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Terry Riley

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
For the British deaf rights activist and broadcaster, seeTerry Riley (broadcaster).
Not to be confused withTeddy Riley.
Terry Riley
Riley in 2017
Riley in 2017
Background information
Birth nameTerrence Mitchell Riley
Born(1935-06-24)June 24, 1935(age 89)
Colfax, California,US
GenresMinimalism,avant-garde,tape,electronic,microtonal,classical
InstrumentsElectric organ,tape machine,saxophone,keyboards,synthesizer,piano,tambura
Years active1950s–present
Formerly ofTheatre of Eternal Music
Websiteterryriley.netEdit this at Wikidata

Terrence Mitchell "Terry" Riley(born June 24, 1935) is an American composer and performing musician[1]best known as a pioneer of theminimalistschool of composition.[2]Influenced byjazzandIndian classical music,his work became notable for its innovative use ofrepetition,tape musictechniques,improvisation,anddelay systems.[2]His best known works are the 1964 compositionIn Cand the 1969 albumA Rainbow in Curved Air,both considered landmarks of minimalism and important influences onexperimental music,rock,and contemporaryelectronic music.[2]Subsequent works such asShri Camel(1980) exploredjust intonation.[2]

Raised in Redding, California, Riley began studyingcompositionand performing solo piano in the 1950s. He befriended and collaborated with composerLa Monte Young,and later became involved with both theSan Francisco Tape Music Centerand Young's New York collective, theTheatre of Eternal Music.A three-record deal withCBSin the late 1960s brought his work to wider audiences. In 1970, he began intensive studies underHindustanisingerPandit Pran Nath,whom he often accompanied in performance. He has collaborated frequently throughout his career, most extensively withchamber ensembletheKronos Quartetand his son, guitaristGyan Riley.[2]

Life[edit]

Riley was born inColfax, Californiaon June 24, 1935,[2]and grew up inRedding, California.[3]In the 1950s, he began performing as a solo pianist and studied composition atSan Francisco State University,theSan Francisco Conservatory,and theUniversity of California, Berkeley,studying withSeymour ShifrinandRobert Erickson.He befriended composerLa Monte Young,whose earliestminimalistcompositions using sustained tones were an influence; together, Young and Riley performed Riley's improvisatory compositionConcert for Two Pianists and Tape Recordersin 1959–60.[4]Riley later became involved in the experimentalSan Francisco Tape Music Center,working withMorton Subotnick,Steve Reich,Pauline Oliveros,andRamon Sender.Throughout the 1960s, he also traveled frequently in Europe, taking in musical influences and supporting himself by playing inpiano bars.He also performed briefly with theTheatre of Eternal Musicin New York in 1965-1966.

His most influential teacher wasPandit Pran Nath(1918–1996), a master of Indian classical voice who also taught La Monte Young,Marian Zazeela,andMichael Harrison.Riley made numerous trips to India over the course of their association to study and accompany him ontabla,tambura,and voice. In 1971 he joined theMills Collegefaculty to teach Indian classical music. Riley also citesJohn Cageand "the really greatchamber musicgroups ofJohn ColtraneandMiles Davis,Charles Mingus,Bill Evans,andGil Evans"as influences on his work.[5]He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Music atChapman Universityin 2007.

Riley began his long-lasting association with theKronos Quartetwhen he met their founderDavid Harringtonwhile at Mills. Throughout his career, Riley composed 13string quartetsfor the ensemble, in addition to other works. He wrote his first orchestral piece,Jade Palace,in 1991, and has continued to pursue that avenue, with several commissioned orchestral compositions following. He is also currently performing and teaching both as an Indianragavocalist and as a solo pianist.

Riley continues to perform live, and was part of theAll Tomorrow's Partiesfestival in May 2011.[6]

Riley at theGreat American Music Hall,San Francisco, 1985

Techniques[edit]

Riley's music is usually based on improvising through a series ofmodalfigures ofdifferent lengths.Works such asIn C(1964) and theKeyboard Studies(1964–1966) demonstrate this technique. The first performance ofIn Cwas given bySteve Reich,Jon Gibson,Pauline OliverosandMorton Subotnick.Its form was an innovation: The piece consists of 53 separate modules of roughly one measure apiece, each containing a different musical pattern but each, as the title implies, in the key of C.[7]One performer beats a steady pulse ofCs on the piano to keep tempo. The others, in any number and on any instrument, perform these musical modules following a few loose guidelines, with the different musical modules interlocking in various ways as time goes on.

