Rachel's
Encyclopedia
Rachel's is an American
chamber music
group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky
in 1991. Former Rodan
guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes. The group's work is strongly influenced by classical music
, particularly inspired by the minimalist music
of the late 20th century, and its composition reflects this. While the trio forms the core part of the band, the group's recordings and performances feature a varying ensemble of musicians, who play a range of string instruments (including viola
and cello
) in combination with piano, guitars, electric bass guitar, and a drum set that includes a large orchestral bass drum. A key influence on the music of Rachel's is the music of the English composer Michael Nyman
, whose music the group's work resembles in both instrumentation and compositional style.
A profile of the band is included in the book Second-Hand Stories: 15 Portraits of Louisville by Michael L. Jones.
Hancock, although it did not appear on the official soundtrack
. Their song, "Even/odd" was used in Reha Erdem
's film, Kosmos.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
group that formed in Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
in 1991. Former Rodan
Rodan (band)
Rodan was an American math/post-hardcore band in the early to mid 1990s. The best known lineup of the band consisted of Jeff Mueller , Jason Noble , Tara Jane O'Neil , and Kevin Coultas .-History:...
guitarist, Jason Noble, played music individually and referred to himself as Rachel's but then began collaborating with now core members, violist Christian Frederickson, and pianist Rachel Grimes. The group's work is strongly influenced by classical music
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
, particularly inspired by the minimalist music
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....
of the late 20th century, and its composition reflects this. While the trio forms the core part of the band, the group's recordings and performances feature a varying ensemble of musicians, who play a range of string instruments (including viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
and cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
) in combination with piano, guitars, electric bass guitar, and a drum set that includes a large orchestral bass drum. A key influence on the music of Rachel's is the music of the English composer Michael Nyman
Michael Nyman
Michael Laurence Nyman, CBE is an English composer of minimalist music, pianist, librettist and musicologist, known for the many film scores he wrote during his lengthy collaboration with the filmmaker Peter Greenaway, and his multi-platinum soundtrack album to Jane Campion's The Piano...
, whose music the group's work resembles in both instrumentation and compositional style.
A profile of the band is included in the book Second-Hand Stories: 15 Portraits of Louisville by Michael L. Jones.
Discography
- HandwritingHandwriting (album)Handwriting is the debut LP of the instrumental group Rachel's. It was released in May 1995 on Quarterstick Records.-Track listing:# "Southbound to Marion" – 3:11# "M...
(1995, Quarterstick RecordsQuarterstick Records-Artists:*Bad Livers*Calexico*DK3*Dead Child*June of 44*Kepone*The Mekons*Mi Ami*Peter Móren *Mule*Naked Raygun*Tara Jane O'Neil*Pegboy*Phono-Comb*Rachel's*Rodan*Henry Rollins*Shipping News*Sholi*The Sonora Pine*Therapy?...
) - Music for Egon SchieleMusic for Egon SchieleMusic for Egon Schiele is the second LP from the instrumental group Rachel's. It was released in February 1996 on Quarterstick Records.The album was composed as the score to a theatrical production by Stephan Mazurek, titled Egon Schiele, about the life of painter Egon Schiele which was staged by...
(1996, Quarterstick) - The Sea and the Bells (1996, Quarterstick)
- SelenographySelenography (album)Selenography is the fourth LP from the instrumental post-rock group Rachel's. It was released in June 1999 on Quarterstick Records.Selenography is the scientific study of the moon's topography.-Track listing:# "A French Galleasse" – 6:13...
(1999, Quarterstick) - Full On NightFull On NightFull On Night is a collaborative EP between Rachel's and Matmos. It was released on Quarterstick Records in May 2000 and contains two tracks...
Split disc with MatmosMatmosMatmos is an experimental electronic music duo originally from San Francisco but now residing in Baltimore signed to the Matador Records label. M. C. Schmidt and Drew Daniel are the core members, but they frequently include other artists on their records and in their performances, including...
(2000, Quarterstick) - Systems/LayersSystems/LayersSystems/Layers is the fifth release of the instrumental group Rachel's. It was released October 7, 2003 on the Quarterstick Records. The album is a collaborative dance/theater piece with the New York ensemble SITI Company.-Track listing:...
(2003, Quarterstick) - Technology is Killing MusicTechnology is Killing MusicTechnology Is Killing Music is an EP by Rachel's. It was released on Three Lobed Recordings in 2005, and contains a single 18-minute track....
EP (2005, Three Lobed Recordings)
Band members
- Christian Frederickson – viola
- Edward Grimes – percussion
- Rachel Grimes – piano, organ
- Greg King – keyboards
- Eve Miller – cello
- Jason Noble – guitar, bass
Contemporary usage
Rachel's song, "Water from the Same Source", was featured in the movieFilm
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Hancock, although it did not appear on the official soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
. Their song, "Even/odd" was used in Reha Erdem
Reha Erdem
Reha Erdem is an award-winning Turkish film director and screenwriter.-Biography:He attended Galatasaray High School and he studied history at Boğaziçi University before leaving to study film in 1983. He obtained a B.A. in Cinema Studies and an M.A...
's film, Kosmos.