Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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."

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.

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.

IMHB, this is a good introduction to Reich: big, hypnotizing, rhythms. For those who don't necessarily consider themselves classical music lovers, you might be surprised by how modern and yet familiar The Four Sections sound.

It is state of the art avante-garde classical music. The first four tracks, (The Four Sections) were written for orchestra. They are not in the traditional Steven Reich instrumentation, i,e, mallets and percussion, but they are super modern, highly emotionally charged pieces that are my favorites by this composer.

The "full orchestra" version was used on the finale of "So You Think You Can Dance" and worked beautifully with Mia Michael's choreography for Kayla and Jeannine, the eventual winner of SYTYCD. I'm not sure how long the dance will be posted on youtube. Better take a look!

This CD is a mixed bag. FOUR SECTIONS is Reich's least sucessfull piece. The orchestral writing is uninspired. On the other hand, the Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ - represents the composer at his best. Recorded sound on the latter work is super.

In 1998 The Westerville North Marching Band played The Four Sections for Bands of America contests across the US. None of us liked it at first it was too weird, If you listen to it and appreciate what Steve Reich is trying to do here It is a wonderful Masterpiece. If you don't appreciate what he is trying to di It will Grow on you I promise.