Structure of "Music for 18 Musicians" by Steve Reich (visualization)

Sdílet
Vložit
  • čas přidán 2. 07. 2023
  • Small Dots Ensemble plays "Music for 18 Musicians" composed by Steve Reich in 1976.
    Although I used my own interpretation on this visualization, I referred heavily to the analysis of the famous dissertation by Marc Mellits.
    Hope you enjoy the differences between each sections.
    The text quoted at the ending is a part of "Hojoki, Visions of a Torn World" by Kamo-no Chomei (1155-1216), Japanese Buddhist monk contemporary with Pérotin who Reich mentions in the composer's note for Music for 18 Musicians. I was constantly reminded of this sentence while creating this video.
    #SteveReich
    #MusicFor18Musicians
    ---
    Please subscribe this channel if you like.
    works in progress here...
    / @smalldotsensemble2058
    ---
    Please give a DONATION for my creative activities.
    Send me Super Thanks or send Amazon eGift Certificate to smalldotsensemble@gmail.com.
    Any amount will please me. I would appreciate your support.
    www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/59_JP_E...
    ---
  • Hudba

Komentáře • 116

  • @geoffroyclop
    @geoffroyclop Před 11 měsíci +87

    You should be paid for this, this is culturally important no bullshit.
    I can’t tell you how much easier it is to understand what’s going on, I’m more of a visual person and having every note appear on time and laying that harmonically on each others makes me appreciate the effort put into creating and performing this masterpiece so much more.
    And it’s so visually pleasing

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 11 měsíci +9

      Thank you so much. Your comment cheered me up.

    • @stvp68
      @stvp68 Před 5 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 i wondered if you ever work with outside composers-this is like its own cross-disciplinary artform in its own right

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 5 měsíci +1

      ​@@stvp68 I had several offers, but they did not materialize due to cost. It takes too long to make.

  • @The_CGA
    @The_CGA Před 2 měsíci +6

    This feels like a shortcut to the synesthesia I wrought inside my brain through countless hours of bus commuting with this piece, and I’m glad for it, better chance more folks can experience the beauty of it-it’s like a Holodeck Program, a whole pocket universe with its own physical laws and natural beauty and weather patterns.

  • @dewdperson767
    @dewdperson767 Před rokem +31

    0:00 Title
    0:10 Parts and instrument setup
    0:30 Pulses I
    5:22 Section I
    9:04 Section II
    12:48 Section IIIA
    16:17 Section IIIB
    19:43 Section IV
    24:56 Section V
    29:34 Section VI
    34:05 Section VII
    37:47 Section VIII
    41:25 Section IX
    45:39 Section X
    46:39 Section XI
    51:08 Pulses II
    54:23 Quote from "Hojoki, Visions of a Torn World" by Kamo-no Chomei
    55:30 End

  • @pspgoman9934
    @pspgoman9934 Před rokem +23

    This rules so hard.

  • @lucaviggiani2189
    @lucaviggiani2189 Před 6 měsíci +4

    Having loved this music for many years, I can’t tell you how much this meant to me. I was lucky enough to see Steve in London performing this at the Royal Festival Hall, years ago with my late mother. Superb composer. I could listen to part V on a loop forever.

  • @gustavograffe5146
    @gustavograffe5146 Před 3 měsíci +4

    The creator of this video deserves a ticket to Saturn. I only hope that Steve Reich himself know about this extraordinary work. Congrats!

  • @Flaaroni
    @Flaaroni Před 2 měsíci +2

    Thanks for making this, I feel like I understand this piece way more now. I'd kill to see a visualizer for Electric Counterpoint

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 2 měsíci

      Thanks for watching.
      Electric Counterpoint is in the making and I want to finish it.

  • @jcwdog
    @jcwdog Před rokem +17

    This is amazing!!! Thank you so much for doing this piece. You have made me so very happy.

  • @matthewjohnwilliam498
    @matthewjohnwilliam498 Před 9 měsíci +8

    Excellent work - you clearly have a depth of understanding of this magnificent piece of music!

  • @ironmaz1
    @ironmaz1 Před 9 měsíci +6

    this is a blessing from God. You have brought me great joy through your efforts!

