In C

In C is a musical piece composed by Terry Riley in 1964 for an indefinite number of performers. He suggests "a group of about 35 is desired if possible but smaller or larger groups will work".[1] A series of short melodic fragments, In C is often cited as the first minimalist composition (though La Monte Young's drone compositions preceded it by several years, In C had a greater impact on public consciousness).[2]

Riley's 1968 LP recording of In C as part of the CBS Records "Music of our Time" series.

The piece was first performed by Steve Reich, Jon Gibson, Pauline Oliveros, Stuart Dempster, Morton Subotnick and others at the San Francisco Tape Music Center.[3][4] It received its first recorded release in 1968 on CBS Records. Subsequent performances have been recorded many times since.

Technique

In C consists of 53 short, numbered musical phrases, lasting from half a beat to 32 beats; each phrase may be repeated an arbitrary number of times at the discretion of each musician in the ensemble. Each musician thus has control over which phrase they play, and players are encouraged to play the phrases starting at different times, even if they are playing the same phrase. In this way, although the melodic content of each part is predetermined, In C has elements of aleatoric music to it.[5] The performance directions state that the musical ensemble should try to stay within two to three phrases of each other. The phrases must be played in order, although some may be skipped. As detailed in some editions of the score, it is customary for one musician ("traditionally... a beautiful girl," Riley notes in the score)[6] to play the note C in repeated eighth notes, typically on a piano or pitched-percussion instrument (e.g. marimba). This functions as a metronome and is referred to as "The Pulse". Steve Reich introduced the idea of a rhythmic pulse to Riley, who accepted it, thus radically altering the original composition by Riley which had no pre-determined rhythm.[7]

Program notes from first UK performance, May 1968

In C has no set duration; performances can last as little as fifteen minutes or as long as several hours, although Riley indicates "performances normally average between 45 minutes and an hour and a half." The number of performers may also vary between any two performances. The original recording of the piece was created by 11 musicians (although, through overdubbing, several dozen instruments were utilized), while a performance in 2006 at the Walt Disney Concert Hall featured 124 musicians.

The piece begins on a C major chord (patterns one through seven) with a strong emphasis on the mediant E and the entrance of the note F which begins a series of slow progressions to other chords suggesting a few subtle and ambiguous changes of key, the last pattern being an alternation between B and G. Though the polyphonic interplay of the various patterns against each other and themselves at different rhythmic displacements is of primary interest, the piece may be considered heterophonic.

The first UK performance of In C was on 18 May 1968 at Royal Institute Galleries by the Music Now Ensemble directed by Cornelius Cardew as part of a series of four Music Now, Sounds of Discovery Concerts, during May 1968.[8][9]

Recordings

In C performed by Bang on a Can release cover (2001)

The piece has been recorded a number of times:

