Degree
Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Department
School of Music
Document Type
Dissertation
Abstract
Steve Reich, a New York-based composer and percussionist, was best known for his innovative compositional techniques during the minimalist era. Early in his career, Reich began manipulating recorded tape by splicing it into small repetitive loops and playing the tapes simultaneously. Through this process, Reich discovered a musical phenomenon known as phasing, ultimately creating pieces such as It’s Gonna Rain (1965) and Come Out (1966). Phasing is a process in which two identical melodic and/or rhythmic patterns gradually change their relationship to one another throughout the course of a work. As the piece progresses, new melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns emerge and continue to evolve throughout the piece. After Reich achieved phasing with tape loops, he became determined to create the same effect with live musicians. He eventually achieved that goal, writing live phasing pieces such as Piano Phase (1967), Violin Phase (1967), Clapping Music (1972), and Music for Pieces of Wood (1973). For this recital, I will be performing all four of these pieces using the Boss RC-505. Otherwise known as a loop station, the Boss RC-505 is designed for a performer to be able to play a musical idea, record it, and play it back in real time. I will be using this device to demonstrate how a single performer can use looping to play some of Reich’s most well-known music. The main feature of the Boss RC-505 is the ability to record and loop musical ideas into five separate channels. I will be using two overhead microphones to capture the audio, as well as the built-in metronome and effects for the performance. The final segment of my lecture recital will feature a performance of my original composition, Moving On. This piece will highlight and pay homage to some of Reich’s most innovative compositional techniques and musical ideas.
Date
10-29-2024
Recommended Citation
Ellender, Ty D., "Looping: The Music of Steve Reich" (2024). LSU Doctoral Dissertations. 6627.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_dissertations/6627
Committee Chair
McFarland, Alison