Stock: 
Format: 
Release Date: 26-10-1998
Label: Celestial Harmonies
Catalog Number: 13026-2
Barcode: 13711302622
Musical Style: Classical
Track Listing:
| Disc 1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | In C [28:24] | 3 | Zen (Ch'an) Of Water [15:50] |
| 2 | Music of a Thousand Springs [23:47] | ||
Description:
Terry Riley's In C, one of the most influential compositions of the past quarter century, has been played by almost every conceivable combination of instruments; however, the Shanghai Film Orchestra's version ranks as one of the most exciting and exotic interpretations. It marks the 25th anniversary of the piece and represents the first time a Western new music piece has been recorded in China. In C is a rhythmic, energetic work, but it also echoes the mystical, embroidered music of the Near East and India. By staying in or around the key of C, this 1964 work creates a model sound that can be seen as a forerunner of today's minimalist and world music styles. The Shanghai Film Orchestra plays this contemporary Western work on traditional Chinese instruments. The tuning is different and the tone colors of the ancient Chinese bells and strings lend a new vibrancy to the piece. The construction of this version is equally striking. Instead of following the score straight through, earlier parts are brought back and woven into a tapestry of sound even more mesmerizing than Riley's original recording. The talented Chinese-American composer, David Mingyue Liang, contributes two works that extend the orchestra's range to include the ethereal sounds of bowed vibes and the haunting resonance of China's only complete set of mangluo gongs. This remarkable recording, the result of a cultural openness in China, proves that the East and West have much to say to each other.
Biography:
American composer Terry Riley is best known as one of the founders of minimalism. His first successful composition, In C , had a significant effect on artists like Philip Glass and Steve Reich who went on to popularize the minimalistic techniques Riley introduced in his work. In the 70s and early 80s, Riley gained attention for his solo concerts in which he performed extended improvisations for keyboard and voice. During this time, he was heavily influenced by classical Indian music, which he studied in–depth under the tutelage of the legendary vocalist Pandit Pran Nath. In recent years, Riley has fulfilled commissions for internationally recognized symphony orchestras and chamber ensembles. His work for string quartet, Salome Dances For Peace, performed by the Kronos Quartet has received accolades worldwide.
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