Clapping Music (1972) by Steve Reich

[SuperTomanator]

The music was great but the actual performance was boring.

[hunnybunny118D]

We attempted this in school but it never got past one beat shift

[rogerjhenry]

Hi - this has been referenced and attributed by the 'Epic Fugue: all things choral' page on Google+. Not able to post the URL here, but you should be able to search for it.

[colourfulwithaU]

Did anyone else notice that a) the subject this piece is based on is a cluster of 3 eighth notes, then 2 eighth notes, then 1 eighth note, then 2 eighth notes, (3212) then repeat (3212321232123 etc) and b) that exact same rhythm is played by the xylophonist in 'Music for 18 Musicians'?

[thaiguy20fromla]

@colourfulwithaU That cell is a very widely used rhythm- it comes from an African 12/8 bell pattern

[colourfulwithaU]

@thaiguy20fromla

You learn something new every day. Thanks!

[swedish1muffin]

This is true awesome.

[pjcvdpol]

Brilliant!!!! I heard this for the forst time performed at a summercamp in the Jura, some twentyfive years ago. I just never realised it was an actual composition...

[pjcvdpol]

Brilliant!!!!



[KindOfMaroon]

Man I am performing this for a music class. It's so crazy to clap the phasing part because it's literally a phase - the same pattern moved X number of eighth notes, where X is 1-11 throughout the piece. You get some crazy grooves established with the phasing part. I imagine the stationary part must be so zen hah

[supranator]

"Clapping Music (1972) was Steve Reich's attempt to write a piece of music "

A bit harsh don't you think? Oh..wait... *presses show more*

[coolguy9610]

Your hands must get really tired after a while.... mine sure did when I tried it at camp.

[Brycey97]

sweet improvisation from the audience

[kuromomo00]

this piece is for record

[jenn976]

I just noticed this was done in Bates Hall in the School of Music, College of Fine Arts, Univ. of Texas at Austin.

[datimpster]

@jenn976 Correct!

[JoshieChavira1]

Awesome!!!!!

[Ghoopty]

@mu4990

That's elitist. I don't have a degree in music, yet I can enjoy works like this. I don't think you have to have a degree in music to appreciate this. Brian Eno doesn't have a degree. Does that make him a 'ignorant fool' or a 'troll'? So apparently most people are just lower life forms than you and should 'go home' and hang their heads in shame......until they get a music degree. Whatever. Pretty fucking pompous dude.

[writersblock26]

Not bad. I still feel that the tempo was slightly fast, and I'm not sure the multidirectional microphones helped. In general, percussion usually does better without artificial amplification unless absolutely necessary.

[writersblock26]

Anderson looks so young.

[mu4990]

Screw the nay-sayers, the ignorant fools, and the youtube trolls!! This was a great performance, a fantastic recital, and Clapping Music is a helluva piece of music. Most of you are probably to stupid and shallow to understand minimalism and phasing. Then again, most of you are probably trolls and don't have anything close to a degree in music. Go home!!! Great job to Justin Stolarik!!!

[frjackhacket]

more like crapping music tbf tbh

[Dogbandit]

I always felt it was written for more than 2. Nice rendition though.

[paulug]

Simple and cool

[30Raphi]

BORING!

[Kabonat]

lol, let's do this for chambermusic xD

[ZoGon2940]

i bet the audience wasn't there

[ramosvibes]

que Wueva

[formaldehyde28]

so which one has gonorrhea?

[AltfanKG123]

wat

[Akordelove]

Rubik!

[DarkwingScooter]

The fun of this is trying to anticipate what the effect is going to change to.

I don't think you can listen to this passively

[burtv1610]

people can pretend like this is not boring. But think about it. What would you rather be doing...going to the cinema, on holiday or shopping for everything you've always wanted with your best friends? or listen to a load of mathematical music that has no emotion? The people who give this a thumbs down ...well, i know you inside out already.

The best piece by Steve Reich was the Electric Counterpoint.

[Hyardacil]

You know me inside out?

Heh.

Right.

I can have no respect to your statement with that element in it.

[XTruthAndHonorX]

i would rather listen to a load of mathematical music that has no emotion. shopping for everything i have always wanted with best friends? i'd rather be doing about anything else.

