Buy used: $7.94

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE delivery Wednesday, June 28 on orders shipped by Amazon over $25

Select delivery location

Used: Like New | Details

Sold by Novatechs

Fulfilled by Amazon

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Image Unavailable

Image not available for
Color:

Sorry, this item is not available in
Image not available
To view this video download Flash Player

Steve Reich: The Desert Music - Michael Tilson Thomas

Import

Reich, Steve (Performer), Tilson Thomas, Michael (Performer), Chorus & Members of the Brooklyn Philharmonic (Performer) Format: Audio CD

4.5 25 ratings

$7.94

Get Fast, Free Shipping with Amazon Prime

FREE Returns

See all 13 formats and editions Hide other formats and editions

Listen Now with Amazon Music

The Desert Music

"Please retry"

Amazon Music Unlimited

Price

New from

Used from

MP3 Music, September 13, 2005

"Please retry"

$9.49

—

Audio CD, Import, October 25, 1990

"Please retry"

$7.94

—

$2.95

Vinyl

"Please retry"

$99.99

$24.99

Audio, Cassette, January 1, 1987

"Please retry"

$5.99

—

$5.90

Mivos Quartet
7
Vinyl
22 offers from $30.77
Reich, Steve
19
Audio CD
21 offers from $3.99

Track Listings

1	The Desert Music: First Movement (Fast)
2	The Desert Music: Second Movement (Moderate)
3	The Desert Music: Third Movement Part One (Slow)
4	The Desert Music: Third Movement Part Two (Moderate)
5	The Desert Music: Third Movement Part Three (Slow)
6	The Desert Music: Fourth Movement (Moderate)
7	The Desert Music: Fifth Movement (Fast)

Editorial Reviews

.Label: Nonesuch.Published: 1990

Product details

Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.92 x 5.63 x 0.39 inches; 3.6 Ounces
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Nonesuch
Item model number ‏ : ‎ 075597910124
Original Release Date ‏ : ‎ 1990
Date First Available ‏ : ‎ October 26, 2006
Label ‏ : ‎ Nonesuch
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B000005IXI
Number of discs ‏ : ‎ 1

Best Sellers Rank: #169,225 in CDs & Vinyl (See Top 100 in CDs & Vinyl)
- #544 in Techno (CDs & Vinyl)
- #5,651 in Opera & Vocal (CDs & Vinyl)
- #18,475 in Jazz (CDs & Vinyl)

Customer Reviews:
4.5 25 ratings

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5

25 global ratings

5 star
4 star
3 star
2 star
1 star 0% (0%)		0%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Sort reviews by

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

William C Seabrook

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 21, 2015

Verified Purchase

This CD was purchased for a friend - I haven't heard it.

Helpful

P ski

Beautiful...

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on March 5, 2017

Verified Purchase

Minimalism in its purest form. Just let it in!

Helpful

Amazon Customer

I've thoroughly loved this album for the last 20 or 30 years

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on April 22, 2016

I've thoroughly loved this album for the last 20 or 30 years. I've returned to it many many times, and it always amazes me. Why it isn't more well known is a mystery to me. Its a work of genius.

Helpful

DJ Rix

The Desert Music is worthwhile

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 20, 2000

The Desert Music is beautiful music, tho not especially "minimal" (is any of it?) & less entrancing than Reich's earlier chamber works. The texts from William Carlos Williams are thoughtfully chosen & reflective of Reich's strong social concerns. The problem is that I happen to believe composers should be guided by a poet's voice. There isn't much guesswork with Williams' intended delivery because he recorded many of his poems. Williams was a very economical poet, so to chop up, reassemble & repeat lines of his poems is hardly collaborating with them ... or him.
A fine example of a contemporary composer really hearing a poet can be found in Steve Swallow's settings of poems by Robert Creeley on the album "Home."
The Desert Music is worthwhile, but probably not the port of entry for Steve Reich's music. For that I could recommend Music for 18 Musicians; Music for Mallet Instruments, Voice & Organ; or Different Trains.
Bob Rixon

18 people found this helpful

Helpful

Ze De Boni

Two Stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 10, 2017

Boring

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 17, 2006

This piece holds the distinction of being the only Reich composition I've seen performed live, at UCLA in the spring of 1985; and this recording was the first CD I ever purchased. Over time, though, I've come to realize that this is one of my least favorite Reich pieces. In fact, if I liked it any less, it would be among the ones I never listen to.

