Terry Riley – Piano Recital. An NCPA Presentation
Terry Riley’s career as a composer and solo pianist spans a period of 50 years since the time he was a Master of Music candidate at the University of California. Back then, he gave concerts with his colleagues, La Monte Young, David Del Tredici and Pauline Oliveros. Over the years, he has performed all over the world and also issued CDs of his piano music.
Riley has learnt Indian classical music from the great kirana master, Pran Nath, and accompanied him in many concerts till his demise in 1996. He is a prolific composer having written in virtually every form including solo piano, a chamber opera, a triple concerto for two guitars and violin, two violin concertos, a piano concerto, works for choir and orchestra besides 23 works for string quartet, which include a string quartet concerto and a piano quintet. His seminal work IN C changed the course of western classical music in 1964, and introduced the style that was to be named Minimalism. IN C is arguably the most performed and famous piece of the latter part of the 20th century.
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Riley was named one of the 1,000 makers of the 20th century, by the The Times of London. His music is published exclusively by G. Schirmer. The event will include works spanning the past 34 years:
Baby’s Song (2001) was written for the play Josephine, the Mouse Singer by Michael McClure.
The Bull (2008) is an arrangement for piano of a work originally written for the massive organ at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, and was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
Simply M.. (2007) was written in memory of Margaret Lyon, who was the chairman of the Mills College, California) music department and who always encouraged Riley to compose.
Song from the Old Country (1979) is a work commissioned by the Kronos String Quartet.
I Like Your Eyes, Liberty (2003) is a piece in three sections played without pause and rotating in rondo fashion.
Requiem for Wally (1989) was written in memory of Riley’s ragtime piano mentor, Wally Rose, one of the great masters of the ragtime style. This work combines elements of ‘Ragtime’ with sections built on the Raga Nat Bhairav. Much of the ragtime pattern in Requiem.. is in 7/4 instead of the traditional 4/4 meter.
Salome Dances for Peace (1985-87) is a cycle of five string quartets and was also commissioned by the Kronos quartet. Riley subsequently adapted the materials for solo piano.
The Shape of Flames (2008) was commissioned by the Los Angeles Philharmonic for a solo organ concert at Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in 2008. Riley will play an adapted piano version at the NCPA.
