Steve Reich Electric Counterpoint

Question 0

What is the texture of this piece?

Answer 0

Polyphonic (layering of different parts)

Question 1

What is the basic structure of this piece?

Answer 1

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

Question 2

Where is rhythmic displacement heard?

Answer 2

Guitars 1-4 enter one by one with ostinato creating canon

Question 3

What does the live guitar play?

Answer 3

The resultant melody

Question 4

At which section of the piece does the bass enter?

Answer 4

A2 (noticeable change in texture)

Question 5

At section A3, what technique is used on the guitar?

Answer 5

Strumming technique

Question 6

Write down the chord sequence for guitars 5, 6 and 7

Answer 6

Guitar 5: C, Bm, E5
Guitar 6: C, D, Em
Guitar 7: C, D, Bm

Question 7

What genre is this piece?

Answer 7

Minimalism

Question 8

Give three features of minimalism

Answer 8

Drones
Repetition
Static harmony 
(More control given to the composer over composition
More pleasant to listen to)

Question 9

What instruments are used in this piece?

Answer 9

9 parts overall: 7 guitars (one live) and 2 bass guitars

All are pre recorded except the one live guitar

Question 10

What is the key of this piece?

Answer 10

Hints at E minor at beginning -ambiguous key
At A2 E minor becomes definite because of bass ostinato
B6 Eminor
B7 C minor
B8 key shifts frequently between the two
Coda E minor

Question 11

What is the time signature?

Answer 11

Begins in 3/2 simple triple time

Section A6 becomes 12/8 compound quadruple

Question 12

How is rhythmic counterpoint created?

Answer 12

Between different parts - A3 strummed chords come in at different time

Question 13

What is the melody made up of?

Answer 13

Ostinati

Question 14

Give a feature of the melody

Answer 14

There are many layered melodies

Question 15

When was this piece composed?

Answer 15

1987