[cybertooth49]

@burtv1610 Different Trains > Electric Counterpoint

[FrancescoFerosa]

I study this piece now with a group and performing it live in March..really nice piece of minimalistic work and good imagination of the pattern of the 2nd performer going back 1/8 each bar :) really nice compotition

[Rinhos]

I suppose it must be very difficult for the one who changes to keep the tempo! well done

[GreenAsJade]

I think it might actually be a lot more interesting to listen to if the two sounds were more distinct. Shifting rhythms of something you can discern, rather than two bluring into each other.

[vetegr77]

This isn't supposed to be a great piece. I saw him twice in the '70s, and he began the show with "Clapping" and a short explanation, to give the audience insight into the evening's show. More like a lesson than an opus.

Playing "Clapping Music" can be boring for the person not changing. The way to make it fun for both is for both to change. One adds an eighth note on one line to make the change, and the next change is made by the other person, who subtracts an eighth note on one line.

[02drea01]

I had to perform this piece in my music lesson, too : it's really difficult ;)

[zangderak]

I had to perform this piece for a music class I took. You really have to concentrate and pay attention to your partner or else it'll fall apart. Plus, it really hurts after a while!

[Marmalade000000]

I heard that one of the guys was a bit faster than the other... it actually sounds like polyrhythm - like more than 2 people are clapping. Steve Reich was a genius with this particular piece

[sayeyes]

Thanks so much for posting this and all the best for you!

Inge

[bitachar]

I remember the first time I heard this. It was such an impressive experience

[har9020]

My favorite variation on this idea is the "Hands and Feet" segment of the live "STOMP" show.

[idontcare2622]

OMG... So simple, yet so complex.

[tmcfarland1]

i like crash test deity,

good work......

[crashtestdeity]

Spijt me cleac, maar het is al voorbij. De evenement nam plaats op verschillende plaatsen in Amsterdam. Meeste waren in het Muziek Gebouw aan 't IJ en deze, "Clapping music", was gratis, maar jammer genoeg kon ik het niet halen, maar wel naar de "Orgel park" naast de Vondelpark voor Steve Reich's "Four Organs" en een Phillip Glass' "Contrary Motions" Amazing!!!!

[xxypsilonxx]

Zoek op youtube even naar mijn kanaal, xxypsilonxx, daar kun je de uitvoering zien die buiten het muziekgebouw aan het ij werd uitgevoerd.

[crashtestdeity]

heee bedankt! Was blijkbaar niet de beste uitvoering, maar ja dat is te begrijpen met zoveel mensen. Geweldig Ligetl playlist trouwens!

[Stoopchow]

First off, to whoever said this is really difficult to perform, it's clearly not. Secondly, while I admit the rythmn's are very good this in itself does not constitute a piece of music. It's like any good drummer playing a three minute solo and saying its high art.

[gold4r]

its difficult to listen to another part and play your own rhythmically distinct part, especially with no tone to follow

[Stoopchow]

Really, try telling that to the person clapping the first non-changing rhythm. Believe it or not I'm a big Steve Reich fan but this piece of music is nothing special

[oatboy]

Yeah it's kinda neat but not particularly difficult or moving in any way.

[DLoc0]

I agree 100%

[JordisonFan]

i also agree. Though i use this as a warm up for drums and the different parts will be for the different hands and it gets confusing though its an amazing warm up =)

[Pasta0fMuppets]

Just try joining up with a friend and see how hard it really is.

It ain't easy.

[Pasta0fMuppets]

Of course you don't need classical training in percussion, it's just clapping.

Did you play the part that changes every 12 bars?

[snafu1030]

Perhaps you'd be so kind as to post a video of you and a friend doing it then....

[pleximold]

You've had plenty of classical training non the less. Why would percussion or any other discipline be beyond your abilities?

[CaraminTim]

@Pasta0fMuppets Yes it is.

[seanhunter111]

Having a complex part doesn't make music any more or less special. Two of the cellos in Part's "Fratres for 12 cellos" just hold a sustained open 5th throughout. In fact when the cellos of the Berlin Philharmonic got the scores before the famous ECM recording one of them said "Where's the music?"

