Steve Reich • Clapping Music

[andreadidonna68]

A wonderful performance indeed!

Andrea Di Donna

[9reeNcheese]

EPIC

[TheBartok9]

Someone should commission Reich to write a piece for Irish stepdancers and ensemble. . .

[bijoux15]

Holey !!!

[MrJuno6]

"Clapping Music" Music; "auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones" How is this music ?

[thesousabone]

@MrJuno6 Well it's communication through an instrumental ( percussive) tone.

[hall0fgamez]

Phase shifting!

[PowerThrash]

the rhythmic phase-shifting is a clever idea but the fact that both parts are the same instrument makes the whole thing pointless as all you end up hearing is a constant stream of regular claps

[LookinForMoon]

@PowerThrash Uh. Not at all. Stupid. it's just that it works a whole lot better when it's played with drums or drum sticks, because everyone's clapping sounds different.

[PowerThrash]

@LookinForMoon No it doesn't! Obviously everyone's clapping sounds the same! It would work better if they did all sound different because then you would hear the different distinct rhythms.

[WindyCitySax]

the audience tried to repeat the piece after they were done and failed

[HazMaTeX]

i'm gonna make a beat out of this

[kayllo15]

i bet their hangs were stinging really bad

[viarnay]

Pff I've seen better things in flamenco music

[Drumatically]

0:00 - 0:18 was the best part!

[firestartertwistedfi]

Hmm, was it Rachmaninov who said every piece has got to have a climax? This just seems to chug along :)

[AfroDeezeeYak]

was the conductor doing anything?

[YoJoe456]

@AfroDeezeeYak Probably keeping time and giving downbeats of the beginning of each "phrase" so that nobody got lost. And cues when to move on to the next "phrase".

[snareplaya15]

i'm doing this in my concert band at my high school it is so much fun

[ibanezbloke]

Applause seems a little redundant, no?

[HyperHardHead]

i like the "WHOO!" at the end lol XD

way to kill the mood XD

[carljcreighton]

the acoustics ruin it.

[sonanterobrutal]

a estos me los llevaria al cuadro flamenco

[JohnofXian]

It's like clicking shoes in 'Riverdance'.

[MsSerafinism]

ahhhhh this is so cool :D

[Locutus266]

Does anyone have tabs?

[0rion2309]

@Locutus266 One group plays: clap, clap, clap, rest, clap, clap, rest, clap, rest, clap, clap, rest the whole time. The other group the same but shift a beat every 12 bars, so after 12 bars they play clap, clap, rest, clap, clap, rest, clap, rest, clap, clap, rest, clap.

[Locutus266]

@0rion2309 lol

[bandidou37]

I played it! It's SO difficult...

[linorf]

fourth from the left

[suraqi]

i think they are clapping

[NakedConvict]

@suraqi No shit....

[suraqi]

@NakedConvict o good because i thought they were using steel drums.

[NakedConvict]

@suraqi Haha no.

[suraqi]

@NakedConvict o dude thanks for clearing that up for me.

[NakedConvict]

@suraqi Np.

[BraeGrimes]

Spoilt by everyone clapping at the start

[AugustinusSextus]

It looks hard, I dunno..

[solgatekeeper]

I just saw the animation version. Holy crap, it already took some effort just to keep in rhythm but these people are doing it EVEN FASTER.

[solgatekeeper]

This makes me smile.

[logonazo]

sounds like Flamenco music,...beautiful

[NobleApple1]

I liked the part with the clapping

[sylvieguillemfanx10]

wtf

[silvereagle51203]

its interesting to read all these comments. So many people fail to observe how hard it is to actually do this. I have seen the music, I studied it, and tried it in class. It isn't as easy as people are making it to be. Most of the people making these useless comments don't have the concentration to do this piece

[badazzpresidents23]

@silvereagle51203 I agree. They are still funny to read though :P

[ovaaal]

В Белорусии запретили бы такие концерты ~_~

[sharki766]

which one was the audience...?

[artyzach]

got pretty sick of doing this as my ensemble work in school... steve reich always uses the same rhythm of:

o o o x o o x o x o o x

for his music.

Where "o" is the notes you play and "x" are the rests.

[silvereagle51203]

Would u rather perform 4'33"?

[artyzach]

@silvereagle51203 Yeah, its way better... :D

[badazzpresidents23]

@silvereagle51203 I love you :)

[aksinedik]

Пускай в Беларусь приезжают на наши акции:)

[segaszivos]

is the conductor doing anything?

