Steve Reich

Question 1

Context

Answer 1

Influences - African drumming and Indonesian gamelan music eg. Gongs and metallaphones and repetition, layers and similar sounds
Minimalism - from USA in the 60s
Written in 1987

Question 2

Melody

Answer 2

Ostinati/riffs
Disjunct/angular melody
Additive melody - notes added as its repeated
Resultant melody played by live guitar

Question 3

Harmony

Answer 3

Only a few different chords are used in this piece, Am, Em and Bm
Diatonic dissonance
-notes within key heard together
-clashes but they sound gentle

Question 4

Rhythm

Answer 4

Syncopated riffs made from quavers
Polyrhythms and cross rhythms created by canons
Changes metre from 3/2 to 12/8 - changes more frequently as piece goes on

Question 5

Instruments and resources

Answer 5

7 pre-recorded electric guitar parts
2 bass guitars
1 live guitar

Question 6

Texture

Answer 6

Monophonic at opening
Guitars 2-3 in canon
Polyphonic
Strummed chords

Question 7

Tonality

Answer 7

Begins in E minor
Switches to C minor later on
Changes back and forth more frequently as the piece goes on
Ends in E minor

Question 8

Dynamics

Answer 8

Starts mf and guitars 1-4 stay at mf throughout
Live guitar comes in forte
Guitars 5-7 and bass guitars have a long fade out towards end
Live guitar crescendos to ff at the end

Question 9

Structure

Answer 9

Live guitars come in first then guitars 2-4, then bass guitars, then guitars 5-7
Strummed chords come in next
Towards the end, bass guitars and guitars 5-7 drop out