Music Is a Continuum | Composer Terry Riley | Louisiana Channel

"Music is the evolvement of the human spirit with sounds". Meet the pioneering composer Terry Riley whose minimalistic and hypnotic works have inspired musicians and composers for decades. We visited him in his new home in Japan.
Terry Riley was born in California in 1935, and his first memory of music was at the age of three, a song called "South of The Border (Down Mexico Way)". "It was such an emotional shock to my system," he recalls. "It stayed with me throughout my life: This is what music can do and how deeply it can affect you, maybe as deep as any experience you can have in life."
Terry Riley has walked a unique way in composing. "I have a hard time with musical categories. I am called a minimalist, and what the hell does that mean? That I only brush my teeth once a week? I think there are only two kinds of music, good and bad," Riley says.
"When I compose, I don't plan things like an architect drawing everything out and then filling in the dots. Instead, I work like a sculptor putting a little here and a little there and then seeing where it is going to go, so I kind of work in a plastic way, actually a pragmatic way," Riley explains.
"For me, music is a continuum, and beginnings and endings aren't that important because you are just tuning into a sound turn. You get people onto a train and let them off. There is no final ending like Beethoven with a big cadence, and I don't do that".
Even at a high age, Riley still performs on stage. "I definitely like to be performing as long as I am able to because, to me, a lot of ideas are created: The fire of the stage always brings new material. The intensity and the way you have to be when you are improvising on stage invite new things in because you are taking chances. Performing is a good way to keep in shape, it is like a boxer, if you don't fight and go out once in a while, you are going to be knocked out".
Terry Riley (b. 1935) is an American composer and performing musician. He is a pioneer of the minimalist school of composition, which was launched by his composition 'In C' (1964), which is today considered a classic. In 1969 Riley released 'A Rainbow in Curved Air', also considered a landmark of minimalism. Riley has composed numerous works, and he has inspired composers such as Phillip Glass and Steve Reich and influenced experimental music, rock, and contemporary electronic music. Riley's collaborators include the Kronos Quartet and John Zorn. London Sunday Times listed Terry Riley as "one of the 1000 makers of the 20th Century."
Terry Riley was interviewed by Jens H. Jensen in Yamanashi, Japan in June 2022.
Cameras: Yudai Maruyama
Edit: Signe Boe Pedersen
Produced by Christian Lund & Signe Boe Pedersen
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2023
Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet, C.L. Davids Fond og Samling and Fritz Hansen.
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Пікірлер: 183

  • @thelouisianachannel
    @thelouisianachannel Жыл бұрын

    *Terry Riley: "Create a culture that invites ideas in." Watch the composer give his advice to the young right here:* kzread.info/dash/bejne/Zqqiy7mxp82umdo.html

  • @mehdycifrut7814

    @mehdycifrut7814

    Жыл бұрын

    Thanx for this extract. Well choosen. Is it posible to have a subtitle for the full video? Such important subject

  • @jake_rogers_music
    @jake_rogers_music Жыл бұрын

    Dude looks pretty amazing for pushing 90.

  • @yetiplay
    @yetiplay Жыл бұрын

    This man's legacy is of inestimable importance to Human Civilization. Thanks Terry

  • @daviddevilliers2828

    @daviddevilliers2828

    Жыл бұрын

    🙏

  • @daviddevilliers2828

    @daviddevilliers2828

    Жыл бұрын

    @@jackisgallant lion’s throne with wonderful Amelia Cuni

  • @TheNimasan

    @TheNimasan

    Жыл бұрын

    words my man!

  • @highvibee

    @highvibee

    Жыл бұрын

    I agree 💗

  • @amaxlevin
    @amaxlevin Жыл бұрын

    I want to be as tapped in as brother here. "If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency and vibration." -Nikola Tesla

  • @airrik2653

    @airrik2653

    Жыл бұрын

    You've made a beautiful connection: Terry and Nikola... right on!

  • @bokehintheussr5033
    @bokehintheussr5033 Жыл бұрын

    The most alive I've ever felt was sitting in the park in the summer underneath a tree with headphones on, listening to Terry's Descending Moonshine Dervishes while watching the tall grass dance in the breeze and sunlight... I was completely sober but had a powerful spiritual experience.

