Customer Reviews

Riley: In C

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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.

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!

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!

In C is a piece that is notorious for being treated with excessive jazz flair with little respect for phrases or musicality (especially by sax players, who have been all over the map in other recordings.) This results in the piece sounding sleezy, uninspired, unmusical and far too loud!

Quite simply put, this is the best performance of this piece that I own and have ever heard. I would use words like sleek, mysterious, and sexy to describe this amazing performance. The ensemble takes full advantage of dynamics and has incredible phrase development throughout.

You will not be disappointed!

one of the other reviewers could have been me: "sure, i think _in c_ is a great piece, but do i need another edition? how different can it be?"

my minimalist tendencies lie a little more on the reich side (instrumental more than choral), and this version of _in c_ is great! marimba and voices, some very fun and unusual "shimmerings" (what i call it when the little pod-units of _in c_ combine to create strange and/or unexpected sounds).

if you're into this kind of music, this cd is different enough from any other version of _in c_ that i have heard as to be worth a purchase. happy!

Terry Riley's In C was written in 1964 and has often been called the very first minimalist composition. It could also just as easily be called the very best minimalist composition. The piece was written as a reaction to serialism, so it's an aleatoric work. The freedom provided in organizing the ensemble, in the number of repetitions - in everything except the phrases - means you'll never be satisfied just hearing one performance. This performance here, featuring the Percurama Percussion Ensemble, is one to be treasured. (Also highly recommended: Terry Riley: In C)

Although some reviewers seemed to like this version, I did not find inspiring at all. Some compared it to Steve Reich's work. Maybe. But it resembles more his peculiar 'Tehillim' with voices than his excellent 'Music for 18 Musicians'. This weak attempt at 'In C' does not match Riley's spirit, verve and virtuosity. The original version (by Terry Riley) of 'In C' is really still the best in my humble opinion.