Steve Reich: The Four Sections / Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices & Organ

Steve Reich (Composer), Michael Tilson Thomas (Conductor), Bob Becker (Performer), Russ Hartenberger (Performer), Garry Kvistad (Performer), Edmund Niemann (Performer), James Preiss (Performer), Pamela Wood Ambush (Performer), Rebecca Armstrong (Performer), Jay Clayton (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Bob Becker, Russ Hartenberger, Garry Kvistad, Edmund Niemann, James Preiss, et al.
• Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas
• Composer: Steve Reich
• Audio CD (September 24, 1990)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nonesuch
• ASIN: B000005IZS
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #121,367 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. No.1, Strings (With Winds and Brass)

2. No.2, Percussion

3. No.3, Winds and Brass (With Strings)

4. No.4, Full Orchestra

5. Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ, for 3 female voices, 3

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An audience-pleaser, January 16, 2001

By 

DJ Rix (NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Steve Reich: The Four Sections / Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices & Organ (Audio CD)

A CD intended as an audience-pleaser. Both pieces are Steve Reich saying "Thank you" to his fans & trying to win over a few more, while also advancing his ideas. Four Sections was composed for Michael Tilson Thomas, so this performace will always be the root definitive. That the London Symphony Orchestra performed it so beautifully, as part of a Reich retrospective in 1988 was also a statement.

Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices & Organ (1973), composed for Reich's own popular ensemble, casts an exotic spell; African drumming through the sort of gamelan some imaginary Pythagoreans might have played if they had those kinds of bands. Wonderful, delicate music.

In both works the changes happen fast enough & the music is over almost before you can say "minimalism."

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most beautiful math I've ever heard, February 7, 2010

By 

Michael P. Colucci (In Halls of Glory) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Steve Reich: The Four Sections / Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices & Organ (Audio CD)

I heard Reich (this piece) for the first time last night performed by the Dayton Philharmonic Orchestra. It was beautiful, soul-nourishing, body-moving, sense-filling, mind-stimulating and everything I can think of that defines great music. I am not a classical enthusiast although I do listen to it occasionally--but I never heard anything quite like this. The closest thing in my own listening history that I can compare it to would be certain music produced by Brian Eno, Robert Fripp and the like. Judging by the crowd response last night, Reich's music was either loved or totally unappreciated. That's understandable given how different it is from what our ears are used to. But I loved it.

2.0 out of 5 stars Download album is missing the Music for Mallet Instruments!, October 8, 2011

By 

Jonathan H. Ward "ilbasso" (Reston, Virginia USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Four Sections / Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ (MP3 Download)

I love Reich's music and was looking forward to hearing a different version of the Music For Mallet Instruments etc. that is on this album. The problem is, the downloaded mp3 version of this album only contains "The Four Sections." The Music for Mallet Instruments is not on the mp3 album, even though we're paying the full album price and the piece is included in the album title.