Riley: In C

Terry Riley (Composer), Paul Hillier (Conductor), Percurama Percussion Ensemble (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Percurama Percussion Ensemble
• Conductor: Paul Hillier
• Composer: Terry Riley
• Audio CD (January 30, 2007)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Da Capo [Naxos]
• ASIN: B000KJTPY8
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #125,072 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #27 in Music > Classical > Instruments > Percussion

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 42 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Unique, Stunningly Original Rendition: via Reich & Indonesia, March 8, 2007

By 

Dr. Debra Jan Bibel "World Music Explorer" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Riley: In C (Audio CD)

A local newspaper classical music critic called this recording "ravishing beautiful" and the effect "stupendous." What? How can that be? I was curious. Riley's In C is a composition with a set of instructions rather than a score per se. He set up 53 different melodies, short and long, in a sequence to be played by any assortment of instruments, each independently per number of repetitions of each stanza and transition to the next. There have been many recordings of In C, all different. I have the original recording on CBS and one with Bang on the Can that seemed more precise in tempo and less chaotic with expanded instrumentation, including Wu Man on pipa. Now, this Ars Nova rendition takes a page from fellow minimalist Steve Reich with sole use of voices and marimbas. What an amazing difference! It reminds me of Javanese gamelan music and, in fact, there is a Balinese gong among the percussion; the mentioned critic thought it much like Medieval vocal music. If you like Reich's works, such as Music for 18 Instruments and Drumming, then this recording belongs in your collection, no matter how many versions of In C you have. Beautiful and stupendous? Remarkably, yes, indeed. In C, that seminal work, once again proves how special it is, for despite being 40-years old, it is yet ageless, continually reinventing itself.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A stunning performance of a contemporary classic, July 27, 2007

By 

Jeff Abell (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Riley: In C (Audio CD)

OK, I admit I'm a little obsessed with this piece. This is the 6th version of it I own. Frankly, Riley's 1964 minimalist masterpiece varies so much from one version to another that it easily embraces diverse interpretations, from the early version called Mantra, to the excellent version by the Bang on a Can All-Stars, or my favorite by the Belgian new music group Ictus. (I've never been a fan of the Columbia original.) This latest manifestation by the Danish a capella group Ars Nova Copenhagen, with the Percurama Percussion Ensemble, under the direction of Paul Hillier, really makes the work feel like a 20th century masterpiece. Hillier and musicians approach this work with the devotion they might bring to a great sacred work, using a text that Riley derived from holy names, and the result is, well, nearly a religious experience. In C "works" in direct proportion to the commitment brought to it by the performers. This recording works brilliantly. You will want to own this!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't miss this version!, October 15, 2007

By 

Sreds (Santa Barbara, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Riley: In C (Audio CD)

I don't have much to add to the other two reviews currently posted here: this is a gorgeous, must-hear version of this seminal work of minimalism. I'm writing this mainly to point out that amazon is selling the entire work as a 256kbs mp3 download for a mere 99 cents. At that price, you can't go wrong! Buy it!