Track Listing

1. Triple Quartet (First Movement)
2. Triple Quartet (Second Movement)
3. Triple Quartet [Third Movement]
4. Electric Guitar Phase
5. Music for Large Ensemble
6. Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #146160 in Music
• Released on: 2001-10-16
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .24 pounds

Customer Reviews

Reich for those who don't necessarily like Reich
This disc contains one new work by Steve Reich, one old work and two arrangements of old works. Accordingly, it is not going to be stunningly attractive to old hands, but in my opinion it could win new converts to the composer.

Triple Quartet is the new work. Written for the Kronos Quartet and in this recording performed by them using overdubbing, this work contains an unusual level of dissonant harmony and of lyrical melody. The composer explains this by observing that he was introduced to the string quartets of Alfred Schnittke just as he began work on the music, and certainly it sounds to me as if the Mesto from Schnittke's second quartet is being constantly refracted and re-examined in the three movements of this work. This is a strong work, though not quite of the calibre of Reich's previous Kronos piece, the outstanding Different Trains.

Electric Guitar Phase goes back to one of Reich's seminal classics, Violin Phase, written in 1967 when minimalism was pure and uncluttered. The current recording is of an arrangement of that work for four multi-tracking guitars. I don't feel it adds anything to the original--one of Reich's most extreme essays but also one of his most important works--nor that it is as effective as Electric Counterpoint. Nonetheless, for a new listener coming to Reich for the first time, it might be more palatable than the violin version.

More accessible is the 1977 piece Music for Large Ensemble, which has always sounded to me like a pendant--a good pendant, though--to Music for Eighteen Musicians from the previous year. The version here is different from the one on the old ECM recording, taking as it does the 1977 original version instead of the 1979 revised version, with Alan Pierson, the conductor on this performance, editing some of the parts. I don't have a strong preference between the two recordings--the present recording has a more generally beautiful sound, but the ECM recording is more tense rhythmically.

This disc ends with Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint, an arrangement for MIDI marimbas of the multi-flute Vermont Counterpoint. It's good-humoured, but once again not as sonically interesting as the original piece.

This isn't an essential Reich disc (if I had to own only one Reich disc, it would be the Different Trains/Electric Counterpoint recording), but the Triple Quartet may well attract even listeners not particularly partial to the minimalist aesthetic.

Recycled Reich...
The music on this "new" Steve Reich release falls into two distinct categories:

ACTUAL NEW MATERIAL (15 minutes)
"Triple Quartet": A slight improvement over other recent ventures ("The Cave," "City Life"), however quite grating to listen to... a lack of critical rhythmic interest with static mildly dissonant harmonic content combines for an unrewarding listen that seems to go on for longer than the 14 minutes it actually lasts. A major disappointment compared to "Different Trains," the previous Kronos collaboration.

RECYCLED FILLER MATERIAL (40 minutes)
1. "Electric Guitar Phase": When this same piece is heard as "Violin Phase" (on the 1980 ECM recording) it's long and somewhat tedious yet rewarding upon further listening with an exciting virtuoso feel that a live violinist brings to the table. As performed on overdubbed electric guitars, it is devoid of humanity and fire, losing all hope of holding the listeners attention for the duration. Why this piece seemed worth recording on electric guitar is beyond me. Ugh.

2. "Music for a Large Ensemble": This arrangement/performance is a little cleaner and more transparent than its ECM cousin (that same record that had "Violin Phase" on it. Hmmm.) You can hear some details here that weren't as apparent on the older recording. However, despite the shiny finish, this performance seems to lack the fresh energy and attack heard on the ECM version. So an interesting listen for the overly Reich-obsessed, but nothing revelatory.

3. "Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint": Completely inferior to the version for flutes as recorded by Ransom Wilson. It is a damn shame that this recording is unavailable on CD at this time: it is a performance brimming with energy, humanity and humor, a virtuoso tour-de-force. As performed on "MIDI Marimbas" (whatever that means) it sounds hollow, monochromatic, electronic, and dull. Blah.

OVERALL: Yet another disappointing Nonesuch Reich release, 75% unsuccessful recycling, 25% sub-standard new material. And I write this as a 10+ year admirer and fan of Steve Reich's music desperately wanting to like this CD. Rats.

What a difference re-orchestration makes
Last year I purchased the 'complete' Steve Reich works on Nonesuch and was confused as to the missing works. This, save for 'phase patterns' and 'pendullum music', completes it.

Electric guitar phase is amazing. I'd only heard its origional version for violin a few times and the middle and ending were too muddy. The treble and subtle harmonic overtones on the guitar are much better. The best thing about the phasing technique though is that rush you get everytime a new phase locks in. Wow!

I agree with the reviewer below who noticed that the 'Large Ensemble' was not as tight as they could be. The sheer syncopation written into this piece demands aboslute precision and I came away feeling that it hadn't been achieved here. In contrast, I could have done with a less tight vermont counterpoint. THe beauty of all Reich's couterpoint works have been that they allow the ear to 'pick' between following the whole or an individual line. I found this impossible to do here.

THe anchor of the CD (Triple Quartet) was brilliant. I wish that the two other versions (orchestral string section and three quartets live) could've been on the CD as well. In closing the first two peices are the meat and potatoes. The last two peices despite in my opinion their performance flaws, serve as a worthy soup and salad.