In the 1950s Riley was already working withtape loops,a technology still in its infancy at the time; he would later, with the help of a sound engineer, create what he called a "time-lag accumulator".[8]He has continued manipulating tapes to musical effect, in the studio and in live performances throughout his career. An early tape loop piece titledMusic for the Gift(1963) featured the trumpet playing ofChet Baker.It was during Riley's time in Paris, while composing this piece, that he conceived of and created the time-lag accumulator technique.[8]Premiered in 1968 in the Magic Theatre Exhibition at the Nelson Atkins Gallery inKansas City,[9]a new version of the installation was commissioned three decades later byLille 2004-European Capital of Cultureand purchased by theMuseum of Contemporary Art of Lyon.A third version was built and presented by the Schauspielhaus inBochumin 2019. He has composed usingjust intonationas well asmicrotones.[10]In New York City in the mid-1960s he played with his longtime friend La Monte Young, as well as withJohn Caleand tabla playerAngus MacLise,who were founding members ofThe Velvet Underground.Riley is credited as inspiring Cale's keyboard part onLou Reed's composition "All Tomorrow's Parties",which was sung by German actressNicoand included on the albumThe Velvet Underground and Nico,recorded in 1966.

Riley's famous overdubbed electronic albumA Rainbow in Curved Air(recorded 1968, released 1969) inspired many later developments in electronic music. These includePete Townshend'sorganparts onThe Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again"and"Baba O'Riley",the latter named in tribute to Riley as well as toMeher Baba.[11]Charles Hazlewood,in his BBC documentary on Minimalism (Part 1) suggests that the album 'Tubular Bells' byMike Oldfieldwas also inspired by Riley's example.[12]The English progressive rock group Curved Air, formed in 1970, took its name from the album.

Riley performing in 2018

Riley's collaborators have included theRova Saxophone Quartet,Pauline Oliveros,theARTE Quartett,and, as mentioned, the Kronos Quartet. His 1995Lisbon Concertrecording features him in a solo piano format, improvising on his own works. In the liner notes Riley citesArt Tatum,Bud PowellandBill Evansas his piano "heroes", illustrating the importance of jazz to his conceptions.

Personal life[edit]

He has three children: one daughter, Colleen,[13]and two sons,Gyan,who is a guitarist, and Shahn.[14]He was married to Ann Riley until her death in 2015.[15]

Discography[edit]