  • @warshipsatin8764

    @warshipsatin8764

    3 ай бұрын

    i had almost the same exact experience with poppy nogood and the phantom band

  • @skwaab

    @skwaab

    20 күн бұрын

    I had the same with Tangerine Dream's Rubycon

  • @hakeemadam955
    @hakeemadam955 Жыл бұрын

    "Music is the involvement of the Human spirit with Sound". Thank you so much for sharing these words.

  • @hazelwray4184

    @hazelwray4184

    Жыл бұрын

    the human spirit's "instrumentalization" of sound.

  • @QuadriviumNumbers

    @QuadriviumNumbers

    Жыл бұрын

    The evolvement of the human spirit.

  • @PabluchoViision
    @PabluchoViision Жыл бұрын

    “If you know what you’re doing in the arts, you’re doing it wrong.” (8:25). I knew right away on hearing that thought, that it would sink tenacious roots in my mind. In my writing and in my music, the relevance is clear. But almost immediately I began to wonder… to what else in life might that apply?

  • @ArtKatiea
    @ArtKatiea Жыл бұрын

    Thank you Terry!!! "If you know what you're doing, you're doing it wrong" ah, the words I needed to hear today from a person of years, wisdom and ongoing creativity

  • @MrDaigoRiki
    @MrDaigoRiki Жыл бұрын

    I live in Tokyo but I’ve never seen him but I’ve seen Jim O’rourke in my area. He was probably walking to the station back home after having drink with his mates.

  • @joanmoloney8188
    @joanmoloney818810 ай бұрын

    lovely guy.humble and gentle.and cool.just like music.xx

  • @aek12
    @aek123 ай бұрын

    He speaks like earth.

  • @troygaspard6732
    @troygaspard6732 Жыл бұрын

    Shine on Terry, and talk to me of Mendocino.

  • @fideliusconcrete4871
    @fideliusconcrete4871 Жыл бұрын

    What a joy to see Terry doing so well. He's a genius and we should all be grateful to have him among us.

  • @sooperheep
    @sooperheep Жыл бұрын

    I can only hope to be this lucid and thoughtful at his age, maybe thats the effect that tones and vibrations can have on the mind

  • @oxossindamanso6854

    @oxossindamanso6854

    Жыл бұрын

    True 👍🏿

  • @eileenmccarthy-wulf7006
    @eileenmccarthy-wulf700611 ай бұрын

    Happy Birthday Mr. Riley !

  • @airrik2653
    @airrik2653 Жыл бұрын

    Terry in Japan... 88 years young... Best wishes from Nevada county, your old California playground... 😎

  • @macronencer
    @macronencer Жыл бұрын

    "A Rainbow In Curved Air" remains the best meditation music ever created. Thank you, Terry.

  • @yahmanml
    @yahmanml Жыл бұрын

    Don’t know how I got here but I’m glad I did. 🙏🏾✨

  • @russellschaeffler
    @russellschaeffler8 ай бұрын

    I went to my local library in Omiya Saitama Japan and sat down in front of a large window about to listen to some sounds and look out the window. Then I saw the sign across the street at the local auditorium and in very simple well spaced letters, "Terry Riley 6 PM" That was a shock but unfortunately the show was sold out.

  • @JSTNtheWZRD
    @JSTNtheWZRD Жыл бұрын

    If they only did something like this in the 70s about him

  • @rekocastren923
    @rekocastren923 Жыл бұрын

    No surprise he is famous. Such a polite man.

  • @theoakmontsage1172
    @theoakmontsage1172 Жыл бұрын

    That 'Form Is Emptiness' piece made me think of Sun Ra's compositions; am I crazy? Thanks for this!

  • @crownhood3502

    @crownhood3502

    Жыл бұрын

    I literally thought the same thing.

  • @mookelman

    @mookelman

    Жыл бұрын

    Totally not alone in that, we were on that wave man!

  • @buddhamindsoupbowl7405

    @buddhamindsoupbowl7405

    Жыл бұрын

    Reminds me of my church music

  • @vigilancebrandon3888

    @vigilancebrandon3888

    Жыл бұрын

    same!

