Electric Counterpoint - Steve Reich

Question 0

How many instruments? And what are they?

Answer 0

10 guitars -
9 pre-recorded: 7 electric guitars, 2 basses
And 1 live guitar

Question 1

What style of music?

Answer 1

Minimalism

Question 2

Metre and Tempo

Answer 2

3/2 and 12/8

192bpm

Question 3

Key

Answer 3

Tonal Ambiguity - Aeolian based on E. we know we’re not in Em because there is never a D#.
but, the basses confirm it’s in E when they come in in section A.

Question 4

Describe the cell

Answer 4

Based on quaver patterns
Very syncopated
High-pitched
Use of leaps

Question 5

Describe the different parts of Section A

Answer 5

Part 1: only live guitar and 4 electrics playing. Contrapuntal texture (lots of different melodies) 4-part canon idea (metric displacement)
Part 2: bass guitars come in. Come I’m through addition. Technological effect used is panning. The Bass’ tell us we’re in Em of some kind rather than G.
Part 3: 3 strummed guitars come in, built up through slow addition. Cross rhythms are used (rhythmic device) and metric displacement is used.
Part 4: all parts are playing (thickest texture) but the live guitar is playing the resultant melody.

Question 6

Describe Section B

Answer 6

Texture is fairly similar throughout the section as all ten instruments are always playing. However, the key and metre are constantly changing between Em and Cm and 3/2 and 12/8 giving a sense of development. Towards the end of the section the switches become much more frequent and it becomes quite ambiguous.

Question 7

How can we tell the difference between the two resultant melodies?

Answer 7

The resultant melody in Cm goes higher, whilst the one in Em goes lower

Question 8

How is it recorded?

Answer 8

Using multi-tracking

Question 9

Composed for whom?

Answer 9

Pat Methany - a jazz guitarist

Question 10

Composed in which year?

Answer 10

1987

Question 11

Which minimalistic technique is never used in this piece?

Answer 11

Phase shifting

Question 12

What form is this piece in?

Answer 12

Ternary form - ABA (coda is A2)

Question 13

What do we know about Steve Reich?

Answer 13

He got his rhythmic interests from West Africa.
Ideas of hypnotising repetition and idea of repeated cell from Indonesia.
One of the founders of minimalism

Question 14

What are the dynamics like at the end of the piece?

Answer 14

As layers are stripped away the dynamics get louder and there is a large crescendo at the end of the piece.

Question 15

What’s the tonality like at the end of the piece?

Answer 15

It’s E-aeolian.

We know this because the last chord is an E5 chord and we don’t hear a major or a minor third.

Question 16

What minimalistic techniques are used in this piece?

Answer 16

Repetition of simple ideas
Addition
Layered textures
Little variety in instrument
Diatonic harmony

Question 17

Name two other minimalist composers

Answer 17

Philip Glass

John Adams