GCSE Music Revision 2014

1. GCSE Music Revision 2014 Area of Study 2: Steve Reich: 3rd Movement (fast) from Electric Counterpoint

2. Steve Reich: Context & Background • Through the 20th Century composers aimed to push music in new & interesting directions • Minimalism emerged after art forms such as expressionism (Schoenberg) • Composers explored new ways of writing music down e.g. scores with little or not detail • Instruments were in unconventional ways e.g. being hit, plucked, bowed or immersed in water!

3. Steve Reich: Elements of Minnimalism • Drones – a ling, continuous note or constantly repeated note often low pitch • Ostinato or loops – repeated cycles of musical ideas. The shortest are known as cells • Phasing – two almost identical parts which go out of sync with each other gradually • Metamorphosis – gradually changing from one musical idea to another, usually one note at a time • Layering – adding new musical parts, usually one at a time • Note addition - starting off with a very simple ostinato and gradually adding notes as the pattern repeats • Note Subtraction – starting off with a complex ostinato and gradually removing notes • Rhythmic Displacement – playing a musical phrase so that accents fall in unexpected places • Augmentation – extending the durations of a rhythmic pattern • Static Harmony – One long chord which changes only very gradually, if at all

4. Steve Reich: As a composer • Born in New York in 1936 • His music is rhythmically complex with much repetition • Famous for the ‘phasing technique’ • Music is highly demanding to perform • Studied African drumming in 1970 which influenced compositions such as Drumming & Clapping Music

5. Steve Reich: Electric Counterpoint • Electric Counterpoint was written in 1987 • The piece is the last in a series of 3 pieces for soloists playing to pre-recorded multi track tapes • Commissioned for Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny • The performance features 12 recorded guitar parts & two bass guitars as well as the live part • The performance requires precise timing and a high level of accuracy • The ‘backing track’(recorded guitars) allows notes addition and other development techniques to be used that would not be possible with a standard tape loop

6. Steve Reich: Electric Counterpoint Section A

7. Steve Reich: Electric Counterpoint Section B & Coda