  • @ShiroKuro13

    @ShiroKuro13

    Жыл бұрын

    Reminds me 'all is a lonelyness' of Moondog

  • @guynelson5924
    @guynelson5924 Жыл бұрын

    My first song I remember is “Is that all there is” by Peggy Lee. I think I was about 3 years old. 😢it was a sad song to me

  • @alanoneill3065
    @alanoneill30658 ай бұрын

    Fascinating...first watch..will be back and subscribed

  • @johnnydeutschemark3620
    @johnnydeutschemark3620 Жыл бұрын

    @ 11:00 i am reminded of MoonDog " All is emptiness. " They probably would've had a good time playing music together.

  • @millennial_bug
    @millennial_bug10 ай бұрын

    The Harp of New Albion is something that changed my way of listening to music. Groundbreaking, it opened my ears to the sound of just intonation tunings

  • @asourpo1yphony
    @asourpo1yphony21 күн бұрын

    Loved this. Genuis!

  • @wardka
    @wardka Жыл бұрын

    I had the honor of seeing Terry Riley perform his then recent piano concerto, among other works, with the Paul Dresher Ensemble at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN. It was amazing and featured a midi bassoon that shook the earth! I'll never forget that experience. I never realized he has such a pleasant singing voice.

  • @TzadikTheManic

    @TzadikTheManic

    Жыл бұрын

    Paul Dresher is a very fine composer as well, his albums released on New Albion are gems. The (few) Riley discs on New Albion are needless to say essential. Still hoping to catch Riley in concert, closest I’ve come was an unforgettable all-Riley program played by Kronos.

  • @paxwallace8324

    @paxwallace8324

    Жыл бұрын

    I told Paul Dresher that the lack of harmonic motion in post minimalism didn't work for me especially in Glass. He responded that modulation draws too much attention to itself. But even Steve Reich is using modulation now. But regardless we all need to follow our own path.

  • @wardka

    @wardka

    Жыл бұрын

    @@paxwallace8324 When I saw Paul Dresher he was into microtonal music (hence the midi bassoon allowing microtones -- I think). This would have been around 2008 maybe. Neither he nor Terry Riley seemed to play minimalism at the time, thank goodness! Minimalism tends to drive me up the wall.

  • @paxwallace8324

    @paxwallace8324

    Жыл бұрын

    @@wardka this was early 80s Cornish Seattle

  • @kleihenke1
    @kleihenke1Ай бұрын

    very nice video, very nice person, thank you! :)

  • @lisengel2498
    @lisengel2498 Жыл бұрын

    Spontaneity is all about expressing the in-between of the Living Event - its a weaving of eternal giving and receiving without beginning or end - its a strong intensity 🌷💗

  • @MajesticMage
    @MajesticMage Жыл бұрын

    Good know that he is still with us

  • @kingdan6776
    @kingdan6776 Жыл бұрын

    I relate to everything he is saying. Thank you God for him and me.

  • @Mykapnmobile
    @Mykapnmobile Жыл бұрын

    I enjoyed the deep dive...I enjoy modal Punjabi Music..He does it almost effortless &: With a Flow of Good Warm Energy like his life itself..Again, Merci Beaucoup 143... CapriceK

  • @LoudNTechie
    @LoudNTechie Жыл бұрын

    I love listening to this man's music while tripping on mushrooms. Just fascinating.

  • @dingosmith9932
    @dingosmith9932 Жыл бұрын

    Terry, you're a treasure. Thank you!❤️

  • @zkafel
    @zkafel Жыл бұрын

    Cool cat. Thanks for the music and inspirations sir.

  • @altermachina
    @altermachina Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for this ! I was desperately waiting for the longer video :) Terry Riley is so fascinating.

  • @idontknow-lc8bz
    @idontknow-lc8bz Жыл бұрын

    when i was a kid my emotional song was kiss from a rose by seal 🦭💔

  • @crieverytim
    @crieverytim Жыл бұрын

    Oh Thanks. I just welcomed my first child and so was naturally revisiting Terry's music. Really enjoying these insights

  • @Reiki-Qi
    @Reiki-Qi3 ай бұрын

    My man, Mr. Terry Riley. 🎉🌈🎉 x🏵️

  • @mattharter4245
    @mattharter4245 Жыл бұрын

    Man, he's like the real life Dumbledore. Sign me up for that school of wizardry!

