Electric Counterpoint (Third Movement) by Steve Reich

• Composed in 1987 by Steve Reich.
• Steve Reich (Born October 3rd 1936) is an American composer.
• Other minimalist composers include Philip Green and John Adams
• The piece is in three movements
  • fast - slow - fast pattern

Features of Minimalism:

• Repetition of simple ideas
  • Small changes introduced gradually overtime.
• Melodies slowly built up through the process of note addition
• Layered textures
• Diatonic harmony
• Slow harmonic rhythm
• Little variet in instrumentation

Instrumentation

• Live guitar
  • Accompanied by parts for seven guitars and two bass guitars 
    • The seven guitars and bass guitar is pre-recorded
  • Live guitar is amplified to blend in well with the backing tape

Structure

• Builds in three layers
  • A syncopated quaver motif is introduced in the live guitar and top four guitar parts, one part at a time
  • A new syncopated quaver motif is next introduced in the bass guitars
  • A more sustained motif, built around three chords, begins in the live guitar part and is then transferred to other parts.
• After these layers have built up, layers 2 and 3 fade out together, leaving layer 1 to continue until it comes to rest on a held chord.

Melody and Texture

• Made…