Origin

Question 1

Background

Answer 1

Minimalist work
Composed in 1985
Second movement of 3 movement work
One of a series of pieces by reich where soloist performs with prerecord end accompaniment.
It was commissioned by the Fromm music foundation whose founder was passionate of modern American music.
Reich tried to capture the vibrancy of manhattan.

Question 2

How is it typical of minimalism?

Answer 2

Limited cell of notes hexatonic E F# G# A#
B C#.
Complex contrapuntal textures
Broken chord patterns
Note addition-where notes are added to a repeated phrase
Melodic transformation - where it gradually changes shape
Rhythmic transformation- where a rhythm changes shape.
Gradual changes in texture and dynamics
Metrical displacement
Ostinatos
Canonic imitation