  • @shun6240
    @shun6240 Před 10 měsíci +6

    I’m glad to listen to and watch your high-quality video again! (from Japan)

  • @HectorRodriguez-music
    @HectorRodriguez-music Před 11 měsíci +10

    Hi there! I want to congratulate on this excellent electronic rendition of "18"! I've been hearing this work since 2016 when I discovered it (that's 8 years now!). The visualization helps a lot on what's going on and kudos for that! Having said that, I found a few things in this version:
    1. Section 9: Piano 4 player 1 was playing the pattern an octave higher, when it should be lower (bass clef). On Section 10 is when it goes higher
    2. Section 1: On the clarinets pulses in mid section ("Pulse A B A B"), I would've let the pulses a little bit longer to make the swelling more effective (a perfect example of this is on the original ECM recording). This also can be applied on all instruments that pulses in mid sections during these Sections.
    3. Section 8: You nailed the atmospherical/ethereal sound in this section! Most electronic versions don’t arrive at this type of sound, but you did! 👏👏👏 (this section sounded very similar as Ensemble Modern with Synergy Vocals’ performance in Tokyo, Japan on 2008)
    These are my observations based on your interpretation/rendition. Once again, bravo on this rendition of “18”! I hope to see more of Steve Reich in this channel! You have my subscription! 😄
    - A fellow Steve Reich fan 🙂
    P.S.: the maracas on Sections 6-8 sounds phenomenal! 👌

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 11 měsíci +2

      Thanks for your candid feedback.
      I did not notice the mistake in Section IX. I regret it!
      I hope you enjoy the other pieces on my channel.

    • @HectorRodriguez-music
      @HectorRodriguez-music Před 11 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058No worries my friend! You did the best you could! After all, transcribing a non stop hour long piece is VERY daunting 😅 Hopefully to see your full rendition of Drumming! 👍🙂

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 11 měsíci +1

      Thank you so much!

  • @joaoguerreiro52
    @joaoguerreiro52 Před rokem +6

    That's some godlike work, take my like!

  • @PedestrianBridge-vr5hm
    @PedestrianBridge-vr5hm Před rokem +6

    Finally, you've done it!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před rokem

      I think there is still room for improvement, though...
      Please give me your opinion.

  • @matekon2
    @matekon2 Před rokem +9

    This video is a gem!

  • @amadeus5889
    @amadeus5889 Před 3 měsíci +1

    This is absolutely mesmerizing. Feels like I’m hurtling through the Star Gate.

  • @kevansmith5511
    @kevansmith5511 Před 2 měsíci +1

    thank you from the universe

  • @donjuanpond1
    @donjuanpond1 Před měsícem

    listening / watching while sick is a very nice experience

  • @PugCuber
    @PugCuber Před rokem +6

    welcome back!

  • @darylcumming7119
    @darylcumming7119 Před 2 měsíci +1

    Congratulations on this interpretation. 😊

  • @dominikwab9612
    @dominikwab9612 Před 11 měsíci +2

    Spellbinding! When I start watching this video I just can't stop ':P

  • @BassamAbusamra
    @BassamAbusamra Před rokem +4

    Masterpiece ✨✨✨ thank you so much ❤❤❤

  • @jiafeiskinnyproducts
    @jiafeiskinnyproducts Před rokem +4

    YOU'RE BACK!! AYYY

  • @alexandermacaulay7421
    @alexandermacaulay7421 Před 8 měsíci +1

    Your videos are absolutely amazing! Thanks so much for sharing them. I’ll be enjoying these for years 😊

  • @Cocacolito
    @Cocacolito Před měsícem

    pure gold

  • @ThereThere56
    @ThereThere56 Před 9 měsíci

    How beautiful it is, amazing!

  • @kaylaalicia5679
    @kaylaalicia5679 Před 7 měsíci +3

    This is so freaking beautiful.

  • @TheRdgrdg
    @TheRdgrdg Před 5 měsíci

    Fantastic! 🙏🏼

  • @jwbarna
    @jwbarna Před 12 dny

    Thanks!

  • @VenetianSnus
    @VenetianSnus Před 2 měsíci +1

    Oh my. Amazing, and also I was going to request you also do Eight Lines, only to see that you already have! Ty!!

