Steve Reich marathon, part 1

[kenjari]

The first of this evening's two concerts of music by Steve Reich at New England Conservatory just concluded, and I've got plenty of time before the second performance. This concert was fairly short, with just two pieces on the program.

Piano Phase
I'm much more familiar with the marimba version of this piece, and this was the first time I'd ever heard it live. It's quite amazing. The rhythms that result from the phasing are much more present live and the gradual shifts are both clearer and subtler. The whole sound of the piece is also so much more physical - I could just about feel my eardrums vibrating during certain parts.

Different Trains
This is one of my favorite pieces of all time. I never get sick of it. I wrote about it in my undergraduate thesis. It's almost hard to believe that this is the first time I've heard this piece live, too. I think that the Borromeo Quartet lacked a little polish here and there, but they were still quite good. And damn is Different Trains great live. It's a much more emotional experience than listening to a CD. And being able to see the string players gives a very different perpsective, since it makes it obvious to the listener what is being played and what is on the recording. And I got to hear it live! Squee!

Oh yeah, Steve Reich is here, too. (At NEC, that is. Not here in the computer lab) Extra squee!

Comments

[digitalemur.livejournal.com]

TURBO SQUEEE!!!!! Why'd I have to be in dress rehearsal tonight and not seeing those LIVE?!? AUGH!

Start telling me whenever you hear about Reich being performed in the area. I wanna see it more often. And I'm not surprised he was there, doesn't he live somewhere in New England?

[kenjari.livejournal.com]

Well, there's more Reich going on tonight (Drumming!), but you have a choir concert, right? I will try to keep you informed about any future Reich performances I hear about.
Steve Reich splits his time between Vermont and NYC. He looks damn good for 70.