Reich- Electric Counterpoint

Question 1

Date?

Answer 1

1987

Question 2

Style?

Answer 2

Minimalism

Question 3

Instruments?

Answer 3

1 electric guitar and 1 bass guitar

Multitracked to give 2 bass and 7 electric recorded, 1 live

Question 4

What is the tonality and key signature of this piece?

Answer 4

A- E minor
B- changes between E minor an C minor with increasing frequency
Modal

Question 5

What is the time signature in the 2 different sections?

Answer 5

A- 3/2

B- changes between 12/8 and 3/2 with increasing frequency

Question 6

Tempo?

Answer 6

Crotchet=192 - fast

Question 7

Describe the structure in detail

Answer 7

2 sections- A and B
A:
Develops off a one bar guitar ostinato
Multi tracked layers of guitar add
4 guitars play rhythmically displaced Ostinato 
Live guitar plays resultant melody
Bass guitars and chordal guitars add
B:
Key and time signature changes for variety
Chords and bass eventually fade
Crescendo to E5 to end

Question 8

Give 4 textural points

Answer 8

Monophonic at beginning
Polyphonic( counterpoint )
2 bass guitars separated- panning
Texture thins at the end as bass and chordal guitars drop out

Question 9

Describe the melody

Answer 9

1 bar ostinato at beginning- jumps around in intervals( not stepwise)
the resultant melody picks notes that stand out ( G major feel)

Question 10

Describe the use of rhythm

Answer 10

1 bar Ostinato is syncopated
Rhythmic counterpoint is created by rhythmic displacement
Use of 12/8 and 3/2 time signatures creates cross rhythms

Question 11

What are the strummed chords played by guitars 5,6 and 7

Answer 11

Guitar 5- C Bm, E5
Guitar 6- C, D, Bm
Guitar 7- C,D, Bm

Question 12

Describe the dynamics in the piece in detail

Answer 12

Opening at mf
Live guitar f
Bass guitars f
567 and basses fade out towards the end

Question 13

What is minimalism?

Answer 13

Originated in 1960s
Tonal
Pieces are build up of small repeated ostinatos, note addition and rhythmic displacement