In C was written in 1964 and is highly considered the breakthrough for minimal music or minimalism. It is a contuios piece and on this recordning it lasts for 42 minutes. On the surface it sounds very repetetive and although the pulse for the most part stays the same, the music slowly changes throughout the piece. This is not background music by any means. It requiers your attention and it realy pays off. While listening you feel caught up in a friendly web of sound.
The piece is based upon 53 short phrases.The length of each phrase varies. Each player enters individualy. At the very begining of the piece a pulse is set on piano and marimba playing the C note for reapeated eighth notes.And as each musician plays each phrase gradually the music changes shape.
There is no set duration for In C. Performances can last from 15 minutes to several hours.
In C has been recorded a number of times. This perticular recording is from 1968 and performed Riley and members of the Center of the Creative and Performing Arts of SUNY Buffalo. The 11 piece ensemble plays saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, clarinet, flute, viola, trombone, vibraphone and marimbaphone.
In C (an excerpt)
Released in 1969, Rainbow in Curved Air consist of two legthy pieces. The title track and Poppy Nogood And The Phantom Band. This is a true solo album with Riley playing all the instruments. Overdubbing and using tape loops to create a sea of sounds. Riley used electronic keyboards and percussion that he recorded than looped. The tapes were than replayed while he improvised over the cycle that the loops creates.It gives the piece both a jazzy feel and creates an ambient beauty. A free form ambient voyage with a sound of its own.
Poppy Nogood And The Phantom Band ads saxophone to the mix. This piece is more disonant and takes a little longer to get into but effort is worth it.
It's very hard to really catogorise this music. Is it jazz? Is it avantgarde? Is it electronic music? In fact it is all it and much more at the same time. It has been very influential and you can clearly hear where Pete Townshend got the inspiration for the synthloops on Won't get fooled again and Baba O'Riley on Who's next.
When I first bought and old CD copy a few years ago it made me change the complete set up of my record collection. Since it didn't fit any genre I decided to abondon musical genrers all together and go for a strictly alphabetic aproach :) Music is music it as simple as that and sometimes you hear something that realy changes ones way of thinking.
I realy look forward to these remasters. Specialy Rainbow deserves an upgrade. My old CBS CD sounds a bit flat. The Esoteric people do a very good job on their releases so my expectations are very high. Both albums are highly recomended.
Visit: Esoteric Recordings and Terry Riley
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