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Date First Available ‏ : ‎ October 7, 2011
Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ ECM
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B005TBZVI6

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4.7 40 ratings

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Record Title: Steve Reich: Octet/Music for a Large Ensemble/Violin Phase, Label: ECM, Composer #1: Reich, # of Discs: 1 LP, Year: 1980.

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Paulie B.

After 35 Years, I've Never Tired of This.

Reviewed in the United States on August 16, 2016

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I found this in the Avant Garde section of a record store one glorious Spring afternoon circa 1981 and found the opening track to be most conducive to the breezes that wafted through my room.
My beloved wife (ex) quipped that it would have been more aptly titled:
"New Year's Eve In A Madhouse".
(She really didn't understand me)

3 people found this helpful

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True Builder

Music as excellent as I expected, MP3 marred by Record Company Required Metadata

Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2013

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The music was as excellent as I had expected, except for the Violin Phase. I'm still gritting my teeth over that, but will probably come to like it eventually :).

Why I'm dissatisfied, why this review receives a two-star rather than a five-, is the inclusion of "Record Company Required Metadata" into the downloaded MP3.

It makes me feel mistrusted, that ECM Records is going the absolute minimum to make a sale. We're well past that sort of behavior industry-wide. In general, if people are trusted, they'll live up to that trust (and the others will of course entirely ignore it anyway). Indeed, if I wanted a RCRM-free set of MP3s, I'd just rip them myself, but it's not that important to me; what is important is recognizing records companies who Just Don't Get It.

So I plan to purchase rather more freely for download from those who exhibit trust (_e.g._ The So Flows Sessions ), and rather less freely from those who don't.

One person found this helpful

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Russell J. Weston

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States on November 8, 2016

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Well worth having, on multiple levels.

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meteordude

Some of Reich's best works

Reviewed in the United States on July 29, 2005

Octet and Music for a Large Ensemble are two of my favorite Steve reich works. Octet has lots of low winds and piano, giving it a lot of charm and textural warmth. Music for a Large Ensemble has more of an urgent feel, more of a piercing texture at times, and is also a beautiful piece (one of his best, I think). If you like Reich's earlier style, along the lines of Music for Eighteen Musicians, you will probably like these - Violin Phase is more of a novelty to me, as I am more drawn to Steve's pieces that have more harmonic motion (like the other two I just mentioned). If you've never heard Steve Reich, this disk would be a fine start, offering great recordings of two complex, somewhat epic pieces, and a sample of his earliest style (phasing by manipulating tape speeds)

13 people found this helpful

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Michael

...and they told Mozart he used too many notes!

Reviewed in the United States on March 26, 2002

Upon starting the journey into this volume of work, keep in mind that there is a lot to listen for and all of it is soothing yet extremely busy. "Music For A Lage Ensemble" is in four sections, each of which is marked by a key change. The interwoven contrapuntal lines never cease until the music suddenly stops. "Violin Phase" is a great multi-faceted phase piece, unlike his 2-part phases of the previous years, and exploits the remarkable talents of Shem Guibbory. However, it is the "Octet" that takes the prize on this collection, or any other for that matter. You are immediately immersed in a cascading waterfall of pianos over a still stream of sustained strings. The virtuosity needed for the pianists to perform this work is astounding. You only need to look at the cover to see that. The cover of this album is the final ten bars of "Octet." The tempo is MM=204. Then try to play it that speed. The pianists Edmund Niemann and Nurit Tilles endure similar patterns continuously for the entire 17:30 of the piece. The piece ends with a web of pianos, flute and piccolo lines over still sustained strings that leaves the listener very satisfied. All of the music on this record makes you feel happy with your life for the time being. Listen and you will know for yourself.

8 people found this helpful

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Jonny B

Classic Reich...

Reviewed in the United States on May 19, 2004

Different Trains? Nah, this is the groundbreaking work that has given Reich such a cutting edge in the world of 20th century music. The pure tonal palette that he achieves with the 30 plus ensemble in the self titled is incredible, and the complexity and busyness of the 4 part phase shifting of Violin Phase is not to be missed. Octet was a step forward showing his growing interest in complex melodies, and was certainly another evolution in his writing style. If you ever want to collect some beautiful music, this would be a good starting point.

10 people found this helpful

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Paul Minot

Good music marred by bad production

Reviewed in the United States on October 23, 2009

Like others here I enjoyed the composition of "Music for Large Ensemble", and "Octet". ("Violin Phase" I can do without.) But Manfred Eicher's production is intrusive and of questionable taste, with an overabundance of 70s-era reverb that sounds gimmicky and at times shrill. (Especially on the piccolo part--ouch!!!) The mastering does little to help, with a remarkably weak low end.

This deficiency was particularly obvious after I bought the "Phases" box set (terrific bargain, BTW!) and heard Bang on a Can's recording of "Eight Lines", which is "Octet" retitled. It was gorgeously produced, and I have had absolutely no inclination to revisit this recording since. I look forward to buying an alternate version of "Music for Large Ensemble" in the future. In the meantime, I recommend that prospective purchasers of this CD consider other options.

