St Paul's Music

Steve Reich - Electric counterpoint

 

Background

Electric counterpoint is a piece of minimalist music written by Steve Reich in 1987 and recorded by jazz guitarist Pat Metheny.

Steve Reich is an american composer.

 

Stylistic features

Ostinatos, layering, addition, gradual changes, phase shifting. Diatonic harmony.

 

Instruments

1 live guitar

7 guitars on a tape loop

2 bass                                       

 

Structure

Simple structure: A, B, Coda

Detailed structure

Section A: 1) layering of guitar parts

                      2) bass parts come in

                      3) chords are added.                     i-C, Bm, E5

                                                                                ii-C, D, Em

                                                                                iii-C, D, Bm

                      4)original ostinato come back to the front of the mix

Section B: 1)Change of key and time signature

                   2)swapping between 2 sections

Coda:         (still swapping between keys taking out layers one by one.

 

Harmony/Chords

Chords are above

Diatonic

 

Tonality

Section A: Eminor Section B: C minor but swaps between the two keys as the piece progresses

 

Rhythm/metre

Syncopated

Section A: 3/2   Section B:12/8 at the same as 3/2 again as the piece progresses it swaps between the two time signatures

 

Texture

Polyphonic/contrapuntal due to the counterpoint between all the layers.

Canon

Layers are added gradually to help build and develop the piece.

 

Dynamics

Dynamics are effected by the variations of layers in the music as more are added the dynamics getting especially when the bass comes in.

 

Melody

No melody, but there is something called a resultant melody due to the combination of all the ostinatos. Use of addition

 

Technology

Use of tape looping