Only the first movement is really worth hearing. It is spirited and has some catchy driving rhythms. The piece never fully regains this energy, though it picks up some in the last movement. It is really brought down by the interminably slow third movement, which reaches its nadir in some horrendously drunken-sounding siren effects. Overall, the work is characterized by chords that to me are ugly and have none of the tremendous emotional impact that I get from my favorite Reich pieces.

Almost everyone recommends starting with "Music for 18 Musicians," but if you already have that, I would recommend any work from the period 1978-86 that isn't this one.

10 people found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

ニゴチュウ　(Nigochu)

近現代音楽史の流れの中で、過渡期的価値を示す音楽作品

Reviewed in Japan 🇯🇵 on November 13, 2020

Verified Purchase

ミニマル・ミュージックの大御所、スティーヴ・ライヒ（Steve Reich 1936-）が1983年に書いた作品、「砂漠の音楽」。当該曲のみを収録した内容。演奏者か以下の通り。

ティルソン・トーマス（Michael Tilson Thomas 1944-）指揮　ブルックリン・フィルハーモニー管弦楽団員、ブルックリン・フィルハーモニー合唱団
ソプラノ独唱：シェリル・ベンスマン・ロウ（Cheryl Bensman Rowe 1955-）
パーカッション：　ラッセル・ハーテンベルガー（Russell Hartenberger 1944-）、ロバート・ベッカー（Robert Becker 1947-）、グレン・ヴェレツ（Glen Velez 1949-）、ガリー・クヴィスタード（Garry Kvistad 1949-）
コロラド四重奏団

1984年頃の録音。

ライヒ作品の演奏で名を知られたパーカッショニスト、“ロバート・ベッカー”は、“ボブ・ベッカー（Bob Becker）”の愛称の方が、通りが良いだろう。

楽曲は5つの楽章からなるが、そのうち第3楽章は3つのパートに分かれており、これに対応する形で、CDには8つのtrackが振られている。

音楽は、冒頭から物憂げで単調で細かいリズムにそって、弦楽器、パーカッション、声楽を織り交ぜた連音が、渇いた音を繰り返し、それが徐々に変容していく。どの楽章も、性向的には同一で、ミニマル・ミュージック特有の執拗さをともなって、それが継続していく。この楽曲は「砂漠の音楽」というタイトルを持っているが、これを聴いていると、砂漠を形成する砂礫の積み重ねのような、地質学的な現象を、音楽で象徴させたようで、無機的であり、その無機性ゆえの不安感を煽るところがある。楽曲は、後半の方が聴き易く、そこでは、シミュレーションゲームのBGMを感じさせるような、繰り返しの中で、時々感情的なものが混ざり込んでくる演出を聞き取ることが出来る。

この音楽が登場した頃、その新規性ゆえに一定の注目を浴び、BGMなどで使用される機会もあったそうだが、いま改めて聴いてみると、私はそれほどこの音楽を積極的に評価できない。むしろ、これが音楽であるということをある程度強く自分に言い聞かせて、我慢して聴かなければならないような思いにさせられる。これは、必ずしもミニマル・ミュージック全般について私が思うことではなく、例えば、ライヒと同じ世代のフィリップ・グラス（Philip Glass 1937-）の作品など、心の底から美しいと感じることが多々あるのだけれど、私の場合、ライヒの作品を聴いても、そのような感情の動きはおこってこない。

むしろ、いま現在となっては、このような成功の音響を形成するにあたって、わざわざクラシックの楽器を使用するということが、ほとんどメリットにならないことを痛感する。音楽の方向性と、楽器の表現性が、まったく別方向を向いているのである。このような音響を形成するのであれば、いわゆる打ち込み系で音楽を作った方が、はるかに完成度は高いし、作曲者の思い通りのものが出来るはずだ。偶然性や演奏者の表現性を反映したいというほどの音楽にも思えない。