  • 1963:Music for The Gift(Organ of Corti 1, 1963)
  • 1965:Reed Streams,Mass Art Inc. M-131
  • 1967:You're No Good,recorded in 1967 but unreleased until 2000[16](Cortical Foundation / Organ of Corti, 2000)[17]
  • 1968:Germ,withGérard Frémy& Martine Joste (Spalax CD 14542, 1998). Includes aPierre Mariétantrack.
  • 1968:In C,Columbia MS7178
  • 1969:A Rainbow in Curved Air,CBS 64564
  • 1971:Church of Anthrax,withJohn Cale(CBS)
  • 1972:Happy Ending(soundtrack toJoël Santoni's filmLes Yeux Fermés), Warner Bros. Records France 46125;Les Yeux Fermés& Lifespan,for solo electric organ; two soundtracks (2007 reissue)
  • 1972:Persian Surgery Dervishes,Shanti 83502
  • 1975:Le Secret de la Vie(Lifespanfilm soundtrack), Philips France 9120 037
  • 1975:Descending Moonshine Dervishes,Kuckuck Records
  • 1980:Shri Camel,CBS Masterworks M3519, for solo electronic organ tuned in just intonation and modified by digital delay[18]
  • 1983:Songs for the Ten Voices of the Two Prophets,for two Prophet 5 synthesisers, Kuckuck Records
  • 1984:Terry Riley: Cadenza on the Night Plain,a collaboration with theKronos Quartet[19]
  • 1984:Terry Riley and Krishna Bhatt: Terry Riley and Krishna Bhatt Duo,a collaboration withKrishna Bhatt
  • 1985:No Man's Land
  • 1986:The Harp of New Albion,for piano tuned injust intonation[20]
  • 1987:Chanting the Light of Foresight,withRova Saxophone Quartetin just intonation[21]
  • 1989:Salome Dances for Peace,for the Kronos Quartet[22]
  • 1995:In C – 25th Anniversary Concert,version featuring Riley as one of four vocalists, recorded live January 14, 1990, San Francisco, New Albion Records
  • 1995:Lisbon Concert,solo piano concert, recorded live July 16, 1995 Festival dos Capuchos, Teatro São Luis, Lisbon, Portugal., New Albion Records
  • 1997:Lazy Afternoon Among the Crocodiles,experimental album recorded with contrabassistStefano Scodanibbio.[23]
  • 1998: Piano Music of John Adams and Terry Riley, performed byGloria Cheng[24]
  • 1999: The Book of Abbeyozzud
  • 2001:Moscow ConservatorySolo Piano Concert,recording of a live performance on 18 April 2000
  • 2001:Terry Riley: Requiem for Adam,with Riley's tribute to the son ofDavid Harringtonperformed by the Kronos quartet, and a solo piano improvisation by Riley
  • 2002:Atlantis Nath,hand-numbered signed edition of 1000 copies[25]
  • 2003:Cantos Desiertos(Naxos)
  • 2004:I Like Your Eyes Liberty,duets with Terry Riley, piano andMichael McClure,poetry (Sri Moonshine Music)
  • 2004:The Cusp of Magic,with theKronos Quartet,composed for his seventieth birthday, an ode to the rite ofMidsummerEve[26]
  • 2005:Diamond Fiddle Languageduets with Stefano Scodanibbio, bass (Wergo)
  • 2005:Assassin Reverie,Arte Quartett, saxophone qt. (New World Records)
  • 2008:Banana Humberto,piano concerto withPaul DresherEnsemble[27]
  • 2008:The Last Camel in Paris,live solo electric organ performance in Paris, 1978[28]
  • 2010:Two Early Works,the first-ever recordings of two of Riley's early compositions, performed by the Calder Quartet
  • 2010:Autodreamographical Tales(Tzadik Records)
  • 2011:Keyboard Studies Nos. 1 and 2 / Tread on the Trail(Stradivarius)
  • 2012:Aleph(Tzadik Records)
  • 2015:ZOFO Plays Terry Riley,ZOFO piano duo (Sono Luminus)
  • 2015:One Earth, One People, One Love: Kronos Plays Terry Riley,Kronos Quartet (Nonesuch Records)
  • 2015:Music Of Terry Riley – Sunrise Of The Planetary Dream Collector,Kronos Quartet (Nonesuch Records)
  • 2019:Sun Rings,Kronos Quartet (Nonesuch)
  • 2019:The Lion's Throne,with singer Amelia Cuni, recorded live (Sri Moonshine Music, SMM008)
  • 2019:Archangels,with conductor Julian Wachner, Trinity Choir, Novus Cellos (National Sawdust Tracks)
  • 2021:Zephyr,Francesco D'Orazio, violin
  • 2022:Autodreamographical Tales,transcriptions and arrangements for the Bang on a Can All-Stars (Cantaloupe Music)
  • 2022:Keyboard Studies,John Tilbury(Another Timbre)
  • 2022:Organum for Stefano,Terry Riley pipe organ, voice. Basilica di Santa Maria dei Servi, Bologna, Italy, May 7, 2013. (i dischi di angelica)
  • 2022:The Sands,James Feddeck, Cleveland Orchestra (CMA Recorded Archive Editions)
  • 2023:Standard(S)and: Kobuchizawa Sessions #1(Star/Rainbow Records)

Filmography[edit]

  • 1970:Corridor.Film byStandish Lawder.
  • 1975:Lifespan.Film by Alexander Whitelaw feat. Klaus Kinski, Tina Aumont and Hiram Keller. Soundtrack released asLe secret de la viein France, on Philips LP 9120 037 (1975).
  • 1976:Crossroads.Film byBruce Conner.
  • 1976:Music with Roots in the Aether: Opera for Television.Tape 6: Terry Riley. Produced and directed byRobert Ashley.New York, New York: Lovely Music.
  • 1986:In Between the Notes...a Portrait of Pandit Pran Nath, Master Indian Musician.Produced byOther Minds,directed byWilliam Farley.
  • 1995:Musical Outsiders: An American Legacy – Harry Partch, Lou Harrison, and Terry Riley.Directed by Michael Blackwood.
  • 2008: "A Rainbow in Curved Air" features in the in-game soundtrack ofGrand Theft Auto IV.It can be found when listening to the fictional radio station, "The Journey".
  • 2017:Hochelaga, Land of Souls.Film by François Girard.

