon. But hey ho. Btw check a playlist I made up on Spotify if you like.
open.spotify.com/playlist/4Tp9yePGfmjgCJI8uytsk4?si=tJ_YesGkTbmml-c37CQg3Q&
@@gingeropera7491 very diverse playlist. Nice
@@bsku0765 Cheers! Just arrangements of all the old familiar works. His best stuff circa 74-94... Just a shame that my favourites (Music for Large Ensemble & Variations for Strings Winds & Keyboards) are ignored. Not only by Reich himself, but also his imitators. Like Glass he had 20 good years. I guess that's enough.
Wow. No comments and only a couple of hundred likes. I bought this album waaaay back when. Very hypnotic. This and music for 18 musicians. Still love to put them on when I'm just puttering around the house. Very surprised nobody's picked up on this. For me this was enjoyed along early tangerine dream, oxygene, hawkwind and a band called jade warrior. Love it
I have never heard this recording of the Octet before. Its beautiful and astonishing how Reich's music can work at any tempo. It's mysteries are still revealed to us and novel reflections shine through with different interpretations.
It was played at about this speed under Kent Nagano in Montreal some years ago, I was there. I loved the slower tempo, it meant more time listening to this awesome piece :)
Aspiring Muscians :You can't listen to this too early in your musical career. You have to save this for dessert.
Captivant ❤❤
Amusant de nommer cela " minimal effort"quand on sait l'immense difficulté à jouer ces morceaux...une merveille de précision et de subtils décalages. De toute beauté et tant mieux si cela semble demander un minimum d'effort...car la virtuosité est la- dessous, en toute discrétion et humilité. Merci pour le Post.
I prefer this relaxed tempo over the other ECM recording. Here, it is nice and slow, real nice groove that is verging on funk. Well done for this masterpiece interpretation.
… I’m sure the musicians didn’t mind the tempo either! 😂
Always impressed by the musicians playing the melody at 39:12 in the faster recordings!
Thank you so much for the upload! This is the original version of Music for a Large Ensemble which includes the full third section (beginning at 30:06) which was later discarded.
#justiceforfullthirdsection
@@kylebnjmnross damn straight
@@kylebnjmnross i agree
Wow! Original versions of Octet and Music for a Large Ensemble! Listening to the original concept(s) of the work(s) and comparing with the actual (or “updated”) version(s) is an interesting musical adventure! Keep uploading these jewels!!! 👏👏👏👏
Thank you.
Bach, Reich, Glass et Schulze les 3 compositeurs qui ont marqués mon univers musical
Mais...ça fait quatre !
@@dominicgriffiths8125 oui, j'étais parti sur 3, j'en ai aouté 1 mais j'ai oublié d'effacer le 3. Ça arrive, j'espère que l'on me pardonnera un jour !
Ça n'est peut être pas très grave, j'ai lu dans une revue scientifique 1+1=0
37:03 absolutely love this part!
22:06 is Serious Biz!!! love it!!
Большое Вам спасибо.
Interesting mix in the Music for large Ensemble. The voices are much more omnipresent as in the ECM recording.
Found this on an ECM record just this weekend, violin fase is also on that recording.
I think this music must have inspired the scores for hundreds of movies.
Thank you!
Omg, thank you!!
Wow, the Octet is so slow. The ECM recording is much faster. Strange.
The slower tempo probably works better for a live performance to take into account the acoustics (echo, reverb, etc.) of the room whereas the faster tempo is better for a recording since there's probably some amount of sound mixing and producing to make everything sound clean.
The tempo for some of the older classical composers (i.e. Beethoven) were faster than what is being played today, I have heard.
When Reich came to Glasgow a few years ago I asked him a question in the Q&A which followed (yet another) performance of his Music for 18 Musicians. That piece (wonderful as it is) and Drumming seem to be the only works from the 70s in which Reich shows any interest.
I asked why my favourite piece of his was so neglected. Why there were only two recordings, why it is never performed, why there is no pocket score available to buy and why the full score cannot be purchased and only hired from Boosey & Hawkes. His glib answer was "I'm not keen" on what I consider to be his most beautiful work. Namely the Music for Large Ensemble.
fascinating to know, thank you for sharing.
@@rohedron Thankyou very much. I have loved Reich's music since I was a student.
Yeah I've long been puzzled about why he disses that composition - to me it is gorgeous.
That's crazy! It's also my favorite of his (along with The Desert Music). I literally cannot count the number of times I've listened to it, it's utterly mesmerizing.
