Quartet, by Steve Reich

Quartet, by Steve Reich
I. Fast
II. Slow
III. Fast
Performed by icarus Quartet
Jeff Stern, Matt Keown, Larry Weng, and Yevgeny Yontov
www.icarusQuartet.org
Recorded and Filmed in Bryan Recital Hall, BGSU College of Musical Arts
Audio by Michael Laurello
www.michaellaurello.com
Video by Nick Zoulek
www.nickzoulek.com
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Mallets used:
M131.5
M141
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About the piece:
Quartet, when mentioned in the context of concert music, is generally assumed to mean string quartet. In my case, the quartet that has played a central role in many of my pieces (besides the string quartet) is that of two pianos and two percussion. It appears like that or in expanded form with more pianos or more percussion in The Desert Music, Sextet, Three Movements, The Four Sections, The Cave, Dance Patterns, Three Tales, You Are (Variations), Variations for Vibes, Pianos and Strings, Daniel Variations, Double Sextet, and Radio Rewrite. In Quartet, there is just this group alone: two vibes and two pianos.
The piece is one of the more complex I have composed. It frequently changes key and often breaks off continuity to pause or take up new material. Though the parts are not unduly difficult, it calls for a high level of ensemble virtuosity.
The form is one familiar throughout history: fast, slow, fast, played without pause. The slow movement introduces harmonies not usually found in my music.
The piece is dedicated to Colin Currie, a percussionist who has broken the mold by maintaining his solo career with orchestras and recitals and also, quite amazingly, by founding the Colin Currie Group which plays whatever ensemble music he believes in. I salute him and hope others will take note.
Quartet was co-commissioned by Southbank Centre, Carnegie Hall, The Juilliard School, Cité de la musique, and Kölner Philharmonie / KölnMusik, and is approximately 17 minutes in duration.
-Steve Reich
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[@KenBakerMN]

Amazing how they keep those intricate, asymmetric rhythms perfectly synchronize. A brilliant performance.

[@bryanchen7155]

Steve Reich is the embodiment of cool.

[@silwestoll3456]

The last part, from 14:55 on, is so intensive it makes me happy beyond words

[@sammygrob4398]

After listening to a bunch of different recordings of this piece, I keep coming back to this one! There's a crispness, lightness, precision, and playfulness that is just...mind blowing :)

[@ukdavepianoman]

Michael Tilson Thomas said it best when he said what struck him most about Steve Reich's music is the complete and utter joyousness of it. Here's another perfect example. What's also wonderful about Reich is how his music has evolved over the years. He is unquestionably one of the greatest composers ever.

[@steveelliott285]

ukpianoman2015 absolutely, you can see the joy they have in just playing each note. Maybe not many notes but enough notes to bring us all amazement and a smile on my face when I listened.

[@rayamor01]

@@steveelliott285 א4אא333332

[@steveelliott285]

@@rayamor01 Sorry, not sure what happened there!

[@Synapsenkitzler]

steve reich music touches me the most for many years now. unique amazing.

[@user-jd1rb2li1g]

this is my favorite Reich piece since Double Sextet from about ten years ago. the performance here is phenomenal- the musicians know the music inside and out- also it's wonderful to see their enthusiasm for the piece- as at 4:50, the ensemble is all smiles :)

[@steveelliott285]

Саша Каретка yes, you are right, those musicians know the music inside out, they love playing every single note.

[@SteveWang251]

Love the way the music builds up to the big modulation at 13:47.

[@rodolfoacostar]

Gorgeous piece and wonderful performance! Thanks for posting. Greetings from Colombia.

[@naturallyherb]

0:00 - Fast 6:29 - Slow 10:30 - Fast

[@MrTille]

Steve Reich. The master of making one melody sound over 2-3 or more instruments. Beutifully excecuted!

[@MrTille]

@Caleb, it is difficult to explain, but I'll try. The music has a melody you can hear. But the tones are spread out on several instruments. For example, the first vibraphone plays 1 or 2 tones, then hands it over to the second who plays 1 or 2 and so on. You will hear one melody spread out on several instruments. It's really difficult to make that happen for a long period of time, but Reich is a master.

[@danielleizorovici5402]

cette version est cristalline et aérienne. une merveille !

I remember hearing this piece at its premier in London. This is a breathtakingly precise performance!

[@brianpercussion]

Wow! Masterfully played.

[@TheMakeupMariachi]

UGH AMAZING!!! I LOVE THIS PIECE!!!

[@camaradajeff]

My favorite from Reich. And the execution here is impeccable.

[@Proghead88]

I feel really bad for anyone who dislikes this, because they must have had a really bad day :( This is beautiful! :O

[@TrentShuey]

Bravissimo!!! This is outstanding!

[@MarcoLiguigli]

Good work guys! I apprecciated it!

[@vincentagro1370]

wow, yes this is absolutely incredible!

[@JohnDoe-yr4wc]

Incredible!

[@mtsanga3421]

Wonderful !

[@philiploveimchannel]

I just heard them in Yellow Springs for the first time / They were astonishng

[@RogerioDec]

Bravo!!!

[@mantovannni]

Lovely tune.

[@oscargill423]

So different to Reich more well known works... yet so similar.

[@keyspark]

very nice

[@edsonp.barbosa-percussioni457]

Steve Reich foi um gênio! Bravíssimo performance dos músicos!

[@yunoewig3095]

Não fale no tempo passado!!!! Ele ainda está vivo!! Até levei um susto quando li seu comentário...

[@birgitbofarull4410]

Impeccable recording and execution. Not my favourite Reich, but still exquisite. Thank you for posting.

[@hypercoree974]

4:33 my favorite passage

[@Zalan-gx6sf]

I might be wrong, but that music writing what Steve Reich invented is the only technique that is being able to reach Bach's level. Both of them created a very different musical norm than before, and both techniques are playing with the different patterns.

[@Numocron]

Wow man. :D

[@amittima6618]

👌

[@TheVleckChannel]

If this was a quintet, would each musician be playing a...firth?

[@darylcumming4817]

😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊

[@elpele5055]

Vic Firth patrocinameeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

[@fso.]

siick

[@darylcumming7119]

🙂

[@forcepalmproductions9158]

12:07

[@pawdaw]

Are the percussionists playing from memory??!

[@0ktober]

This is some Bakemonogatari conversation music. Jk, I love Steve's compositions.

[@joshuamrvicayin4337]

It is not kidding, there are a lot of Monogatari OSTs inspired by Steve Reich.

[@AlanAuti]

@@joshuamrvicayin4337 Satoru Kosaki in general has a lot of stuff inspired in contemporary classical or minimalism, in Haruhi Suzumiya he has a lot of tracks with heavy inspiration from early Satie

[@joshuamrvicayin4337]

@@AlanAuti Ah cool. Good to know.

[@forcepalmproductions9158]

2:40

[@ianhouston2]

What are the black vibe mallets they use?

[@NeilRaoMusic]

It's the old prototype version of the M242

[@joaomarcos5227]

primeiro acomentaaaa

[@sebastianlunoe]

very good musical performance - but I wish the cameras would stop constantly moving around. It’s disturbing as hell. There’s enough motion going on already IN the picture.

[@kylebeatty7643]

It is too much

[@sabrinaault]

those vibes are? too short for them?

[@filipkorosec102]

Adams Alpha and they can be adjusted, so guessing they want it low.

[@steveelliott285]

sabrina it’s the ties on the shirt that get in the way

[@Belfreyite]

Of a different Genre, but combining the Piano with Mallets is the collaboration of the late Chic Corea and Gary Burton. The two go together so well.