References[edit]

  1. ^Hooper, Greg (June–July 2006)."Hear and now: Terry Riley in Australia".RealTime(73). Australia: 33.
  2. ^abcdefAnkeny, Jason."Biography".AllMusic.Retrieved16 October2017.
  3. ^Christman, Laura (June 19, 2013)."Back to his roots: Music pioneer Terry Riley returns for Redding concert".Redding Record Searchlight.Archivedfrom the original on September 3, 2023.RetrievedSeptember 4,2023.
  4. ^Young, La Monte."Notes on The Theatre of Eternal Music and The Tortoise, His Dreams and Journeys"(PDF).MELA Foundation.Retrieved28 July2020.
  5. ^"Like a Rainbow in Curved Air: Terry Riley".Bluefat.com.
  6. ^"The 10 Best Moments Of All Tomorrow's Parties".Spin.16 May 2011.
  7. ^Honigmann, David."In C, Barbican, London – review".Financial Times.Retrieved28 August2016.
  8. ^abMeigh-Andrews, Chris (2006).A History of Video Art.New York, NY and Oxford, UK: Berg (Oxford International Publishers). pp.94–95.ISBN978-1-84520-219-4.
  9. ^Smith, Geoff; Walker-Smith, Nicola; Ward, Phil (March 1993)."20th Century Americans - Terry Riley (MT Mar 1993)".Music Technology(Mar 1993): 78–84.
  10. ^Holmes, Thomas B.Electronic and Experimental Music,Taylor & Francis (2008). pp. 132, 362.ISBN978-0-415-95781-6.
  11. ^This album also produced the name of psychedelic bandCurved Air. The Who (2002).The Who: The Ultimate Collection(Media notes). MCA Records. p. 12.
  12. ^Hazlewood, Charles."Tones, Drones and Arpeggios: The Magic of Minimalism".BBC Website.Retrieved13 March2018.
  13. ^Collins, Dan (November 19, 2009)."Terry Riley: Droning Dark Darkness".L.A. Record.
  14. ^"Terry And Gyan Riley: Together IN C".Npr.org.
  15. ^Hersh, Howard (10 January 1993)."A Composer on the Edge: Minimalist Terry Riley, on a journey of spiritual and artistic discovery, is deeply moved by the concept of artist-as-madman"– via LA Times.
  16. ^O'Neal, Sean (12 August 2015)."Terry Riley turns an R&B ditty into 20 minutes of madness".Avclub.com.Retrieved26 April2017.
  17. ^"Terry Riley Discography".AllMusic.Retrieved26 April2017.
  18. ^"Shri Camel – Terry Riley | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  19. ^"Terry Riley: Cadenza on the Night Plain – Kronos Quartet, Terry Riley | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  20. ^"The Harp of New Albion – Terry Riley | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  21. ^"Terry Riley: Chanting the Light of Foresight – Rova Saxophone Quartet | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  22. ^"Salome Dances for Peace – Kronos Quartet | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  23. ^"Stefano Scodanibbio – Discography".
  24. ^"Piano Music of John Adams & Terry Riley – Gloria Cheng | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  25. ^"Atlantis Nath – Terry Riley | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  26. ^"The Cusp of Magic – Kronos Quartet | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  27. ^"Banana Humberto – Terry Riley | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.
  28. ^"Terry Riley: The Last Camel in Paris – Terry Riley | Songs, Reviews, Credits".AllMusic.

Further reading[edit]

  • [Anonymous] (2002). Album notes forThe Who: The Ultimate Collection by The Who,12. MCA Records.
  • Carl, Robert.2009.Terry Riley's in C.Oxford University Press.ISBN978-0-19-532528-7
  • Meigh-Andrews, Chris, 2006.A History of Video Art.
  • Potter, Keith (2000).Four Musical Minimalists: La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass.Music in the Twentieth Century series. Cambridge; New York: Cambridge University Press.
  • Strickland, Edward. "Terry Riley".Grove MusicOnline(subscription access)(Archived2008-05-16 at theWayback Machine).

External links[edit]

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