PHASES is the five CD retrospective released to coincide with
Steve Reich's 70th birthday. It is a fascinating look at an artist
whose influential work spans the simplicity of playing two tape
loops into non-synchronization (Come Out), to the sophistication
and elaborate arrangements of music performed by large
ensembles (Tehillim). The title PHASES refers to the several
musical junctures that directed Reich's path, as well as the effect
of two rhythmic lines slipping in and out of time with one another
- the later an integral concept in Reich's work. More accepting of
melody and harmony, western musical thought downgrades the
concept of polyrhythmic complexity, but nonetheless it is there in
Reich's music. Often referred to as a Minimalist, Reich started
out as a percussionist and has built his awesome catalogue of
work upon this relationship with music. In compositions like
"Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ" and his
masterpiece "Music for 18 Musicians" almost everything turns
into a percussion device. Voices, cellos and clarinets all push
rows of notes aligned in mechanistic precision with the harder
sounds of xylophones, marimbas and glockenspiels - all
running the minute variations inherent in this genre's cyclical
patterning. Here there are no melodies, but for those perceived
in the dancing and pulsing rhythms. Incredibly, these pieces do
not suffer from the cold methodology of high-concept art. Reich's
work feels more celebratory, even tender and warm in some
parts. These works really benefited from the advent of the
compact disc. The original LP releases needed to be turned over
mid-way. Once available on CD, the music could be absorbed
as Reich intended - straight through, with whatever
transformative powers these works possessed fully felt from the
prolonged exposure. Recent works reveal more truths about
Reich's compositional process as they provide an object lesson
harkening back to his early work with snippets of speech and
tape loops. It would seem that Reich based the fundamental
rhythms and patterns of his monumental works on the simple
melodic content of stray talk. Isolating the melodies present but
often unnoticed in everyday chat, Reich transposed these found
melodies into instrumental rhythms. This process is illustrated
in scores such as "New York Counterpoint" and "Different
Trains" which prominently feature voice loops played back in the
rhythmic synch and tonality of the instrumental lines performed
by the ensemble. Reich's work is part of the 20th century. By
building on such diverse elements as African drumming,
Balinesian Gamelan, technology, his own Jewish heritage and
life in America, Reich's stimulating works have always asked us
to reconsider the way we listen to music, and rewards those who
do.

Tune in to STAR'S END this weekend for new music from
PHASES featuring significant works by Steve Reich

For more on PHASES, access: http://www.nonesuch.com

For more on Steve Reich, access: http://www.stevereich.com

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STAR'S END - 2006 Year in Review

This weekend, STAR'S END presents the annual Year in Review
show which will feature the significant releases of 2006 (Part
One). Included in this broadcast will be music from VAST by Saul
Stokes, MOONWATER by Rudy Adrian, ELECTRIC LADDER by
Robert Rich, MOMENTIUM by Jeff Koepper and others.

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STAR'S END broadcasts every Saturday night/Sunday morning
from 1am-6am (EST) on:

88.5fm WXPN Philadelphia, PA
88.1fm WXPH Harrisburg, PA
90.5fm Worton/Baltimore, MD
104.9fm Allentown, PA

and live on the web...

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Chuck van Zyl
Host of STAR'S END Ambient Radio
http://www.starsend.org