[vitovito1234]

NOW I KNOW WHY MOZART IS GREAT!!!!

[crashtestdeity]

You needed someone else to make you sure?

I have to laugh at people who can't understand this kind of music,yet put soo much (-)energy(+) in to it...

How it irritates them that they can't understand it.

Like those who scoffed at Beethovens Große Fuge,

like those who mocked Charles Ives style,

like those who rumbled at Stravinsky's Le sacre du printemps,

like those who laughed at Cage's soundscapes,

like those who booed Reich's Four organs...

Yet they all end up being...the real Heroes!

[Cthulhussama]

@vitovito1234 Oh yeah you probably only know mozart.

[vitovito1234]

vaffanculo!!!!!!

[crashtestdeity]

Yea!! They're performing this piece at the minimalist festival in april here in amsterdam.... my girfriend and i can't wait to go :) They're actually holding auditions and anyone who can count metre, hold a beat and read sheet music can apply : P

[celestefusion]

This has me movin and groovin!

clap cla-clap clap cla-clap!!!

[vitovito1234]

STUPIDITY!!!!i FEEL SORRY FOR rEICH AND THOSE WHO LIKE HIM!!!! dEFINATELY, HE HAS NOTHING TO SAY!!!!

[cheekymonkey575]

Omg! Awesome. Haha we watched this in our music lesson today. Youtube was unblocked!

[3510211]

wow boring as shit.

[bellowheadfan]

Aaah my brain just goes a little weird when hearing this. I love it.

[rendition14]

Interesting how the response of so many to something they don't understand is "crap". I just love this piece - especially because the base rhythm is so simple. The syncopation by shifting the second performer just sounds awesome!

Well done to the performers as this is REALLY difficult to perform well!

[forevermean]

i bet the audience felt embarrassed about their low brow clapping at the end

[dubya13207]

i love clapping music...do you have a video and/or audio recording of marimba phase? i've heard it on piano, but would LOVE to hear a marimba version!!!

[michael2009189]

i fell asleep after 10 seconds

[xxxxFootballxxxx]

average

[viningsbee]

Wait! The clapping at the end... is that part of the piece?

;)

[ieatcrayons822]

awesome, this is how i applaud everything now

[earlobe1997]

@ieatcrayons822

Haha

so funny. You really do?!

[TsukiDaian]

We did it in music class and it's really hard to get it right and not to be confused by the other rhythm.

If your not convinced, why not try yourself? xD

[fourfingerfunk]

I love Clapping Music. I've performed it live too, and it absolutely kills the shoulder muscles!

[AlasRobotMonkey0931]

steve reich is all about phasing.

[randomae]

i love music, i really do. and it hurts me so much to not agree with everyone on here. Can someone please help me to understand this? is there supposed to be melody? or is it just a complicated rhythm?

im definately leaning toward calling this crap.

[acrotomophilic]

Read the info..

[randomae]

I did. I thought I was misunderstanding something.

[iamasoundfiend]

just accept it for what it is homes

[jordanspeizer]

They start out clapping the same rhythm, and then after every 8 or 12 bars one of them shifts the rhythm by an eighth note to the left, while the other claps the same rhythm throughout.

It creates an interesting polyrhythmic effect and eventually, after shifting enough, they get back in unison.

[AngelOfTheAirwavesX]

o__O

We had to do it in music.

Its friggin hard!

:@

[tsukasamacha]

Crap? more like Clap!

[satanicsquirrel01]

YAY!

[Yukonho72]

My teacher always says thatonce hes finished playin it. He's like ' Wata oad of clap! ' XD XD XD

[SoulessDude]

keep listening to 'tiger lily' and calling this 'crap'. is like listening to my chemical romance and talking shit about karlheinz stockhausen.

[randomae]

I never called anything crap. Go get a life and stop being so pointed.

[defdeezy]

idiot,

"im definately leaning toward calling this crap." that is word for word what you said.

[randomae]

I just needed some help to understand. You however need help on your personality. Go read a book or go clap your hands or something.

[defdeezy]

well, i'm not the one who blatantly dismissed something i don't understand.

i have done both, thanks for your concern.

[randomae]

If i dismissed it i would have never asked any questions.