[xxpeniskingxx]

Not music. 

[tonyttt31]

@xxpeniskingxx why not?

[123lucasmg]

@xxpeniskingxx  Not comment

[Dead8Bird]

You know that you hear a lot of S. Reich music, when you clap in 7/4 then 5/4 6/8 after a concert...

[kville105125]

I wonder what made the audience spontaneously begin to improvise on the piece before and after the performance O_o

[yagorules]

@kville105125 hahah awesom

[ttoille23]

@kville105125 they were clapping for the act... it wasnt improv

[thepooper2010]

@ttoille23 durrrrrrrrrrrr! i'm pretty sure it was a joke

[kville105125]

@ttoille23 Somebody missed the joke...

[IStehSHIT]

i fap with this rythm, helpes me concentrate

[MrPapacologne]

3:46 was the best as well as the intro 0:13 , haha

[agginae]

Have you noticed that 5th and 6th men from left clap differently from others. That's why they are in the middle I think, because they are left handed.

[1533Montaigne]

steve reich maybe is the biggest hype in music

[boazila]

Kejserens nye Klæder - look it up.

[1233soccer]

yawn

[Valnar123]

Is it me or do I hear a bit of "Piano Phase" (0:37)

[batterycock]

i see the instrument budget was a bit short that year.....

[resipj4]

Fantástico!



[FluxusNorth]

clap clap

[sickkidlv]

@FluxusNorth fap fap

[samatron2010]

the biggest load of crap i've listened to :') and it's beatuiful at the same time... like what's my name, like Friday! a load of crap but still beautiful

[javierserrano5]

Sólo falta Sara Baras o Antonio Gades...

[magacid]

Really, really wonderful. I really enjoyed this. I could hear music for 18 musicians in my head the entire time, and to accomplish that wth only clapping? Geez, this is wonderful.

[sydlitzlancers]

Don't see the magic in that, sorry.

[Ryanbooth12e11]

most pointless composer ever award..

[guitargod546]

@Ryanbooth12e11 try actually looking at the music before commenting.

[funwes]

If you're happy and you know it...

[Lugmillord]

We tried that in School like three years ago.

Pretty difficult.

[ThomasBCullen]

this guy won a nobel

[easternmind]

I clap for you, you clap for me...

[69zenos]

Now i NEED A NAP!! YYYYYYyAAAaaaaawwwwnnnnnnnn!

[youraveragejoecanfly]

I liked the audience clap more than the "music" clap

[RobbyArt]

THe echo in the room kind of ruins it. 

[iLike2scream7]

The audience should have played musical instruments instead of applauding at the end

[zielkerules]

CHLAMYDIA!!!!!!!!!!!! *clap clap*

[haikousei]

would sound better with flameno guitars leading.. clapping has already been part of flamenco for centuries..

[Silverhawk92]

If you're happy and you know it...

(sorry i just had to)

[SecOfunk]

WACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[yumenojenna]

We did this in Orchestra....a lot slower, though. It's hard! But cool. You should try it with a little group sometime.

[MrRolaCosta]

zzzzzzzzz

[Biobakski]

Lord of the Hands

[Nowheremovies]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOORRRRRRRRIIIIIIII­IIIIIINNNNNNNNNNGG (please do not reply to me I don't wanna read your messages)

[loftybutcontrite]

The crowd should have just kept silent and nodded their heads in approval at the end. Enough clapping was done for a lifetime by the performers lol

[xxxslayerxxx666]

to the people who say this is "boring" it's not like it's meant to be a fucking song, it's meant to show discipline....it just sounds like dadadadadada, but EVERY single person is constantly keeping the 000 00 0 00, it's just that the one group keeps that rhythm, the other group does it also, but every 12 measures they scoot the same beat back one note, i can do it by myself and while playing ostinato's with my feet.../watch?v=eu-tRXgOrdg&fe­ature=related LEARN IT THERE!!!

[usuariomamon]

boring!!!

[xxxslayerxxx666]

@usuariomamon if you want fucking boring how about 4:33 of complete silence by john cage?!....and somehow they sold out an entire theater....talk about a waste of money, and that's all that was playing, one lousy song that made most of the audience feel awkward....and then those ridiculous hosts saying that they could hear a high pitched humming, and that this song is meant to sound different for everybody! there's art and then there's just plain dumb!

