2009 marked the 45th anniversary of Terry Riley’s minimalist manifesto In C, and to celebrate the occasion Innova offers a group of “remixes” from 15 individual composers and one collaborating duo. Remixes are the fashion for today’s classical composers steeped in contemporary pop music and DJ culture, and happily, each of these 16 tracks treats Riley’s material with affection and high spirits while projecting their own individual viewpoints.
Certain ones stand out. Jack Dangers’ “In C–Semi-Detached” launches into In C more or less according to Hoyle before slow-moving, whooshing textures and sustained chords slowly enter the fray. Mason Bates, in his “Masonic” persona, makes liberal use of popping percussive effects and gorgeous, strategically-placed piano chords, presenting Riley’s repeating patterns largely in reverse sequence. DJ Spooky That Subliminal Kid’s remix is essentially Riley, laced with sustained timbres and subtle rhythmic manipulation. Daniel Bernard Roumain’s “Zachary’s Dream” features the violinist/composer emerging center-stage in the final few minutes. Perhaps the Mikael Karlsson/Rob Stephenson collaboration “Xenoglossia” strays farthest from the source, with its almost static transparency and collage-like juxtapositions. String-like sonorities in lower and higher registers shift and wander around without going anywhere in David Lang’s “simple mix”.
Best of all, however, is the original In C itself, where the Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble under Bill Ryan presents one of the most colorful, texturally varied, rhythmically incisive, and intensely expressive renditions I’ve ever experienced, live or on disc. It may be brief (20 minutes), but it has a lot to say. If you’re an In C fan, you’ll surely want this stimulating and exceptionally well-engineered release.
