minimalism!!
Steve Reich - Piano Phase
"The technique involves the play of a constant against a variable element, moving cyclically from unity to tension and returning to unity. In a phased piece of music, one instrument plays a single line repeatedly as the constant in the piece.
A second instrument starts out playing in unison with the constant line and gradually increases speed until the two lines sound out of synch. The second line gradually increases speed again until the two lines are once more playing in unison. The whole process is very similar to what happens when a fast runner races next to a slow runner on a circular track. The two runners start together at the signaling gunshot, but the fast runner soon leaves the slow runner behind.
However, the fast runner will eventually catch up to the slow runner, and the two will be running next to each other once more. The slow runner acts as a constant while the fast runner moves in and out of synchronization (this is not to say that the constant instrument never gets to vary other elements such as the notes in its line; rather the constant remains for the most part unchanged in its rate of speed).
In "Piano Phase," the two piano players begin with a 12-note melodic fragment repeated several times. Then Player No. 2 speeds up his line until his second note is in synch with the first note of Player No. 1. Then Player No. 2 speeds up again until his third note sounds at the same time as the first note of Player No. 1.
He continues increasing speed till he has cycled through all 12 notes. The melody then changes to an 8-note pattern and the process is repeated. A 4-note pattern completes the set of cycles, and the two players end the piece in unison."
listen to it
it will either make you go completely insane (if you can listen to the whole thing) or totally transfix/hypnotize you.
i've probably listened to it 10 times today. its not what you'd call beautiful music.... there are no sweeping melodies or lush harmonies. i'm just amazed that 2 people can actually PLAY this stuff. i don't think i could be the 2nd player who has to play out of phase. the notes themself are a piece of cake, but i'd imagine that putting the 2 parts together would be incredibly hard.
i just think its so friggin cool though. this piece puts me in such a trance. i'd liken it to something akin to a musical acid trip. however my experience in the drug field is exceedingly limited, so that statement is a bit unfounded i guess.
anyways..... see if you can make yourself listen to the whole thing. let me know what you think.... incredibly monotonous/unbearable or curious/complex/hypnotic or anything else. i'm curious :)