  • @mathemusique
    @mathemusique Před 11 měsíci +2

    Amazing work!!! :)

  • @AMAsix-pw4yu
    @AMAsix-pw4yu Před rokem +3

    Beautiful as always. I am so pleased to see you're back!

    • @AMAsix-pw4yu
      @AMAsix-pw4yu Před rokem +1

      The way you laid out the arch-forms, in particular, is really a blessing!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před rokem

      Thanks always. I had a hard time visualizing the structure of the piece.

  • @fburton8
    @fburton8 Před rokem +6

    What a joy, and such insights! This is just so lovely.

  • @yzu_
    @yzu_ Před 5 měsíci +2

    This is similar to how I experience sound to shape synesthesia.

  • @Atom.-md6xk
    @Atom.-md6xk Před 2 měsíci +1

    Hey ! That's litterally incredible, It really helps to understand what's going on ! I love it !
    How do you make these (the visualization part) ?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 2 měsíci

      Thank you for enjoying!
      I made this with the music score, Adobe AfterEffects and a bit of passion.😊

    • @Atom.-md6xk
      @Atom.-md6xk Před 2 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 That's amazing that you're posting these for free, I feel like I should have paid to see this. Don't stop, that's amazingly good !

  • @isaiahisbored
    @isaiahisbored Před 8 měsíci +1

    I can’t believe only this little amount of views for such a great effort of visualisation

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 8 měsíci

      Thanks. I don't know how to get more views. Give me some advises if you have.

    • @VenetianSnus
      @VenetianSnus Před 2 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058Change the title to “Composer DESTROYS minimalism”. 😆
      Jk but sincerely great video and rendition Ty.

  • @twiglet2214
    @twiglet2214 Před 8 měsíci

    This is extraordinary - i came across this piece on a BBC documentary - Tones Drones and Arpeggios The Magic of Minimalism ( Charles Hazlewood ) and it led me here and it's magnificent - is this what synesthesia is like ?
    Synesthesia is when your brain routes sensory information through multiple unrelated senses, causing you to experience more than one sense simultaneously. Some examples include tasting words or linking colors to numbers and letters.
    It's like a whirlpool that draws you in deeper and deeper and then gently lets you go......

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 8 měsíci

      Thank you for coming and watching this video.
      I will check the BBC docmentary.

  • @OIL_HAM
    @OIL_HAM Před rokem +2

    Small dots ensembleが帰って来たぞ!

  • @lucase.2546
    @lucase.2546 Před 5 měsíci +1

    Put this on the next Golden Record for Voyager

  • @Goran_D
    @Goran_D Před 10 měsíci +4

    I have been liste it to this piece for over 15 years and as a classically trained composer and musician who studied at the Conservatorium or music in Sydney I have never in my days come across something this detail on the piece. To be honest this goes on in my head because I can hear each instrument due to my training but for other people this is a great help.
    Did you do this from a midi file? If so can you message me please. I need to source a midi version for a project. Thank you for this masterpiece.

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 10 měsíci

      Thank you for watching!
      I'm afraid that I didn't use a midi file for this piece. Every single sound is assigned to each dot to adjust the timing.

    • @Goran_D
      @Goran_D Před 10 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 thanks for replying :) so was it a live recording? Or was it imported to a specific program for audio like pro tool or logic? I ask because the instruments sound a bit different to live recordings. Would love to know as I need the individual parts for réorchestration I’m working on.

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 10 měsíci +3

      I use the following method of creation.
      First, I prepare sound files for all pitches of each instrument used in the piece such as pf-c4.aif, vn-f#5.aif...
      Then, when I create the animation using Adobe AfterEffects, the sound files are applied to every single dot.
      See figure.
      ibb.co/LpnfMKZ
      The beige in the upper half is the dot and the blue in the lower half is the sound.
      This way, the dot and the sound are perfectly synchronized.
      In my visualization of Double Sextet and Well-Tempered Clavier, I used live recordings by professional performers, but with this method, I have to adjust the timing of each dot to the recording.
      You may find some unsynchronized dots in Well-Tempered Clavier.
      It is a dilemma because the musical quality will be poor and cannot please your ears with my method.
      Pardon my bad English.

