Electric Counterpoint
Encyclopedia
Electric Counterpoint is a minimalist
composition written by American
composer Steve Reich
. The piece consists of three movements, "Fast", "Slow", and "Fast". The composer has offered two versions of the piece: one for electric guitar and tape (the tape part featuring two electric bass guitars
and 12 electric guitars), and the other for an ensemble of guitar.
It was first recorded by guitarist Pat Metheny
in 1987 and released together with Reich's Different Trains
, performed by the Kronos Quartet
, on Nonesuch
's 979 176-2. It uses the techniques of looping
and sampling
extensively to produce its layered multiple guitar sound – the piece is overdubbed, where the solo guitarist recording 10 guitars and 2 electric bass parts (which are then looped and sampled) and then playing the final 11th guitar part live. In 2007, the guitar ensemble Forestare made the first recording of the lesser known second version, on ATMA Classique
.
As with other pieces by Reich, this piece has influenced many modern musical artists, such as The Orb
, who sampled the third movement as one of the hooks for "Little Fluffy Clouds
", and RJD2
, who sampled the piece's opening for his song "The Proxy" from his first release Deadringer. In 2008 Joby Burgess' Powerplant arranged the work for xylosynth, taking influence from Metheny and The Orb. More recently Röyksopp
named a song after the third movement. The duo has made two versions of it: "True To Original Edit" and "Milde Salve".
Movement 3 of the piece has been included in the Edexcel GCSE Anthology of Music, in the second area of study, music in the 20th Century.
Minimalist music
Minimal music is a style of music associated with the work of American composers La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, and Philip Glass. It originated in the New York Downtown scene of the 1960s and was initially viewed as a form of experimental music called the New York Hypnotic School....
composition written by American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
composer Steve Reich
Steve Reich
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich is an American composer who together with La Monte Young, Terry Riley, and Philip Glass is a pioneering composer of minimal music...
. The piece consists of three movements, "Fast", "Slow", and "Fast". The composer has offered two versions of the piece: one for electric guitar and tape (the tape part featuring two electric bass guitars
Bass guitar
The bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
and 12 electric guitars), and the other for an ensemble of guitar.
It was first recorded by guitarist Pat Metheny
Pat Metheny
Patrick Bruce "Pat" Metheny is an American jazz guitarist and composer.One of the most successful and critically acclaimed jazz musicians to come to prominence in the 1970s and '80s, he is the leader of the Pat Metheny Group and is also involved in duets, solo works and other side projects...
in 1987 and released together with Reich's Different Trains
Different Trains
Different Trains is a three-movement piece for string quartet and tape written by Steve Reich in 1988. It won a Grammy Award in 1990 for Best Contemporary Classical Composition.The work's three movements have the following titles:...
, performed by the Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
, on Nonesuch
Nonesuch Records
Nonesuch Records is an American record label, owned by Warner Music Group and distributed by Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:Nonesuch was founded in 1964 by Jac Holzman to produce "fine records at the same price as a trade paperback", which would be half the price of a normal LP...
's 979 176-2. It uses the techniques of looping
Looping
Looping may refer to:Media and entertainment*Loop , a repeating section of sound material*Audio induction loop, an aid for the hard of hearing...
and sampling
Sampling (music)
In music, sampling is the act of taking a portion, or sample, of one sound recording and reusing it as an instrument or a different sound recording of a song or piece. Sampling was originally developed by experimental musicians working with musique concrète and electroacoustic music, who physically...
extensively to produce its layered multiple guitar sound – the piece is overdubbed, where the solo guitarist recording 10 guitars and 2 electric bass parts (which are then looped and sampled) and then playing the final 11th guitar part live. In 2007, the guitar ensemble Forestare made the first recording of the lesser known second version, on ATMA Classique
ATMA Classique
ATMA Classique is a Canadian record label based in Montreal, Quebec. Founded in 1995, the company has over 300 titles in its catalogue and distributes in over 25 countries and on the internet. Several recordings released by the company have won Juno and Felix Awards....
.
As with other pieces by Reich, this piece has influenced many modern musical artists, such as The Orb
The Orb
Throughout 1989, the Orb, along with Martin Glover, developed the musical genre of ambient house through the use of a diverse array of samples and recordings. The culmination of its musical work came toward the end of the year when the group recorded a session for John Peel on BBC Radio 1...
, who sampled the third movement as one of the hooks for "Little Fluffy Clouds
Little Fluffy Clouds
"Little Fluffy Clouds" is a single released by the English ambient house group The Orb. It was originally released in July 1990 on the record label Big Life and peaked at #87 on the UK Singles Chart. The Orb also included it on their 1991 double album The Orb's Adventures Beyond the Ultraworld...
", and RJD2
RJD2
RJD2 is an American music producer, singer and musician. RJD2 was born in Eugene, Oregon, and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was signed to the Definitive Jux label where he released two largely instrumental hip hop albums and has produced tracks...
, who sampled the piece's opening for his song "The Proxy" from his first release Deadringer. In 2008 Joby Burgess' Powerplant arranged the work for xylosynth, taking influence from Metheny and The Orb. More recently Röyksopp
Röyksopp
Röyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
named a song after the third movement. The duo has made two versions of it: "True To Original Edit" and "Milde Salve".
Movement 3 of the piece has been included in the Edexcel GCSE Anthology of Music, in the second area of study, music in the 20th Century.
Recordings
- Electric Counterpoint, Pat Metheny soloist, Discogs, 1989. CD. Included on Steve Reich: Works 1965-1995Steve Reich: Works 1965-1995Steve Reich: Works 1965-1995 is a 1997 10-CD box set of compositions by composer Steve Reich released by Nonesuch Records as part of Reich's 60th birthday celebration. Described as, "monumental... essential.....
. - Electric Counterpoint, David TanenbaumDavid TanenbaumDavid Tanenbaum is an American classical guitarist.Tanenbaum made his concert debut at the age of 16. He has since become known as an enthusiastic promoter of new music for his instrument, although his repertoire also includes much music from other periods...
, New Albion Records, 1994. CD - Electric Counterpoint, Tatjana Kukoč, Edition al segno, 1994. CD
- Electric Counterpoint, Forestare Ensemble, ATMA, 2007. CD
- Electric Counterpoint, Powerplant - Joby Burgess soloist, http://www.signumrecords.com/catalogue/sigcd143/index.shtml, 2008. CD
- Electric Counterpoint, RöyksoppRöyksoppRöyksopp is a Norwegian electronic music duo from Tromsø, formed in 1998. Since their inception, the band's line-up has included Svein Berge and Torbjørn Brundtland....
, two versions, 2010. - Electric Counterpoint Version for Percussions, Kuniko Kato percussion soloists,Linn Records http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-kuniko-plays-reich.aspx, 2011. CD/SACD 5.1/Download