GIG LOG :: TERRY RILEY
Artist: Terry Riley Date: 18 July 2015 Venue: Barbican Hall, The Barbican, London Notes: A mixed programme by the 80-year-old minimalist composer and electronic music pioneer - including the world premiere of an ambitious new piece, Bell Station III, featuring the London Contemporary Orchestra and the Tiffin Boys’ Choir. The new work, which was impressive though also too full-on and maximalist in its style for me to really love it, was broken up into sections by solo improvisations courtesy of the master himself. The most successful of these, and my personal highlight of the concert, was performed on prepared piano. Another one, played later on a Korg Triton synth, was also engaging despite its borderline tacky sound. Also worth highlighting was the concert’s opening piece, Bell Raga II, where Riley sang - or chanted - beautifully over a pre-recorded minimalist and hypnotic backing track. The concert, part of the Station To Station festival, was backed by projections of visual eye candy, e.g. in the shape of mirrored footage of nature, by Austin Meredith and the festival’s main man Doug Aitken. Rating: 7/10
The official Terry Riley website
The Station To Station festival’s website
