Reich

Question 1

Rhythm

Answer 1

The metre (time signature) begins in 3/2 (simple triple time)
At section A6 it becomes 12/8 (compound quadruple) in all the parts except guitar 4 – this is not obvious when you hear it
The metre then goes back to 3/2
At section A7 the metre changes every 4 bars, and in A8 the shifts become even more frequent
Rhythmic counterpoint is created between the different parts, particularly at A3 when the strummed chords come in at different t

Question 2

Tonality

Answer 2

The piece hints at E minor at the beginning, but the tonality is not clear at this point
At A2 E minor becomes definite as the bass ostinato reinforces it
At B5 it modulates very suddenly to A minor
B6 – back to E min
B7 – Cmin
B8 – key shifts frequently between the two
Coda - Emin

Question 3

Instrumentation

Answer 3

9 parts (7 guitars, 2 bass guitars)
All are pre-recorded except 1 live guitar

Question 4

Genre

Answer 4

Minimalism – based on drones, repetition and static harmony
Reacted against expressionism, serialism which is very tightly controlled by the composer
Minimalism was more pleasant to listen to and some control over the composition was often given to the performers (e.g. live guitar playing the resultant melody in this piece)

Question 5

Harmony

Answer 5

Harmony is a result of the layered parts rather than the other way around
Harmony is often static
Strummed guitar chords at section A3
Guitar 5: C, Bm E5
Guitar 6: C, D Em
Guitar 7: C, D, Bm

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

Texture is polyphonic due to layering of different parts
Changes of texture highlight the different sections of the piece
A1: guitars 1-4 come in one by one with ostinato 1 (using rhythmic displacement), creating a canon, live guitar plays resultant melody
A2: Bass guitar comes in – noticeable change of texture
A3 – guitars 5-7 come in with strumming, live guitar strums
A4 – live guitar goes back to resultant melody
B5 – same as A4
B6 – new bass ostinato
B7 – as B6
B8 – Guitars 5-7 and basses begin to fade out
Coda: Returns to 4-part canon (as beginning)

Question 7

Structure

Answer 7

A: 1,2,3,4
B: 5,6,7,8
Coda: 9

Question 8

Melody

Answer 8

Melody is made up of ostinati
Ostinato 1 is built up through note addition at the start
Melodies are layered
Live guitar plays the ‘resultant melody’