Description
An Avant-Garde Masterpiece: Steve Reich's 'Drumming' - Minimalist Percussion Music 2CD
UPC: 028947432326
MPN: 474 323-2
Brand Name: Deutsche Grammophon
Overview: Experience the Rhythmic Revolution of Steve Reich's 'Drumming'
Dive into the captivating, transformative sound world of Steve Reich's Drumming (1970-71), a seminal work of minimalist music and a cornerstone of 20th-century contemporary classical composition. Performed by the composer and his ensemble, Steve Reich and Musicians, this 2-CD reissue on the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label captures the hypnotic brilliance of a piece that fundamentally shifted the landscape of rhythm and texture in modern music. Drumming is a journey built upon the gradual process of "phase shifting"—where musicians playing the same repeated rhythmic pattern slowly drift out of sync and then back together—creating intricate, shimmering aural illusions. This edition is a must-have for contemporary classical music fans, students of percussion ensemble literature, and collectors seeking definitive Steve Reich recordings.
Product Features
- Format: 2 x CD, Album, Reissue, Repress, Digipak
- Genre: Classical, Contemporary, Post-Modern, Minimalism
- Artists: Steve Reich and Musicians
- Composition Date: 1970–1971
- Recording Date: January 1974
- Total Length: Approximately 84 minutes (across four parts)
- Series: 20/21 - Echoes of Our Time
- Packaging: 6-panel Digipak with a comprehensive 28-page booklet including liner notes in German, French, and English.
- Country: Europe
- Catalogue Number: 474 323-2
Interesting Facts about the Iconic Minimalist Composition
- Inspiration: Reich began composing Drumming after a significant trip to Ghana in 1970, where he studied traditional Ewe drumming. However, rather than directly incorporating Ewe rhythms, he applied the phasing technique he developed in earlier works (It's Gonna Rain, Come Out) to the new instrumental palette of percussion.
- Instrument Progression: The work is notable for its instrumentation, which evolves across the four parts:Vocal Technique: The voices in Parts II and IV are not singing traditional lyrics but are imitating the specific timbres of the marimba and the piccolo, blending seamlessly into the percussive texture—a remarkable example of instrumental and vocal fusion.
- Part I: Eight pairs of small tuned drums.
- Part II: Three marimbas and two female voices (who imitate the marimba sound).
- Part III: Three glockenspiels, piccolo, and whistling (mimicking the glockenspiel).
- Part IV: Combines all instruments and voices used in the preceding parts.
- Historical Significance: The original 1974 recording from which this CD is drawn was part of a landmark 3-LP set (DG 2740 106). This specific release is a partial reissue, focusing solely on the magnificent Drumming, making it the quintessential way to own this essential Steve Reich album.
Track Listing
CD 1 | Track | Title | Instruments | Timing | | :---: | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 1-1 | Part I | Small Tuned Drums | 24:33 | | 1-2 | Part II | Marimba, Voice | 25:22 | CD 2 | Track | Title | Instruments | Timing | | :---: | :--- | :--- | :--- | | 2-1 | Part III | Glockenspiel, Piccolo Flute, Whistling | 15:39 | | 2-2 | Part IV | All Instruments (Drums, Marimba, Glockenspiel, Piccolo, Voice) | 18:57 |
Publishers
- Label: Deutsche Grammophon
- Phonographic Copyright $\mathbf{\boldsymbol{\boldsymbol{\mathbf{\boldsymbol{\mathbf{P}}}}}}$: Deutsche Grammophon GmbH (1974), Polydor International GmbH (1974)
- Copyright $\mathbf{\boldsymbol{\mathbf{\boldsymbol{\mathbf{C}}}}}}$: Steve Reich (1974)
- Manufactured By: EDC, Germany
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