ArtistInstrumentationDurationTempo (=)Recording informationRelease information
Terry Riley and Center of Creative and Performing Arts (SUNY-Buffalo)saxophone, oboe, bassoon, trumpet, clarinet, flute, viola, trombone, vibraphone, marimbaphone42' 03"132March 27–28, 1968 (many overdubs)Columbia MS 7178 (LP); Sony SNYC 45368 (Re-mastered)
L'Infoniesaxophones, trumpets, percussion, piano, guitar, bass guitar, trombones29' 20"104Recorded in 1970Volume 33: Mantra (LP); Reed Streams / In C, Cortical Foundation Corti 2
Ensemble Percussione Ricercavibes, glockenspiel, marimbas, xylophone, crotales41' 01"116Diamine Studio, Mestre-Venezia, Italy in 1983In C / Djembé, Materiali Sonori
Shanghai Film Orchestratraditional Chinese instruments ("various lutes, zithers, mouth organs, flute, and percussion")28' 35"108Recorded in January 1989 at the Recording Studio of the Shanghai Film Industry. Mixed by Terry Riley, Jon Hassell and Brian EnoCelestial Harmonies 13026
Piano Circusconcert grand piano, upright piano, Rhodes piano, harpsichords, vibraphone20' 00"132Recorded in 1990Six Pianos / In C, Argo 430380
Terry Riley and Friendssaxophones (sopranos, alto, tenor, and baritone), xylophone, synthesizers, voices, flute, viola, violins, trombones, cello, piano, guitars, glockenspiel, drums, marimba, clarinet, accordion, xylophone, bass clarinet76' 16"108Recorded live on January 14, 1990 at the New Music Theatre and Life on the Water, San FranciscoIn C – 25th Anniversary Concert, New Albion 71
Quebec Contemporary Music Societyflute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bassoon, French horns, trumpets, trombone, tuba, harp, percussion, sitar, tablas, violins, viola, cello, double bass, vocal ensemble35' 46"116Recorded live on June 12, 1997 at the Salle Pierre-MercureAtma Classique 22251
Ictus (with Blindman Kwartet)percussion, double basses, harp, cello, guitar, piano, accordion, oboe, violin, clarinets, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone65' 00"130Recorded live on May 31, 1997 at Chapelle des Brigitines, Brussels. Slightly overdubbed at Acoustic Recording Studio, BrusselsCypres 5601
Bang on a Cancello, glockenspiel, vibraphone, bass, mandolin, soprano saxophone, pipa, piano, violin, electric guitar, chimes, marimba, clarinet45' 32"120Recorded live on November 20, 1998 at the World Financial Center, New YorkCantaloupe 21004
Terry Riley Repetitition [sic] Orchestrakeyboards, clarinet, trumpet, violins, cello, fretless baritone guitar, double bass, chime-bells, percussion, voices76' 40"108Recorded live on April 20, 2000 in DOM, MoscowLong Arm Records 01033
The Styrenesguitars, keyboards, bass, drums, vibraphone53' 19"120Recorded on September 21, 2000 at Unique Studio, NYC (many overdubs)Enja 94352
Acid Mothers Temple & the Melting Paraiso U.F.Ovoices, monster bass, electric guitars, synthesizers, drums, violin, zuruna, tambura, shruti box, vibraphone, glockenspiel20' 31"92Recorded at FTF Studio, Indo-yo and Acid Mothers Temple, 2002Squealer 37
European Music Project, zignorii++violin, viola, violoncello, marimba, electric piano, English horn, clarinets, alto saxophone, electronic arrangements60' 48"120Recorded April 19–22, 2001 at Sendesaal des Funkhauses KölnWergo 66502
re-soundflute, clarinet, soprano saxophone, alto saxophone, voice, electric guitar, electric bass, percussion, keyboards, violin, cello57' 00"Recorded in AustraliaMove Records MD 3262[10] (2002)
DésAccordes / d-zAkordclassical guitars, electric guitars, electric basses, harp, cellos, percussion, drums, bass48' 54"120Recorded on November 23, 2003 at Espace Culturel du Bois Fleuri, Lormont, FranceMUSEA/GAZUL GA8681.AR
Ut Gretsynthesizer, alto saxophone, vibes, marimba, flute, bass clarinet64' 11"120Recorded live at Tewligans in 2002Recent Fossils, Ear-X-tacy Records
Ars Nova Copenhagen, Percurama Percussion Ensemblevocals, marimbas, bass marimba, vibraphone, Bali gong55' 16"116Recorded on January 17, 2005 at Focus Recording, CopenhagenDacapo 8.226049
American Festival of Microtonal Musicjust-fretted guitars, viola, harpsichord, kanon, guitar "pulse"23' 11"112Recorded live as "In C in Just Intonation," Terry Riley's reworking commissioned by the AFMM in 1988Ear Gardens, Pitch P-200209
Oxford Minimalist Ensemble45' 09"Recorded live at Sheldonian Theatre Oxford UK on 11 May 2006www.minimalistensemble.co.uk
The New Audience Ensemble16' 36"Live at the Edge, Odessa Mama (2006)
Jeroen van VeenPiano and other keyboards57' 56"120Recorded at Barbara Church, Culemborg on October 23–28, 2006 (many overdubs)Minimal Piano Collection, Brilliant Classics 8551
GVSU New Music Ensemblepiano, percussion, xylophone, bassoon, accordion, flute, bass flute, clarinet, bass clarinet, cello, English horn, soprano and tenor saxophones, marimba, vibraphone, guitar, trumpet, violin20' 43"The project included remixed versions by 16 other musicians,In C Remixed, Innova 758 (2009)
Orkest de Volharding51' 36"108The Minimalists, Mode 214/215 (2009)
Hans BalmerFlutes (overdubbed)40' 04"124Minimal Flute, Fontastix (2009)
Salt Lake Electric EnsembleLaptop orchestra with percussion65' 56"85Laptops recorded live Feb. 3, 2010 in Salt Lake City, acoustic instruments overdubbed Feb/Mar 2010sleearts.com (2010)
GVSU New Music EnsemblePiano, Percussion, Flute, Cello, Accordion, Violin, Clarinet, Bass, Saxophone, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Trumpet. Featured Guest Dennis DeSantis on laptop and effects.61' 28"124Recorded live on November 8, 2009, at Le Poisson Rouge, New York CityTerry Riley: In C
Ghostly International GI-108 (2010)
Limited Edition CD + Digital Download
Invisible PolytechnicAnalogue modular synth 'pulse', organ, piano, marimba, percussion, violin, viola, hurdy-gurdy, harp, bass guitar, oboe, daegeum, bassoon, voices45' 40"115Recorded at Hatchlands Park, Surrey, and Them Usem, LondonJunior Aspirin Records (ASP020, 2011)
Anton Glushkin and friendsPiano 'pulse', guitar, electric guitar, 2 violins, viola, cello, balalayka, balalayka-contrabass, flute, clarinet, bassoon, French horn, bayan, harp, harpsichord, synthesizer, percussion51'110Recorded live on March 17, 2012, at museum of contemporary arts "Erarta", St. Petersburg, RussiaHands For Friends studio
Sensorium Saxophone OrchestraSaxophones, snare drumRecorded December 2010, Brooklyn, New YorkLiving Records (2012)
University of Lethbridge Electroacoustic Ensembleclarinet, alto saxophones, voices, electronic bells, DTX electronic drums, MIDI sequencer, CDJ-2000 turntable, iPad, piano, Minimoog Voyager, microKorg XL, keyboards, acoustic guitars, electric guitar, bass guitar (Ableton Suite and Logic Pro controlled by iPad and keyboards)41'13"96Lethbridge, Canada, April 2013Digital Audio Arts University of Lethbridge
PressingPlay laptop OrchestraAbleton Live 8, APC40, Kore 223'52"128June 2013Recorded live at PlonkPlonk Records in June 2013
Adrian Utley's Guitar OrchestraElectric Guitars, Organs, Bass Clarinet, Percussion61'24"Recorded live at St. George's hall, Bristol, 6 February 2013Released by Invada Records on 14 October 2013
Haanwijk Guitaret Ensemble21 Hohner Guitarets19'47"Released April 2014
Africa Expressbalafons, baritone-guitar, calabash, djembe, flutes, guitars, imzad, kalimbas, kamel n'goni, koras, melodica, percussions, violin, vocals40'45"130Recorded at Maison des Jeunes, Bamako and Studio P5, BerlinReleased February 2015
Fighting Windmills + Sethstatclarinet, soprano saxophone, trombone, percussion, electronic percussion, analogue synthesizer, modeling synthesizer, electric guitar, electronics, bass guitar, contrabass78'41"(variable)Performed without pulse in a varying, free-flowing tempo. Recorded live at Kino Frosina, MKC – Skopje, Macedonia, December 16, 2016.Released by PMG Jazz on July 5, 2018
dBs MusicSynthesizer Orchestra53'5085Recorded at dBs BristolPerformed December 2018[11]

