In celebration of American composer Steve Reich's 70th birthday the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble, directed by Assistant Professor Bill Ryan, will perform two of his classic works, "Clapping Music" and "Music for 18 Musicians."
The concert, on Thursday, November 30, in the Louis Armstrong Theatre, Performing Arts Center, Allendale Campus, is free and open to the public.
Widely regarded as one of the most influential composers of the 20th-century, Reich's music draws from not only Western classical music, but from the structures, harmonies, and rhythms of non-Western and American vernacular music.
In late October the New Music Ensemble traveled to New York City to attend a Steve Reich Festival which included the Reich's own ensemble performing "Music for 18 Musicians." In addition to other concerts, lectures, and workshops, they met with several members of Reich's ensemble to discuss strategies for performing the work, and were able to meet Reich himself backstage.
"Just to watch how the ensemble interacted on stage and floated between the instrumental parts was fascinating," said Ryan. "We were furiously making notes in our scores on the physical movements we saw and hope to capture for our own use."
Composed from 1974-76, "Music for 18 Musicians" is quite possibly Reich's greatest achievement. Lasting at just over an hour, the work is a shimmering journey through lush, pulsing harmonies and slowly evolving melodic patterns. His ensemble's latest recording of the work won a Grammy Award in 1999.
For more details see http://www.newmusicensamble.org or contact Bill Ryan at (616) 331-3087.
Members of the GVSU New Music Ensemble, directed by Bill Ryan, recently traveled to Carnegie Hall in New York City to attend the "Steve Reich @ 70 Festival." Pictured, left to right, backstage at Carnegie Hall are Bill Ryan, Sam Gould, composer Steve Reich, Dan Redner and Nick Usadel.
