Unexplainable Composing chaos
Oct 8, 2025
Evan Ziporyn, a renowned composer and clarinetist, shares his insights on Terry Riley's groundbreaking piece, In C. He explores the unpredictability of its aleatoric structure, illustrating how each performance breathes new life into the music. Evan highlights the beauty of spontaneity, discussing how small performer decisions create emergent chaos. He reflects on how the piece mirrors life's complex events and emphasizes the importance of listening and presence among musicians. Tune in for a fascinating journey through sound and spontaneity!
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How In C Generates Ever-Changing Music
- Terry Riley's In C is a compositional framework of 53 short patterns that players cycle through at will.
- The piece produces unique outcomes because performers decide timing, octave, and dynamics in real time.
A Dance That Became A Musical Amoeba
- Noam recalls a dance version by Sasha Waltz where dancers embodied the piece's group transitions visually.
- The choreography preserved In C's feel by having groups move together like musical amoebas.
Ziporyn's Long History With In C
- Evan Ziporyn estimates he's played In C roughly 500 times and can't remember when he first learned it.
- He recounts that Terry Riley wrote the 53 patterns on a bus en route to a gig as a saloon pianist.