5 people found this helpful

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Casey Plante

Minimilism at its best

Reviewed in the United States on June 13, 2000

This cd was the first cd to introduce me to Reich's compositional style. Little did I know how minimalism could be so exciting. The Music for a Large Ensemble uses a great pallete of tone color to pull the listener in. The Violin Phase is one of my favorites. The different harmonic and melodic patterns that are created through the phasing of the instruments is amazing. The only reason I give it four starts is because the versions of the recordings are somewhat short. To really get a feel for the music and to better experience what Reich is trying to do, I would suggest listening to longer recordings. Music for a Large Ensemble is available in much longer versions. Octet and Violin Phase are much harder to find, so I would definitely recommend this cd for those works.

4 people found this helpful

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J. McDonald 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Reich: Octet; Music for a Large Ensemble; Violin Phase.

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 3, 2021

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Three classic works by Steve Reich; this ECM release was the debut recording for “Music For Large Ensemble”, the opening piece on this album and a most impressive thing it is too, with some 30 musicians performing.
The earlier work, and second piece on the disc is “Violin Phase” performed by Shem Guibbory on violin with 3 tape recorders.
The version of “Octet” on this album appears to be the original work – it was later withdrawn in favour of a re-scored version entitled “Eight Lines” with additional instruments to make it easier to perform, though it remains technically an octet.
This is quite an important recording in Reich's discography and a very enjoyable album if one appreciates his particular minimalist oeuvre.
The CD has a playing time of 48.29 minutes; go to the mp3 download page for sound samples.

One person found this helpful

smartyfun

Reich reverberating and phasing his music in style

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 19, 2016

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This album consists of 3 pieces composed by Steve Reich. The earliest composition was Violin Phase (1967) and this is played by a solo violinist. The performer, in this case Shem Guibbory, plays to the accompaniment of 3 pre-recorded tapes of himself. The resulting music consists of the shifting phases of sound between the performer and taped music and is typical of the early Reich minimalist style. It is either hypnotic and meditative or soporific and annoying depending on your listening ear.

The other two pieces were composed in the late 1970's. Both include phasing in their construction, but the resulting music is much richer and complex because there are more instruments with a variety of colours involved.

Music for Large Ensemble was composed in 1978 and subsequently revised in 1980 by shortening it and increasing the tempo. It was originally based on Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ together with Music for 18 Musicians . This recording is the revised version and is typical in character to much of Reich's later works.

Octet was composed in 1979. It is a similar piece to Music for Large Ensemble as both consist of five sections. But Octet has a more contiguous sound as the sections blend and merge together.

This album is an interesting collection of compositions by Reich at the point when he was leaving his early experimental stage, with tape loops, and finding his voice with groups of musicians. But fundamentally, it is great music to listen to.

5 people found this helpful

Stephen

Stunning mesmeric music

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 8, 2020

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Stunning music. Had this as an LP in tbe 80s and just rediscovering it. Glass at his best. The Violin Phase is endlessly hypnotic.

lennon103

Octet / Music for a Large Ensemble / Violin Phase

Reviewed in Japan on February 21, 2021

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輸入盤CDを入手した。ドイツ製とのことだが、ありがたいことに解説は英語である。以下はその抄訳。

スティーヴ・ライヒは1936年にニューヨークで生まれている。子供の頃にピアノやドラムを勉強した。コーネル大学（哲学を専攻）を卒業している。その後、ジュリアードなどで作曲を学んでいる。1970年の夏にはガーナ大学でアフリカン・ドラミングを学んでいる。1973年と1974年にはガムランを学んでいる。1976年から1977年にかけてはヘブライ語聖書の詠唱（cantillation）を学んでいる。

“Music for a Large Ensemble”は1978年の作品。30人による演奏。楽器構成は、マリンバ、ヴィブラフォーン、ピアノ、ヴィオラ、チェロ、ベース、クラリネット、フルート、ソプラノ・サックス、トランペット（４人）など。

“Violin Phase”は1967年の作品。ヴァイオリン１人だが、多重録音。

“Octet”は1979年の作品。タイトル通り８人の演奏で、ピアノ、クラリネット、フルート、ピッコロ、ヴァイオリン、ヴィオラ、チェロの構成。

全体的に前述の研究の成果が現れている。機械のように正確な演奏である。不思議な音楽である。

（付記）私は、2021年2月16日に「国際音楽祭NIPPON2020 諏訪内晶子　室内楽プロジェクト」（紀尾井ホール）を観に行った。なお、本当は昨年開催される予定だったので2020なのである。

そのうちの１曲が“Violin Phase”だった。諏訪内晶子がヴァイオリン。気に入ったのでCDを探したら本作が見つかったので購入した。

2 people found this helpful

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roccoschiavone48

Perfect minimalism

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 4, 2019

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Basically bought CD for Reich: Music for a Large Ensemble which had been performed early October at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall. Typical Steve Reich. If you like minimalism, this CD is a "must buy."

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Steve Reich: Octet; Music for a Large Ensemble; Violin Phase

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