Steve Reich
The Desert Music (LP)
FormatLPLabelNonesuchGenreExperimental
Out of stock
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condition (record/cover): NM / EX- (light sticker removal residue on front)
Gatefold sleeve with original innersleeve.
The largest Reich work to that date: 45 minutes, scored for chorus of twenty-seven amplified voices and an orchestra of eighty-nine. Reich sets fragments of William Carlos Williams (mostly from The Orchestra, Theocritus: Idyl I and the late poems) into a five-movement arch form whose central movement, "It is a principle of music to repeat the theme," addresses the threat of nuclear apocalypse directly. The piece was conceived during the height of the early-Reagan-era arms race.
The Nonesuch recording is by the Brooklyn Philharmonic chorus and orchestra under Michael Tilson Thomas (who had been one of Reich's most consequential conductor-champions since the Carnegie Four Organs riot of 1973). Recorded at RCA Studios, New York. Co-produced by Reich, Tilson Thomas and Judith Sherman. The piece's harmonic palette is markedly darker than the earlier Reich, with extended chromatic sections that anticipate Different Trains.
Release notes
Gatefold cover with printed inner sleeve with French and German translations. This album is a setting of poetry by William Carlos Williams. "Steve Reich and musicians with chorus and members of The Brooklyn Philharmonic" "The Desert Music" was co-commissioned by the West German Radio, Cologne and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. The world premiere was in Cologne March 17, 1984 and the American premiere was at the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Opera House October 25, 26 & 27, 1984 as part of the…
| The Desert Music | |||
| A1 | First Movement (Fast) | 7:54 | |
| A2 | Second Movement (Moderate) | 6:59 | |
| A3 | Third Movement: Part One (Slow) | 6:59 | |
| A4 | Third Movement: Part Two (Moderate) | 5:54 | |
| B1 | Third Movement: Part Three (Slow) | 5:55 | |
| B2 | Fourth Movement (Moderate) | 3:35 | |
| B3 | Fifth Movement (Fast) | 10:46 | |
- Carin Goldberg
- Art Direction, Design
- The Brooklyn Philharmonic Chorus
- Chorus
- Steve Reich
- Composed By, Edited By [Editing], Mixed By [Mixing], Liner Notes [Conversation], Producer [Produced By]
- Michael Tilson Thomas
- Conductor
- CS
- Direct Metal Mastering By
- Rudolph Werner
- Edited By [Editing], Mixed By [Mixing], Producer [Produced By]
- John Newton
- Edited By [Editing], Mixed By [Mixing]
- Karl-August Naegler
- Edited By [Editing], Mixed By [Mixing]
- Wolf-Dieter Karwatki
- Edited By [Editing], Mixed By [Mixing]
- Paul Goodman
- Engineer [Recording Engineer]
- Robert Hurwitz
- Executive-Producer
- Jonathan Cott
- Liner Notes [Conversation]
- Jean Galiana
- Liner Notes [Translation By]
- Konstanze Streese
- Liner Notes [Translation By]
- Robert C. Ludwig
- Mastered By [Mastering]
- Robert Becker
- Percussion [Principal]
- Garry Kvistad
- Percussion [Principal]
- Glen Velez
- Percussion [Principal]
- Russell Hartenberger
- Percussion [Principal]
- Colorado Quartet
- Performer
- Steve Reich And Musicians
- Performer
- The Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra
- Performer [Members Of]
- Deborah Feingold
- Photography By
- Benno Friedman
- Photography By [Cover Photo]
- Cheryl Bensman
- Soprano Vocals, Chorus Master [Choral Contractor]
- Donald Palma
- Strings [Principal], Bass
- Sharon Prater
- Strings [Principal], Cello
- Francesca Martin
- Strings [Principal], Viola
- Julie Rosenfeld
- Strings [Principal], Violin [Concertmistress]
- Deborah Redding
- Strings [Principal], Violin [Second]
- William Carlos Williams
- Text By
