Reich's Electric Counterpoint Flashcards
When was this piece first performed?
1987
Who was this piece written for?
The famous jazz guitarist Pat Metheny
How many movements are in this piece?
3
Describe the instrumentation of this piece
The movement is for live guitar accompanied by parts for 7 guitars and 2 bass guitars that have been pre-recorded. The live guitar part is amplified to blend in well with the backing tape.
Describe the structure of this piece
The movement builds up in 3 layers: 1. A syncopated quaver motif is introduced in the live guitar and top four guitar parts, one part at a time 2. A new syncopated quaver motif is next introduced in bass guitars 3. A more sustained motif built around three chords begins in the live guitar part and is then transferred to other parts. After all 3 layers have been built up, layers 2 and 3 fade out together, leaving layer 1 to continue until it comes to a rest on a held chord.
Describe the melody of this piece
The melody is made of a one bar motif that is repeated continuously to form an ostinato. At one point the live guitar plays a melody that is made up from selected individual notes from the other guitar parts creating a resultant melody.
Describe the texture of this piece
The motif is introduced by the live guitar and top four guitar parts at different times creating a canon. In some parts, Reich builds up the melody through the process of note addition. This means that notes are gradually added to a part until all the notes in the melody are heard. The piece has a contrapuntal texture.
Describe the dynamics of this piece
The overall dynamic remains fairly constant throughout. Parts gradually fade out in a number if places.
Describe the rhythm of this piece.
There is little rhythmic variety as most of the piece is made up of repeating patterns or quavers. There is frequent syncopation.
Describe the metre of this piece
The main metre is 3/2 (3 minim beats per bar). Each minim is split into 4 quavers which means there are 12 quavers per bar. Reich uses an effect called metrical displacement - guitars 1-4 play the same motif but starts in different parts of the bar. They sound out of synch with each other. Towards the end if the piece, some parts go into 12/8 while others continue in 3/2. This combination of different time signatures is an example if polymetre.
Describe the tempo of this piece
The tempo is 192 crotchets per minute which is a very fast speed.
Describe the harmony and tonality of this piece
It’s largely in the key of G major with some shorter sections towards the end in Eb major. It’s entirely diatonic. Reich uses hexatonic scales eg. The first motif is hexatonic - 6 notes of the G major scale. Conventional harmonic progressions such as cadences aren’t used. Eg. The final chord is made of only 2 notes, B and E because there’s no cadence and it isn’t a complete chord so we can’t be sure the piece finishes in G major
