The Desert Music uses a large string section split into three equal groups to allow for antiphonal writing, which articulates the pulsating rhythms characteristic of Reich's style.
Composer Biography
Steve Reich, known for his minimalist compositions, initially conceived his bold experiments in rhythmic counterpoint and layered musical textures for small ensembles.
Compositional Technique
In Three Movements, Steve Reich cited Bartók's Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celesta as a precedent for his divided string sections, aiming to clarify the music's rhythmic counterpoint.
Composition History
Reich's work The Desert Music was commissioned jointly by West German Radio in Cologne and the Brooklyn Academy of Music in New York.
Recording & Production
The Desert Music was recorded at ORF Radio Kulturhaus, Vienna, in October 2006, and Three Movements at Musikverein, Vienna, in November 2007.
Performer Biography
Kristjan Järvi, the Estonian-born conductor, has been hailed by The New York Times as 'a kinetic force on the podium, like Leonard Bernstein reborn'.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Steve Reich considered the word 'difficult' in The Desert Music to be the very center of the work, humorously suggesting it for his gravestone.
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