Raga vocalist and village greeter Michael Stirling joins host daniel flessas for a look at the life and music of one of Western Classical Music's experimental pioneers. He is widely recognized as one of the founders of what became known as Minimalism, and was a pioneer of the movement when he released the 1964 album IN C. It's impact was to change the course of 20th Century music, it's influence showing up in later works by Steve Reich, Philip Glass and John Adams and in the more innovative rock musicians, such as Pete Townshend's The Who, Edgar Froese's Tangerine Dream, Soft Machine, Curved Air and many others.
While his early work was influenced by Stockhausen, he changed direction in 1960 after meeting his lifelong friend, LaMonte Young, whose radical approach to time made a big impact on Terry. His most influential teacher without a doubt, however, was Pandit Pran Nath who he became a disciple of in 1970.
Since then and for over 40 years, Terry Riley has been performing classical Indian vocal music and teaches raga singing seminars, but tonight for two hours, we will trace the sometimes wild, psychedelic and varied musical path of his wide-ranging musical influences over the course of his life.
Michael Stirling, a student and friend of Terry Riley's and also a disciple of Pandit Pran Nath, also performs and teaches N. Indian raga singing and lives in Portland.
- KBOO