Composer

:

Steve Reich

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Quintet

Compose Date

:

1970

Average_duration

:

17:57

Four Organs is a minimalist composition by Steve Reich, composed in 1970. The piece premiered on October 15, 1970, at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City. The composition is scored for four electric organs and is approximately 20 minutes in length. The piece consists of a single movement, which is characterized by a repetitive and gradually shifting pattern of chords played by the four organs. The chords are initially played in unison, but gradually become out of sync with each other, creating a complex and constantly evolving texture. The piece is notable for its use of gradual phase shifting, a technique that Reich had developed in earlier works such as Piano Phase and Come Out. The four organs are played by four performers, each of whom plays a single chord throughout the piece. The performers are instructed to play the chords with a steady, unvarying rhythm, and to gradually shift the phase of their playing in relation to the other performers. The resulting effect is a constantly changing pattern of sound that creates a hypnotic and mesmerizing effect on the listener. Four Organs is a prime example of Reich's minimalist style, which emphasizes repetition, gradual change, and the use of simple harmonic structures. The piece is also notable for its use of electronic instruments, which were still relatively new in the world of classical music at the time of its composition. Overall, Four Organs is a groundbreaking work that helped to establish Reich as one of the leading figures in the minimalist movement.

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