Cave, The - Steve Reich

Advantages: A stunning soundworld
Disadvantages: It is a long work

...Steve Reich has often said that writing for the orchestra was difficult. This is in part to difficult personal times but also aestetically it hindered the rhythmic agility that his music requires. However, despite reservations by many about his orchestral works (they are often considered his weaker works) I find myself continually fascinated by what he makes the orchestra do. The Desert Music is music on an epic scale featuring huge sweeping textures and turbulent chorales set to text by Wittgenstein (whom steve studied during his philosophy major). The piece lasts some 48 minutes and is sectioned into contrasting moods and tempi. The very opening and closing movements are like giant pulsating waves that literally crash down over you, it truely is an amazing feeling. The orchestra pulsates to steady quavers as the harmony morphs slowly... Read review

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Advantages: Flawless recording, excellent booklet
Disadvantages: Probably too long to listen to in a single sitting, requires full attention

...Recorded in 1997, this is the 20th anniversary recording of 'Music for 18 Musicians' ('18') made by Steve Reich and Musicians, following the original landmark 1978 release. For those that are unfamiliar with his work, Reich has been hailed at various times as the godfather of minimalism and the pioneer of remixing and sampling. While his technique of 'phasing' - repeating loops of live or recorded sounds gradually played at slightly different speeds to create a pattern of unpredictable rhythms - was refined to perfection in 1971s 'Drumming', '18' represents his seminal work of 'pulse' music. Slowly evolving harmonic, rhythmic and melodic phrases are played over a constant pulse (here, played on marimba). The influence of '18' has never been more apparent - its echoes are everywhere in popular culture and music: dance, techno... Read review

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Advantages: Most original style of music composition, outstanding
Disadvantages: Can be very confusing, but this is part of the fun ?!

...Firstly, if you're on this product review totally randomly, Steve Reich, an amazing minimilist composer went out to studio African Drumming for a year just to write this masterpiece, there's an element of respect for his music because of this research! Now, i'm not going to say that everyone will love this, in fact this music is very much "you either love it or you hate it". I say this because, at times, it can make no sense, in fact most times it doesn't make any sense, but when it all fits back together, it makes you repect being able to hear a music note, or rythem in time - believe me, you do... Listening to this music, and performing it, inperticular playing it, puts you into a a trance like state, all i have to say on this piece of work is, you have to listen to it to understand what anyone will tell you about it. There is... Read review

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