steve reich-you are (variations) dress rehearsal

just got back from the la master chorale dress rehearsal of the new steve reich piece you are (variations). It is a great new work in the style of desert music and eight lines. I probably will review the sunday performance, but my initial impressions are strong. here are some of the highlights.

the ensemble is more steve reich than orchestra. (might be off a little, i could not see exactly all the instruments)
the ensemble is amplified strings, keyboards, woodwinds and vocals

6 violins, 3 violas, 2 cellos, 1 bass
4 pianos, 2 xylophone, 2 marimba
2 flutes, oboe, english horn, 3 clarinets
16 vocalists, SAT (no bass)
everybody is miked and mixed through house pa

program notes

the piece has a break near the middle. i will have to read the program notes to see how the text is divided. overall it seems to be composed the same techniques as desert music and eight lines.

i think the piece is constructed like this:

a group of 12-15 chords that are introduced
contrapuntal lines are added
vocalists enter
tonal structure is repeated and varied
new section

this could sound like a very simple description, but the combination of the counterpoint and text creates the magic.
one thing i have learned from studying his pieces, a major reason they succeed (imho) is that the structure is clear and simple, and the craftsmanship is superb.

aside from the music. being at the dress rehearsal was very exciting. i'm not sure if they all are like this, but the large audience, a crowd of 75-100 looked mostly under 30. there was also a large group of those "in the know" i didn't recognize all of them, but did see cluster hanging out with peter sellars.

i felt really fortunate to see it. thanks to 'my divas' nicole, nike and sueb for getting me into the dress!

added-concert review