Composer

:

Steve Reich

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Psalm

Compose Date

:

1981

Average_duration

:

30:46

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Tehillim is a composition by American composer Steve Reich, premiered in 1981. The piece is scored for four female voices and a small ensemble of instruments, including two electric organs, two clarinets, two vibraphones, and two maracas. The title of the piece comes from the Hebrew word for "psalms," and the text is drawn from four psalms in the Hebrew Bible. The piece is divided into four movements, each corresponding to one of the psalms. The first movement, "Psalm 19:1-4," is characterized by a pulsing, repetitive rhythm in the organ and maracas, over which the voices sing a melody that is both simple and complex, with intricate harmonies and rhythms. The second movement, "Psalm 34:13-15," is more meditative, with the voices singing in unison and the instruments providing a gentle, flowing accompaniment. The third movement, "Psalm 18:26-27," is the most rhythmically complex, with the voices and instruments interlocking in intricate patterns that build to a frenzied climax. The final movement, "Psalm 150," is a joyful celebration, with the voices and instruments coming together in a lively, syncopated rhythm. Overall, Tehillim is characterized by Reich's signature style of minimalism, with repetitive patterns and gradual changes in texture and rhythm. The use of Hebrew text and the incorporation of Jewish musical traditions also give the piece a unique cultural resonance. Tehillim has become one of Reich's most popular and frequently performed works, and is considered a landmark in the development of minimalist music.

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