そういった意味で、私には、いまとなっては、音楽史における、一瞬の経過点で生まれた奇妙な里程標、というくらいの認識以上のものを、与えることは難しい。また、録音もいまひとつ粗く、左右のバランスも、不自然に機械的で、むしろ不快さを感じるところがあり、評価しがたい。

One person found this helpful

Translate review to English

ぴーかんなっつ

緊張感の連続のような音楽

Reviewed in Japan 🇯🇵 on May 28, 2020

Verified Purchase

砂嵐のなか徐々に押し寄せる和声の静かな迫力
何度も繰り返し聴いています

Translate review to English

Me-Sun

ライヒ好きなので。

Reviewed in Japan 🇯🇵 on September 29, 2016

Verified Purchase

ライヒは聴き流す音楽かな、と思っています。
ぼんやりしたい時、何も考えたくない時、眠れない時の御用達です。
精神的に参ってる時の安定剤…が私にとってのライヒです。
youtubeで聴いて気に入ったので購入しました。
その画像のせいかもしれませんが、砂漠での核実験、世界の終末を感じさせて、若干恐ろしいような雰囲気がします。
ですが、無常観というか、終末論というか、人間の愚かさというか、そういうものが感じられるながらも悲観やマイナス思考というより、宇宙の地球にへばりついたいつかは滅びる人間、と壮大な世界観も感じさせられ、全てが些末、瑣事、といい意味ですべてがどうでもよくなります。
悩んでたり悲しんでたり凹んでたり鬱だったり悲観したり自己嫌悪してもしょうがない、というような。
今まではニューヨークカウンターポイントが一番好きだと思っていましたが、こちらも同じくらい、好きになりました。

3 people found this helpful

Translate review to English

Ambish

Favourite Steve Reich

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 21, 2014

Verified Purchase

My favourite piece of Steve Reich music - even went to Prom at Royal Albert Hall to see it performed -unfortunately not by Steve Reich - on 13th August 2014. Excellent!

Pierre Brewee

A classic one

Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on June 7, 2013

Verified Purchase

When you love minimal music Steve Reich is one of the greatest names and this album is a classic one, a pleasure to hear. A must have in every minimal collection.

One person found this helpful

See all reviews

Amazon Music Stream millions of songs	Amazon Advertising Find, attract, and engage customers	6pm Score deals on fashion brands	AbeBooks Books, art & collectibles	ACX Audiobook Publishing Made Easy	Sell on Amazon Start a Selling Account

Amazon Business Everything For Your Business	Amazon Fresh Groceries & More Right To Your Door	AmazonGlobal Ship Orders Internationally	Home Services Experienced Pros Happiness Guarantee	Amazon Ignite Sell your original Digital Educational Resources	Amazon Web Services Scalable Cloud Computing Services

Audible Listen to Books & Original Audio Performances	Book Depository Books With Free Delivery Worldwide	Box Office Mojo Find Movie Box Office Data	ComiXology Thousands of Digital Comics	DPReview Digital Photography	Fabric Sewing, Quilting & Knitting

Goodreads Book reviews & recommendations	IMDb Movies, TV & Celebrities	IMDbPro Get Info Entertainment Professionals Need	Kindle Direct Publishing Indie Digital & Print Publishing Made Easy	Amazon Photos Unlimited Photo Storage Free With Prime	Prime Video Direct Video Distribution Made Easy

Shopbop Designer Fashion Brands	Amazon Warehouse Great Deals on Quality Used Products	Whole Foods Market America’s Healthiest Grocery Store	Woot! Deals and Shenanigans	Zappos Shoes & Clothing	Ring Smart Home Security Systems

eero WiFi Stream 4K Video in Every Room	Blink Smart Security for Every Home	Neighbors App Real-Time Crime & Safety Alerts	Amazon Subscription Boxes Top subscription boxes – right to your door	PillPack Pharmacy Simplified	Amazon Renewed Like-new products you can trust

Image Unavailable

Steve Reich: The Desert Music - Michael Tilson Thomas

Import

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

Track Listings

Editorial Reviews

Product details

Videos

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries