brings a new meaning to the phrase "your flexible friend"

[Stratmangler]

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[Beechwoods]

That is very clever, though it needs more practice!

Now this guy, he's a genius!

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[Stratmangler]

Now this guy, he's a genius!

It's a feat of stamina over substance.
Does it actually break into a tune ?

[prestonchipfryer]

This is THE guy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=05k8DgEXZXM

[synsei]

Now this guy, he's a genius!

I wouldn't argue with that. Although I wouldn't call it music, his technical ability is amazing... :cool:

[goraman]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRapSpA-dN0
BEAT THIS!
BREATH TAKING...

[Beechwoods]

I wouldn't argue with that. Although I wouldn't call it music, his technical ability is amazing... :cool:

Steve Reich's stuff is definitely music, but the themes tend to develop over 15, 20 minutes.

Here's a more traditional performance of that piece, Piano Phase. The beauty is in the interplay between the two piano's, which both start in sync, while one gradually speeds up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Phase

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And one of his pieces for orchestra.

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[DanJennings]

Steve Reich's stuff is definitely music, but the themes tend to develop over 15, 20 minutes.

Here's a more traditional performance of that piece, Piano Phase. The beauty is in the interplay between the two piano's, which both start in sync, while one gradually speeds up. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piano_Phase

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And one of his pieces for orchestra.

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I am a big fan of Steve Reich.... as you can see from the Spinning Today thread, this made me dig out different trains / electric counterpoint yesterday...

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great stuff.

[DanJennings]

Also, piano phase was originally done as a tape piece...

the score is simply 2 bars of music (12 notes), and the idea is that one performer (or tape, or in this case hand) speeds up for a moment until it is exactly 1 beat ahead of the original, and then slows down to the original tempo, so that the listener can hear the different harmonies and rhythms produced. This is repeated ( speeds up until the performer is 2 beats ahead, 3 beats ahead etc) until the performer(s)/tapes are back in phase.... On the original piece this is then repeated with a second 2 bar phrase. It sounds like an experiment, but it actually sounds rather beautiful...

[Stratmangler]

Isn't it amazing how threads drift ?
I started this one because of the freaky way the lad playing the piano was doing it - most people never have that degree of physical flexibility ever, not even as a baby.

Then the lad's technique gets criticised (ie the point of the OP is missed by a country mile), and Steve Reich gets pushed forward as a genius.

And I've yet to hear any melodic sunstance in the Steve Reich clips posted.
I have not managed to play a single clip for more than about a minute - it's worse than trying to comprehend Derek Bailey's freeform guitar improvisations :mental:

Now I'm going to call up a few fax machines and listening to them singing back to me :lolsign:

[Beechwoods]

:o

I didn't think it was too much of a drift, but now it does seem the iceberg is floating somewhere near the equator!

Sorry Chris!

[Big Vern]

Try this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9285cnFfXI

stunning virtuosity! :) There was a clip of him playing James P. Johnson's 'You Have to be Modernistic', but it's been removed...shame, 'cause it was equally amazing.

[synsei]

Try playing all three of those Steve Reich videos together, it's an event ;)

Now, this Reich composition is beautiful and the level of musicianship on display here is stunning...

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