@@polaroidcaesar You said it. Mesmerising it is. I must've listened to it many hundreds of times. I lost interest in Reich in the 90s. Like Glass (who is a far lesser talent) Reich had roughly 20 great years from 1970 - 1990. He just changed his harmonic pallete completely in the 90s and gone were the really optimistic modes he used to utilise in the 70s which always made his music sound so upbeat.
♫😻✨
I also have a bootleg recording of the world premiere performance at Carnegie Hall of Reich's sublime Variations for Strings Winds and Keyboards presented in the chamber version. This I believe is the only recording of this preliminary version. The music is the same but the forces are smaller. Unfortunately the sonics are terrible. I really hope this version will be recorded anew one day.
Hi Survivor! What a fantastic thing to have -- it's a terrific piece. I wish it got more performances than it does. I was disappointed to miss Michael Tilson Thomas perform it with the LSO, back in about 2007, I think.
@@ryanhepburn2583 Hello Ryan. I missed that Tilson Thomas concert in London too. The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra performed it here in Glasgow years ago. I was hoping their rendition might have made its way onto one of the BBC Music Magazine cover CDs but I don't think so.
That leaves only one other recording (live) of the Reich Variations which I'm sure you'll know. Stefan Asbury conducting the LA Philharmonic on the DG Live Jukebox series. It's a nice performance and a little slower than the Edo de Waart version. Reich's music is fascinating because if it's slowed down one can hear all new details.
It's just a shame that one of the Oboists in LA Phil plays a bum note continuously for about 20 seconds from the 2:05 timestamp onwards! Listen to it and you'll hear.
Why Reich ignored these beautiful Variations as well as his Music for a Large Ensemble is baffling.
⚡ Instinkt und subjektive Wahl sind die einzigen Garantien für den Wert eines Werkes
I have a bootleg copy of the LP recording of the original version of Music for a Large Ensemble as premiered at the Holland Festival in 1978. Is this the same recording of the world premiere from the Holland Festival?
No, this recording was made about a week after that one in Paris.
@@minimaleffort8780 Oh wow I've never heard this. It's sounds so much better actually than the Holland Festival recording. Thankyou for uploading this. Is there any way I can buy these recordings?
3 + 1 =4 !
There exists an orchestral work by Reich so obscure its not even listed in his catalogue. In fact Reich (in a further dismissal of his own music) stated "forget this piece... I have".
In 2006 I travelled to London for a festival of Reich's Music at the Barbican. After a Friday morning concert at St.Giles Cripplegate I approached Reich to ask him about this piece. "Don't even mention that thing to me" came his reply. He can be quite a cantankerous old bugger.
I speak of the orchestral version of his late 60s work for tape "My Name is".I discovered the album quite by chance about 20 years ago whilst briefly working in the Classical Department in the old Tower Records at Piccadilly Circus.
Mein Name Ist...(Portrait der Schola Cantorum Stuttgart 1981) was released on the obscure Cadenza Label from Bayer Records CAD 800 895
The CD is entitled "Atelier Schola Cantorum Stuttgart" and contains works by Brian Ferneyhough and Mauricio Kagel.
Calling it an orchestral work is stretching the imagination a bit far because all the Orchestra does is interject several times with gigantic chords over and above the hypnotic tape loops. But what chords! Beautifully orchestrated statements with gorgeous placing of brass/basses in the same vein as the 1979 Variations and The Desert Music. Whilst listening it seems all the more puzzling why Reich continues to disregard his small orchestral output.
That Tower Records shop was so great. Is this album available anywhere now?
Ooh, found it: ruclips.net/video/ShgWc2OlQdc/видео.html&ab_channel=MinimalEffort
@@topologyrob It's a mega obscure album. If you email me I'll do you a copy and post it.
Signs
Is there any source for this recording? Was it ever put on any LP/CD?
Nope, this recording is from a French radio broadcast. It has never been officially released on record.
666 ............. is no longer alone !
調律合ってないよね レコードは合ってたから
bakemonogatari vibes
I know it's a bit late but that's also how i discovered Reich's work, one of the OSTs in Tsukimonogatari is eerily close to 'Piano Phase'. Shaft did an awesome job with the music of the series.
@@ACasualWeeb which OST? I’d be interested to hear, I’ve not listened to much from the Monogatari series but if it’s anything like Reich I bet I’d enjoy it
@@salt1ne1 The particular track I'm talking about here is from Tsukimonogatari and is called "Me wo Samasu beki Koro":
ruclips.net/video/FYoYsz7H9z0/видео.html
A lot of that season's music is very minimalist and it sounds fantastic; could also just be because I'm a huge Mono fan but it's really damn good and I also think you'd enjoy it if you're into Reich's work
Is this available for purchase somewhere?
Thank you!