Electric Counterpoint
- Created by: 11Clewj1
- Created on: 10-04-15 20:00
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- Electric Counterpoint - Steve Riech
- Context
- First performed in 1987 and is one of three movements which follow a typical fast-slow-fast pattern.
- Written in a minimalism style, which repetition of simple ideas, layered textures, diatonic harmonies, slow harmonic rhythms and little variation in instrumentation
- Instrumentation
- One live guitar, 7 guitars and 2 bass guitars. the live guitar is amplified to blend in with the backing tape
- Structure
- Builds up in 3 layers
- 1) a syncopated quaver motif, introduced one part at a time
- after all 3 layers have been built up, layers 2 and 3 fade out leaving layer 1 to continue till it comes to a ret on a held chord
- 2) a new syncopated quaver motif introduced in the bass guitars
- after all 3 layers have been built up, layers 2 and 3 fade out leaving layer 1 to continue till it comes to a ret on a held chord
- 3) a more sustained motif which is built up around 3 chords
- 1) a syncopated quaver motif, introduced one part at a time
- Builds up in 3 layers
- Melody
- the melody is made up of a 1 bar motif (ostinato), this motif is introduced by the live guitar and top 4 guitar parts at different times creating canon
- note addition is used to make the piece more interesting and to form a resultant melody
- the melody is made up of a 1 bar motif (ostinato), this motif is introduced by the live guitar and top 4 guitar parts at different times creating canon
- Texture
- Contrapuntal texture
- Tonality and Harmony
- Binary form (AB) with 4 sections within them. the entire piece with a coda, there is tonal ambiguity but there are hints of being E minor but is uncertain till the bass guitars come in.
- Context
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