Terry Riley


The Terry Riley Archive Conservation Project

Terry Riley, credited as one of the pioneers of Minimalism in the mid sixties, explored the use of tape loops, developed the time lag accumulator, performed All Night Concerts (10pm-6am). His early compositions were performed, for example, by Toru Takemitsu, and by the experimental music community in England, including the Scratch Orchestra. While in Paris he worked with happening director Ken Dewey and composed the music for his play "The Gift". "Music for the Gift" comprises the Time Lag Accumulator and the Chet Baker Quartet that recorded for Terry at Radio France. These tapes circulated to friends of Terry, including Daevid Allen and Robert Wyatt, who regarded this work as an important break through at the time. The Conservation effort on Terry Riley includes his earliest recordings, all of them previously unavailable with the exception of the Mass Art recording that was limited to 1000 copies.


Contact the Terry Riley site for a complete discography, scores, and related information.

Terry Riley Archive Conservation Effort

"Ocean of Sound excerpt" by David Toop

"The Parametric music of Terry Riley" by Keith Knox

"Relax and Fully Concentrate - The Time of Terry Riley" By Keith and Rita Knox

Program Notes Steinway Hall, 1967

Other Terry Riley related links


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