[.ca] Drumming

Chronique amazon.fr:
Avec cette longue pièce pour percussions et voix, Steve Reich s'est imposé en 1971 comme l'un des maîtres de la nouvelle musique américaine. Basée sur la subtile répétition, avec déphasage et rephasage, de motifs mélodiques et ryhmiques, Drumming crée un climat d'une entêtante spiritualité, qui doit beaucoup aux musiques balinaises, aux polyrythmies africaines et aux cantilènes hébraïques. Autant de traditions musicales qui ont beaucoup plus influencé Steve Reich que le classicisme occidental ! --Michel Marmin

Worth The Wait:
After repeatedly restraining myself from buying the truncated Nonesuch 'Drumming', I finally gave in to my urge by getting this re-release of the original 85-minute recording from 1974. Unlike the other reviewer, listening to the whole thing was no problem. In fact, I wouldn't have minded if it were longer. The music is entrancing, fluid, graceful and motivating. (It's terrific workout music!) The simplicity of its beginnings give way to exhuberant complexity again and again, continually arriving in surprizing places. My only complaint is the idiotic, flimsy cardboard packaging, which has been specially designed not to fit in slots made for CD jewel cases, and to last for weeks, perhaps months of use. I guess the folks at Echo 20/21 don't know about the convenient 2CD jewel cases that are used for most double sets!

The Original "Drumming" Is Back!!:
"Drumming" is composer Steve Reich's most adventurous and challenging composition. Composed between 1970 and 1971, "Drumming" takes the genre of percussion-based music to a new level. Its use of syncopated and phase-shifting rhythms remains innovative (and some would say pioneering) even today. The original recording of "Drumming" was made in Germany in 1974 and was released on the Deutsch Grammaphone Label. This version had been unavailable for many years and had become a sought-after collectors item. However, all things must come to pass because now, the much sought-after original recording of "Drumming" has been issued on CD for the very first time at its original length of 84-minutes (the later 1987 recording on Nonesuch Records featured a trimmed-down version running at 56-minutes). "Drumming" is divided into four distinct parts or movements. The first part is performed entirely on three sets of tuned bongos played with drumsticks. It begins with a single drumbeat which builds up to a syncopated rhythm which carries the entire piece the rest of the way. Throughout it's 25-minutes, this opening section explores nearly every possibility of what can be done with a single simple repeated rhythm. The method of 'phase-shifting' (having one player go out of synch with the other) adds further complexity. The first part leads directly into the second part as the bongos fade out and the marimbas take over. The marimbas carry on with the piece's simple rhythm which is augmented by two female singers mimicking the pitches with vocal scats. As this part of the piece progresses, the marimbas gradually move from their lowest register to their highest. Like the first part, the hypnotic rhythms are made deceptively complex by the use of phase-shifting. When the marimbas have reached their highest register, the glockenspiels take over. This begins the third part of the piece. This part is reverse of the second one. The glockenspeils begin at their highest register and gradually make their way to the lowest. Instead of having vocalists mimick the pitches this time, a piccolo and Reich's own whistling punctuate the rhythms. After this has run its course, beats begin to be taken away until there is a single beat left repeating itself. This leads into the fourth and final part which is a mix of all the instruments heard in the previous three parts played all together (drums, marimbas, glockenspiels, voices, piccolo and whistles). As the glockenspeils repeat the single beats which ended part three, the marimbas join in on the same beat followed by the bongo drums. The music then builds up into its standard rhythm which in turn builds up to a dynamic and intense rhythmic climax. This brings "Drumming" to its final and exciting finish. This original recording of Steve Reich's "Drumming" is a revelation compared to its Nonesuch Records counterpart. For all intents and purposes, this original recording is the definitive version. Although the music is uncomplicated and highly repetitive, it is not at all boring. Reich's use of rhythm and percussion on "Drumming" is still some his very best and influential. After many years of being out-of-print, it's great to have the original "Drumming" back on the shelves. A Definite Must. Highly Recommended!!

More alive than the Nonesuch recording!:
Steve Reich's "Drumming" is an amazing piece of work showing how much you can do with one - yes one - continuous musical phrase. Sometimes I even feel guilty when thinking, "Goodness, I wish Reich would do just one more phasing piece". I love the old Reich and am not afraid to admit it. This album, then, is a dream come true. Whiile I am a young fan (26) from what I can ascertain this was the original 1973 recording. Maybe it is becuase the piece was so new then but this recording has much more life in it than the Nonesuch. Particularly the first and second movement are noticeable in that the first is more bombastic towards its apex while the second while in some senses calmer than the Nonesuch recording, has this hidden forward motion-energy that is more powerful than the Nonesuch track. All in all, this piece is a joy and I jump at the chance to hear any recording of it. The only complaints are slight. AS it is a '73 recording, some of the overtones in the second and third movements occasionally sound out of tune (the low marimba and a few of the glockenspiel tones for example) - not because they WERE out, but because (my guess) they recorded that way. Second, of course, is the fact taht one cannot listen straight through, as this is a two-disc set. Small potatoes in relation to such a good recording!

Great recording, available with more though...:
This is clearly the best recording of Drumming. The long phase shifts have an incredible effect, and the performance is note perfect for the whole hour and a half! However, the CD bundled with Six Pianos and Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ is always worth the extra few pounds. Last time I checked it was still on the shelves...

Definitive recordings of all pieces...:
This is a brilliant insight into some of Reich's percussive works, with well played versions of each piece - who would expect less from Reich's own ensemble? Not much needs to be said for Drumming - this is the definitive recording for Reich's groundbreaking piece. Music for Mallet Instruments is brilliantly done, with a nice balance on the instruments and voices. The same applies for Six Pianos, although I do believe Piano Circus also did a brilliant version. A definite CD to buy.

• Drumming, Pt. 1 - Bob Becker, Russ Hartenberger, James Preiss
• Drumming, Pt. 2 - Bob Becker, , , Tim Ferchen, Ben Harms, Russ Hartenberger, Martin Laba, Steve Reich, Glen Velez
• Drumming, Pt. 3 - Bob Becker, Russ Hartenberger, James Preiss, Steve Reich, Leslie Scott, Glen Velez
• Drumming, Pt. 4 - Bob Becker, , , Tim Ferchen, Ben Harms, Russ Hartenberger, James Preiss, Steve Reich, Glen Velez