[90Boone]

@xxxslayerxxx666

Cage's 4:33 was not a four minutes, thirty-three seconds of complete silence. It was 4 minutes, 33 seconds of non-performance. This is rooted in Cage's realization that absolute silence is impossible, after visiting an anechoic chamber at Harvard (which supposedly stifled all noise) he was able to hear two distinct drones. The high on was his nervous system, the low his circulatory.

[xxxslayerxxx666]

@90Boone i get the point, it's just silly! and 95% of the noise was from the audience!

[90Boone]

@xxxslayerxxx666

I wouldn't say it's silly. Absurd, to a degree, like Duchamp's readymade sculptures. "Silence! Why John Cage's 4'33" Is No Laughing Matter" in the Quietus magazine online offers an interesting perspective. I wanted to link it, but I think this blocks URLs...

[xxxslayerxxx666]

@90Boone that's what i meant you smart ass!

[Louisrulesoutloud]

I am a writer and Glass has been the frontbone of the few pieces I am working on. Currently I write many plays and every hour I listen to this song over and over again. Chilling and full of emotion; this piece helps me envision the scenes I am writing more elaborately. Thanks for posting this song! I love Glass!

The allegro and adiago work naturally and really help give a sad but ponient atmosphere to the piece, while also keeping it original and fast moving, giving you a flurry f emotions

[rbsaar1999]

GAY

[yoelaquel]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­oooooooooooooooooooooooooo

ohhhhh increible! la cagaron!

[coasterman16]

The directions explicitly tell you to repeat each module 12 times, not 8. This performance violates both the number of performers and number of repeats asked for.

[melki999]

boring

[redhavok666]

probably sounds better in the room. all the claps are a bit monotonous here

[psicoactivo77]

3:14 XDDDD

[girlfriendg]

They just saw Inception...

[dagadbm]

im gonna have to play this <.< oh god

[TheFan2Mario1807]

yes realy boring ...

clap clap ... zzz...

[amithabajan2]

Lyrical genius.

[metallica2313]

boring..

[Virtok]

That conductor must be great to deserve all that clapping

[writersblock26]

@Virtok Ha! Your comment should be in the "Highest Rated" category.

[Cortez51094]

Electric counterpoint 3rd movement performed by clapping? Thats something new...

[Zorlak108]

i wana see the worlds fastest clapper, kent toast do this!

[Upwardsrunner]

wow isnt this how the music sounds in Turkey or that just a stereo type made by all those Hooked on Phonix products for tiny kids?

either way its really cool. I think one of my siblings especially would love this

[portsy101]

I don't know if it's as good with a whole ensemble of people clapping. The sound comes through better with two performers in my opinion.

[writersblock26]

@portsy101 I agree. Plus, the tempo is a bit fast, making it hard to distinguish between the individual claps.

[PaganoCristo]

Now This Is Prog!

[spidersweb06]

we tried this in our class a few weeks ago. bloomin' hard!

awesome fun though :) great to watch

[psychopathtoine]

i love the chorus!

[Vitaminty]

We did this in band class other day... Pretty intense...

[tadambaila]

Why am I reminded of Shpongle DMT?

[portsy101]

@tadambaila Haha, it happened to me too. Shpongle is apparently heavily influenced by steve reich.

[MrUnit731]

A bit too long, but cool :)

[thestarsprism]

The entire video from the opening applause to the end cheer is pure clapping.

[ninjabob2456]

This sounds like tap dancing to me?

[ninjabob2456]

This sounds like tap dancing to me?

[bluecoatguy03]

it has a real cadence feel to it. if you've ever been a drumline this shouldn't be new to you.

[misscutesy69]

did someone in the audience say "whoo!"? ..

[outerpol]

3:15 is the best part

[Xoltoath]

I thought this would be boring, but it's totally not. This rocks!

[witchady14]

what year was this piece made?

[mtsuenigma]

@witchady14 It was written in 1972

[ylw]

AHHHHH This is screwing with my ears!

[blatcher18]

The man in row b seat 4 was massively out of time at the end.

[DeadWhiteButterflies]

That must have taken so long to practice, just to get it in time and syncronise it perfectly. That's some great skill there. I don't think there was a single noticable error.

[Dogbandit]

Brilliant rendition. Kudos.

