Phase Shifter

"Piano Phase" (1967)/ by Steve Reich & video by David Cossin... Steve Reich, as an early pioneer in tape music and American minimalism, has established himself as one of the foremost composers of our time. Following studies in philosophy Reich then turned to composition. His music is characterized by a strong, steady pulse and strictly diatonic and tonal harmonies. He is typically grouped together with other "first generation" minimalist composers such as Philip Glass and La Monte Young. His music is deeply "American" in its roots, with an unrelenting pulse and short, repeating melodic figures often compared to rock-and-roll and be-bop. Text continues here.... A Reich influenced piece I saw and loved was composed by Mark Lightcap (Acetone/ Dick Slessig)and performed by Steve Goodfriend (Radar Bros/ Slessig) and Carl Bronson.(Slessig) It was basically a similar work with phase but with more rock leanings. It was done using the Bo Diddley riff on two guitars slowly phasing apart and back thru a 4/4 rock time signature while one person kept a steady pulse with two sets of maracas. Just that Bo Diddley riff on it's own is hypnotic but when it sets off in phase it's intense.