    • @Goran_D
      @Goran_D Před 10 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 heheh English is perfect! No worries. I’m just not sure how to extract the individual instruments into aif files individually

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 10 měsíci

      I use an open-source MIDI sequencer like Aria Maestosa, sometimes sampling from CD's. The maracas sounds in Music for 18 Musicians are from Four Organs.

  • @TiagoSousaMusician
    @TiagoSousaMusician Před 9 měsíci

    uau!

  • @paulm8473
    @paulm8473 Před 10 měsíci +2

    I love this! So cool. As a huge fan of Reich, this being one of my favorites, how could I get a copy of that dissertation you mentioned? As a visual artist working in photography/video, I'd love to read it myself. Any help in this is greatly appreciated!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 10 měsíci +2

      Thank you for watching. I'm glad you enjoyed.
      The dissertation I mentioned is here.
      ecommons.cornell.edu/handle/1813/13529
      The second half of this dissertation is a discussion of "Music for 18 musicians".

    • @paulm8473
      @paulm8473 Před 10 měsíci +1

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 Thanks so much.

  • @user-vl7pq3ie3o
    @user-vl7pq3ie3o Před 6 měsíci +1

    I want to "see" Music For A Large Ensemble......

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 6 měsíci +1

      Thanks for watching.
      Music for a Large Ensemble is on my to-do list, so please look forward to it.

  • @2can2do
    @2can2do Před 6 měsíci +1

    Amazing. Is the music on the video your own performance or did you use a pre-existing recording for this?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 6 měsíci

      Thank you for watching. The music is my own composition. Pardon that it is not so good musically. ;-)

    • @ClaudioCaldini
      @ClaudioCaldini Před 2 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 I'm sorry, do you mean your own performance/interpretation? because "composition" it's supposed to be Steve Reich's. I wonder what it would have sounded like if synthetic, purely electronic sounds had been used instead of sampled instruments. Very interesting visualization, anyway

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 2 měsíci

      @@ClaudioCaldini Pardon my English.
      Steve Reich composed this and I played it using dots that have each sound.

  • @3Rlink
    @3Rlink Před 9 měsíci +1

    brain massage

  • @user-yv6xw7ns3o
    @user-yv6xw7ns3o Před 9 měsíci

    Very cool! How did you record/create this version of the music? MIDI?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 9 měsíci

      Thank you for watching!
      No MIDI used in this piece.
      Each sound is assigned to each dot note by note to synchronize with the appearance of the dots.

    • @user-yv6xw7ns3o
      @user-yv6xw7ns3o Před 9 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 Interesting, thanks for responding. Do you mean that you use software specifically designed to do that?

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 9 měsíci +1

      First, I prepare audio files for all pitches used in the piece, using the common MIDI sequencer.
      Then, imported them into the motion graphics software Adobe AfterEffects.

  • @subbyplayz6332
    @subbyplayz6332 Před 11 měsíci +2

    Drozdovsky train.

  • @stvp68
    @stvp68 Před 5 měsíci

    Took me a while to figure out the Roman numerals aren’t key areas 😅😅

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 5 měsíci +1

      Perhaps I should have added the word "section".

    • @stvp68
      @stvp68 Před 5 měsíci +1

      @@smalldotsensemble2058 It’s a really great visualization-once I understood all your notations onscreen, the structure of the piece became much easier to understand and appreciate! Thank you for this!

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 5 měsíci +1

      Thanks for watching too!

  • @hermask815
    @hermask815 Před 9 měsíci

    Who in this day and age has an attention span long enough for music like this?

  • @out1312
    @out1312 Před dnem

    jesus that's insane

  • @MoustiluigiRandom
    @MoustiluigiRandom Před 10 měsíci +1

    C'est FOU.

  • @jimmymack4079
    @jimmymack4079 Před 9 měsíci

    Oh dear. Where is the music in this farrago ? Horrible

    • @smalldotsensemble2058
      @smalldotsensemble2058  Před 9 měsíci

      I am sorry I could not show you the music as you wish.
      Give me some advise.

    • @casulukmc
      @casulukmc Před 3 měsíci

      @@smalldotsensemble2058nah bro’s just hating. Keep grinding we love your shit

  • @gregpidcock
    @gregpidcock Před 2 měsíci

    deserves more views