  • @HpBeck_Fieldrecordings
    @HpBeck_Fieldrecordings9 ай бұрын

    Music pioneer🧡

  • @jvz1970
    @jvz19706 ай бұрын

    Love this!

  • @nomdeplore7604
    @nomdeplore7604 Жыл бұрын

    Saw Terry and Gyan in 2020 just before Covid became our reality. The best set I could have seen as my last live show for more than a year. Deep thanks to this human.

  • @resobird
    @resobird Жыл бұрын

    I love these thoughts!

  • @mwmingram
    @mwmingram Жыл бұрын

    Lovely. Thank you.

  • @jkl.guitar
    @jkl.guitar Жыл бұрын

    this is an absolute gem!!

  • @theuniverseinstereo3453
    @theuniverseinstereo3453 Жыл бұрын

    What an absolute legend!

  • @artistwintersong7343
    @artistwintersong7343 Жыл бұрын

    This really means so much. It's emotional to see and think about--to feel. Even way up in Maine.

  • @cfibanez
    @cfibanez Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic. have admire Riley for a long time. First time I hear him talking about his work. Thanks a lot for this.

  • @Michael62nyc
    @Michael62nyc Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic. Thank you. Love the content on your channel.

  • @lunipan
    @lunipan Жыл бұрын

    what a beautiful soul.

  • @tompile-fd4tp
    @tompile-fd4tp Жыл бұрын

    Beautiful man. Opened the ears of me and an entire generation

  • @owenbruce4120
    @owenbruce4120 Жыл бұрын

    Musical beaver...as we travel there are many...Terry gives awesome insight 🗝

  • @petermcdowell7437
    @petermcdowell7437 Жыл бұрын

    Such understanding. 💥

  • @barsdaghan4296
    @barsdaghan4296 Жыл бұрын

    Great video!

  • @fredrikhielscher731
    @fredrikhielscher731 Жыл бұрын

    Terry Riley, your music - and the music you have influenced - plays such an important role in my life. Thanks!

  • @thevoidinclusive
    @thevoidinclusive Жыл бұрын

    Thank you so much for this long video. I haven’t seen anything from Terry since he moved. He’s such a great soul. I’ve learned a lot from him and hope he can share his energy as much as he’s able while he’s here. Thank you Terry ✨

  • @allwhispersmyname
    @allwhispersmyname Жыл бұрын

    Master!!! Namaste!

  • @kurikokaleidoscope
    @kurikokaleidoscope Жыл бұрын

    Fabulous and amazing.

  • @muxant
    @muxant Жыл бұрын

    Legendary Artist.

  • @TheNimasan
    @TheNimasan Жыл бұрын

    how you can't love this great artist!!!! i am such a huge huge fan of his. much love and support from munich/germany

  • @markb4357
    @markb4357 Жыл бұрын

    Fantastic

  • @CharlesAustin
    @CharlesAustin Жыл бұрын

    Terry Riley: so inspiring. Spiritual talent !!

  • @davidantonsavage6207
    @davidantonsavage6207 Жыл бұрын

    His opening statement so nails it from his place in music history.

  • @pansrn
    @pansrn Жыл бұрын

    Thank you for creating and sharing this.

  • @kirkchan7726
    @kirkchan7726 Жыл бұрын

    i love you terry! thank you so much

  • @KaoussouC
    @KaoussouC Жыл бұрын

    Love him, for years his music has carried me, and these words just do the same again.. 🖤

  • @bongoloony
    @bongoloony Жыл бұрын

    Wonderful and deeply fascinating

  • @MarcAndreLacas
    @MarcAndreLacas Жыл бұрын

    I understand now. Thanks.

  • @keykiyox
    @keykiyox Жыл бұрын

    He sings beautifully

  • @udomatthiasdrums5322
    @udomatthiasdrums5322 Жыл бұрын

    still love your work!!

  • @seangrogan3622
    @seangrogan3622 Жыл бұрын

    "Music is the involvement of the human spirit with sound". I see someone else quoted these words for this video, they are so full of meaning for me that I wanted to write them out for myself.

  • @AlchemyMelbourne
    @AlchemyMelbourne Жыл бұрын

    did i hear right, he was born 1935? That makes him nearly 90 he still looks great.