[DeeDeeBagelfish]

@historystalin I am 12 years old and I would like to explain to *historystalin* about this very famous piece. I am a percussionist that plays with a youth orchestra. This music is an example of phasing polyrhythmic music. There is only one line of rhythm that is repeated by staggered entrances by the musicians. If you listen carefully, you can hear how the music phases in and out. This type of rhythmic quality is based on ancient African drumming. It is hypnotic and this group does a great job!

[historystalin]

Did i just honestly waste 4 minutes away

[antecresearch]

@historystalin a 12 years old drummer boy just kicked your ass badly

[alexboome]

@antecresearch, @DeeDeeBagelfish just convinced you he was a 12 year old drummer boy and @historystalin made you angry, just like they meant to. First, music is subjective, and second, do you really think it's a worthwhile use of your time to argue with someone who calls themselves "historystalin"?

[S3bz3r0]

I've seen a lot of movement and energy by the conductor

[aswathrn92]

isnt as good as claimed by guys here

[RevolutionRunner]

didnt get anykind of beat opr something

[fattydq]

WOW MAN, THIS IS SO DEEP AND EXPERIMENTAL

Who honestly would put this on to listen to? It's a nice "experimental" idea, but it's crap, let's face it. It sounds like shit.

[C4thie]

@fattydq

It's minimalist. Someone people like it. It's a matter of opinion. 

[fattydq]

Someone people like it? Is English your second language or something, because that sentence makes no sense. Shows how intelligent people who like this garbage are.

[C4thie]

I made a typing error. Deal with it. It doesn't show that i am "unintelligent" or anything. People make errors. And Reich is a fantastic composer. If you detest him so much, why bother wasting your breath on commenting?

[SultanKaraMusic]

@C4thie better yet if they detest steve reich why are they on this video :P

[pt4m]

@C4thie Because some ppl need to show the rest of the world how much retards are they!!!!

[jenisuki87]

@fattydq Boo on you.

[WynneXanthia]

knock me I am from Asian # lushfmlk.info #

[arisussmanpianoman]

SO COOL!

[miffyboy69er]

wow this is amazin!

[MrOboeMafia]

Nice improv by the audience at the end there.

[enkibumbu]

@MrOboeMafia

Hahaha. Exactly.

[BinaryReader]

@MrOboeMafia haha, nice

[NIHIL1334]

@MrOboeMafia Who knows? maybe the audience was also part of the play... 

[MrRedbeatt]

@MrOboeMafia

you actually just me made me laugh out loud there. class comment.

[FrappuccinoToronto]

This is the best commercial that should simulate economical situation in North America,,,,,, lets call it Recession on youtube! :)

[ZodiacBraveG]

@FrappuccinoToronto LOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!

[iMrkyLe]

it sounds cooler a little slower, but it's still awesome.

[Lauren8Darcie]

i kinda like this video my music showed us in music because we are doin bout clapping music and i thought wow this is awsome

[DSCH12345]

Very well done! For those of you who haven't had the experience of performing this piece, it's MUCH harder than it sounds. 

Next time, try it without the conductor. You don't need him -- he's just a safety net.

[kimishima1134]

@DSCH12345 This is all too true, as easy as clapping music sounds, it is a pain in the ass to get all the timings to be perfect

[piliage]

I've performed it quite a few times in a duo. It's a very lonely feeling, nowhere to hide. Both players start in unison in a meter of 6 (written in 12, easier to think in 6), One player 'shifts' an 1/8th note each change, the other stays steady. On the 12th change, you end up back in unison, at least in theory :-) The most rhythmic dissonance is on the 11th pattern, only one 1/8th a part. The temptation to move is brutal. The arrival back to unison is like emerging from the clouds on a plane.

[jesusFreak0321]

@piliage say wutttttt?

[ArchoSoma]

Love how they not only applaude to a clapping song, but I'm still hearing the song.

[theblackcomp111]

This would be so much better if dynamics were used..

[aWinkler2010]

gah i hate when people post that "minimalism is stupid" or "this all sounds the same". If you ACTUALLY listen to the sound and forget that it's just people clapping, you hear that one bar of 3/4, displaced multiple times by an 8th note each, eventually doesn't sound like straight 8th's like you might expect. The overlapping of claps form natural accents and it's really cool to listen to. Minimal material, in this case, produces interesting music, in theory and in practice. Good performance!

[qwertyalienqwerty]

Lol, love the guy that goes "Woo!" at the end.

[NaloKjrn]

Music is simply put: organized sound. This is beautifully done.

[priMMoz]

wow, check out the clapping polyrhitmics at 3:15