Looks like you read that wrong.

[defdeezy]

this argument is worthless.

the point is that no, this piece isn't supposed to have melody in the way you're thinking and yes, it is supposed to be a 'complicated rhythm.' learn about phasing.

[randomae]

Thanks.

[Cthulhussama]

@randomae It's like a percussive counterpoint. The "melody" come from the difference between the ostinato and the other player(s). It's not complicated in itself but you have to focus hard to play it. That's interesting to play and to hear. A lot of "pieces" in the world are percussive. That does not mean it's crap.

[dirtypleasures]

That`s how minimal techno began.

[FreeWater9]

a friend of mine and I are taking this peice to state music competition.

[Maddin667]

ou yes, we have to learn this for school and i'm fucked up even as a drummer ^^

funny piece of music

[JeffreyBeanJr]

That was supposed to be Bravo!

[JeffreyBeanJr]

ravo! I liked how you started the piece by clapping with the audience. It's a very difficult piece.

[rhythmicginger]

So try it with a friend.

And god bless Steve Reich :)

[rhythmicginger]

It's actually quite easy to do.

Two people clap the 6/8 rhythm |ccc-cc-c-cc-| ("c" = clap, "-" = space).

One person keeps the pattern constant while the other drops the last clap and space (c-)every 6 repetitions of the pattern.

Because you drop one sixth of a six beat rhythm each repetition, the two clappers go out of sync by one beat each time - creating the complex cross-patterns.

After dropping the beat six times, the two clappers come back in sync and the piece ends - easy :)

[emdog2564]

and how it makes nice music:) simplicity :))

[c0olmind]

Amazing, that's all!

[Tenorbot]

Great performance.

[pienpo2008]

i know a guy who can do both rythms with his hands, of course not clapping but tick it on a table, cause what the rythm is, is that one man does this rythm all the time and the other man does that same rythm 4 or 5 times and than he does it one second later, that 4 times so after a while they are together again. =]

difficult hea:D but i did it once so i understand, do you?

[W4d5Y]

now that's just fucking SICK.

I can play the piano phase..well...singlehandedly, but man, this is way too complicated because it requires you to count the spaces which the notes are apart from each other O_o

[pienpo2008]

hihi, well when you practice alot it aint tht hard, well singlehand, but both at the same time...when i saw it i was like *** O_o

i'll give you a tip, when you don't want to die from frustration and your brains colapsing, DO NOT TRY IT WITH BOTH HANDS! onehandy is allready hard, but you gotta ask someone to join you, it is really cool if you can do it =D

[emilygclarinet]

My orchestra went on a trip to Salzburg and one of the orchestra members tried to teach us how to play this piece. It was fun :)

[lastdreams]

Wow. Great job.

It's harder than it looks.

[FizziLizzie]

Absolutely incredible! I tried to do this, it's so incredibly hard!

[vomitproject]

heard this first time today, glad to search and find this original tonite. sweet

[Darmikalus]

awesome!

the audience probably had no idea what was going on hahaha

[drummachick93]

absolutely amazing! we listened to part of it in music class and i thought it was so good!!! would love to learn it, but it would take a lot of determination and perseverence.

well executed, stunning!!!

[Colderslave]

It was for those below me... they didn't seem to know. no offense here ;)

[datimpster]

That makes sense now! :)

[Colderslave]

Steve Reich "composed" clapping music in 1972... the show wasn't in 1972 ;)

[datimpster]

What do you mean? I know it was composed in 1972.

[lklkhjhjdfs]

Steve reich je vous le laisse .

[spencertron88]

i think this deserves a round of applause :D

[satanicsquirrel01]

(groans) lol

[jtbeatbox]

ironic how they got applauded onto the stage to do an act of clapping.... LOL good tho

[tubafatness]

I like how you started the piece off of the applause from the audience. Cool ideas, keep them coming!

[ELkuken]

Who is this YOU you're talking about? Moron

[pillywright]

aah..the SONG is from the 70s i get it

[pillywright]

those speakers look newer than the 70s

the stands too

[gearysveggies]

now thats clapping!

[promagic]

Yep Definitely 1970's

I liked it, However it was somewhat boring.