  • @a9mission439
    @a9mission439 Жыл бұрын

    THIS IS PRODUCTIVE 🧘‍♂️💫

  • @Diachron
    @Diachron8 ай бұрын

    Looking good, Terry! Thank you for your continued genius, humility, and wisdom.

  • @lisengel2498
    @lisengel2498 Жыл бұрын

    I love the way Terry Riley composes….improvises ….. working in the Living Now. Its so beautifull - I love his way of inviting possibilities in a step by step process - and its very true “ Music is a continuum” 🎶🖤🎵

  • @incognitoincognito7390
    @incognitoincognito7390 Жыл бұрын

    How interesting! Funny how him and Nørgård seem totally related all of a sudden!

  • @youjuhwan9697
    @youjuhwan9697 Жыл бұрын

    Terry Riley!! so much good music he've been discovered and explored... much respect!

  • @hazelwray4184

    @hazelwray4184

    Жыл бұрын

    'he've'? - He's produced (made/created) and pioneered (explored/invented/initiated).

  • @SteviePunxxxter
    @SteviePunxxxter Жыл бұрын

    I like your mind, Terry! ;)

  • @darylcumming7119
    @darylcumming7119 Жыл бұрын

    An exceptional human being no afraid to use his imagination.

  • @biegebythesea6775
    @biegebythesea6775 Жыл бұрын

    wow i've heard his music but knew nothing about him. didn't even know he was still alive.

  • @brucegelman5582
    @brucegelman5582 Жыл бұрын

    He who has ears to hear sees angels.He is one.

  • @divebynight
    @divebynight Жыл бұрын

    This is eye opening… and ear opening

  • @jnnx

    @jnnx

    Жыл бұрын

    @Aziz Azif Sodium Pentothal aka “Truth Serum” isn’t remotely psychedelic. . .

  • @ditchtheorgan988
    @ditchtheorgan988 Жыл бұрын

    saving the best for last keep them wanting more

  • @jacksin3323
    @jacksin3323 Жыл бұрын

    Nord keyboards are amazing.

  • @Kate77777
    @Kate77777 Жыл бұрын

    Could anyone point me to full recordings of the songs performed in this video.... I want to hear the whole thing!

  • @carlcruysberghs2298
    @carlcruysberghs22989 ай бұрын

    ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

  • @PabluchoViision
    @PabluchoViision Жыл бұрын

    I wonder if this man ever worked with Yusef Lateef. I would have loved, or would love, to hear the results of that musical encounter

  • @PlasticRealmToys
    @PlasticRealmToys Жыл бұрын

    This is amazing and inspirational. It’s sad that music is treated like sports. If you’re over a certain age, you’re no longer taken serious as a musician. Creativity does not age like the body. A boxer my be seen as “past their prime” after the age of 35. But when it comes to art and creativity, it’s endless and ageless. It’s sad that the older you get, the harder it is to make a living off of music just because you’re not a “hot” young person. That’s needs to change.

  • @TM-tn2jj
    @TM-tn2jj Жыл бұрын

    legend

  • @pauldow1648
    @pauldow1648 Жыл бұрын

    Our listening ear is analog. If that helps.

  • @asynchronicity
    @asynchronicity Жыл бұрын

    Terry!

  • @sensevoorhees4619
    @sensevoorhees4619 Жыл бұрын

    is there anywhere to find his sado island galaxy art festival performance? or the music he played through out the video

  • @andresguzmanheim9204
    @andresguzmanheim9204 Жыл бұрын

    Terry Riley is God🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

  • @dehendriklechatwillekens
    @dehendriklechatwillekens Жыл бұрын

  • @thomasmollo3568
    @thomasmollo3568 Жыл бұрын

    Seems like a good and sincere man with a lot of experience and knowledge, who in his searching is thought provoking; perhaps at times more admirable for his experimentation than the results. Plan to listen to more of his work.

  • @PiterMazur
    @PiterMazur Жыл бұрын

    Wow

  • @themoonbootman
    @themoonbootman Жыл бұрын

    Is there anywhere we can listen to that gig? It sounds incredible.

  • @robertbisha7071
    @robertbisha707110 ай бұрын

    About Wolfli, nothing compares with “Cantata Wolfli” by Aperghis