In C

Syzygy wrote: Terry Riley's A Rainbow In Curved Air was massively influential on prog - do a search and you'll find some very informative posts by Dick Heath on this topic, with a few rather facetious ones from me. There's a great version of In C by New York percussion ensemble Bang On A Can, who also did a great re interpretation of Music For Airports. Of approximately the same vintage as Terry Riley is Steve Reich, whose work is a lot more engaging than titles like Music for 18 Musicians might suggest. He did an interesting collaboration with Pat Metheney, Different Trains. Probably the most famous composer in this style is Philip Glass - the best place to start is probably his soundtrack to Koyaanisqaatsi. He's also recorded symphonic treatments of Bowie's Low and Heroes albums, which are a lot better than most rock/classical crossovers

Hi Chris ,

you took almost every word out of my mouth regarding minimalism. A Rainbow In Curved Air is definitely tops in influences.

As for Glass, his Powaqaatsi is equally fine album and do is those two films. I have a real problem dissociating the music from the films though.

Man Erg wrote: I have a few versions of Terry Riley's In C, including a collaborative effort with Brian Eno.The original version is the best IMHO. Also;his (Riley) collaboration with John Cale on Church of Anthrax is well worth a listen.

Church of Anthrax is very disconcerted and regrettable...for me this is a joke!!

Noit necessarily for minimalism but also check out:

Pierre Henry

Lasry's La Structures Sonore

Milton Subotnik

Wendy Carlos (specifically Sonic Seasonings)

Joren wrote: On topic: I believe I have heard "In C" once, but I don't remember very well if I liked it or not... I will listen to it again some time. I am currently busy exploring the work of his minimal music colleagues Steve Reich and Philip Glass. By the way, I was told in class (I study Musicolog), that Terry Riley's "In C" was at the time of its release very provocative, because, back then, you were supposed to compose atonal or serial music if you wanted to be taken seriously as a composer.

Harry Parth was one of the first to explore post modernism, minimalism western music, rejecting "dodecaphonism"...also Morton Feldman (known for his collaboration with John Cage). Riley came a few years later.

Yes, go on the previous recommendations...Contrary to what have been said, IN C is absolutely not the best Terry Riley effort despite that it is very inovative (the way of composing)...check his "Organ of cortis" serie, just mesmerizing...also take an interest for radical minimalist (idian raga sound like with endless repetitive patterns ) drone music (La monte Young for the old generation, Ian Nagoski for the young one)

you can have more informations about minimalism and avant garde music on my personnal page in prog archives or on my forum

On topic: I believe I have heard "In C" once, but I don't remember very well if I liked it or not... I will listen to it again some time. I am currently busy exploring the work of his minimal music colleagues Steve Reich and Philip Glass.

By the way, I was told in class (I study Musicolog), that Terry Riley's "In C" was at the time of its release very provocative, because, back then, you were supposed to compose atonal or serial music if you wanted to be taken seriously as a composer.

JrKASperov wrote: I was thinking of Pioneers in C, but that's probably something else

You probably meant "Pioneers Over c" by Van der Graaf Generator. A song about people who pass "c", the speed of light.