Impact on other music

Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble produced an album of remixed versions of In C. A discussion of the In C remixing project including music played from three of the remixed versions can be heard in Radiolab's podcast on In C from December 14, 2009.[12] The remixers included Jad Abumrad, Mason Bates, Jack Dangers, Dennis DeSantis, R. Luke DuBois, Mikael Karlsson/Rob Stephenson, Zoë Keating, Phil Kline, Kleerup, Glenn Kotche, David Lang, Michael Lowenstern, Paul D. Miller (DJ Spooky), Nico Muhly, Todd Reynolds and Daniel Bernard Roumain (DBR).[13]

References

  1. Riley, Terry, "In C: Performing Directions", from the score for In C, 1989, Celestial Harmonies
  2. Christopher Bonds, The Musical Impulse, second, revised edition (Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall Hunt Publishing Company, 1994): 345. ISBN 9780840398024
  3. "A guide to Terry Riley's music" by Tom Service, The Guardian, 29 January 2013
  4. "Radio Eclectus: Stuart Dempster interviewed by Michael Schell", April 9, 2020
  5. Honigmann, David (October 7, 2013). "In C, Barbican, London – review". Financial Times. In C – probably the second-best-known aleatory classic – is less a score than a set of instructions
  6. This direction seems to be in the original score, but is not in the OtherMinds CC-licensed score.
  7. Andrew Ford (May 6, 2012). "Steve Reich – rhythm and minimalism" (interview). The Music Show. ABC Radio National via YouTube. Steve Reich turned his back on Serialism back in the late 60s. He'd heard John Coltrane's free jazz and following a trip to Ghana in the early 70s he decided rhythm was more important than melody. So Minimalism was born in uptown New York. Reich is in Australia talking to loads of fans and listening to his seminal works Drumming, Clapping Music, Different Trains and Vermont Counterpoint which are being performed in Sydney and Melbourne.
  8. Programme for the Cornelius Cardew Ensemble, Royal Institute Galleries. (1968)
  9. Anderson, Virginia (18 November 2013). "Systems and Other Minimalism in Britain". In The Ashgate Research Companion to Minimalist and Postminimalist Music, ed. Keith Potter, Kyle Gann, and Pwyll ap Siôn. Farnham, Surrey: Ashgate.
  10. Move Records MD 3262 re-sound: In C
  11. https://insider.dbsmusic.co.uk/video-a-day-recording-with-portisheads-adrian-utley-at-dbs-music
  12. Radiolab, "In C", December 14, 2009
  13. "In C Remixed". GVSU New Music Ensemble. Retrieved 26 February 2014.

Further reading

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