Universal Edition Reich - Clapping Music - 2 Players

Summary of This Score

Composed at the end of 1971, Clapping Music was born from Steve Reich's desire to create music requiring no instrument beyond the human body. While some of his works rely on "phasing" (a gradual shift), this piece adopts a more direct approach: one performer repeats the same basic pattern without ever moving, while the second makes abrupt shifts, moving from unison to one beat ahead, then further, until returning to unison.

This principle produces a unique sensation: rather than a pattern slowly sliding over itself, one hears a series of variations where accents and points of emphasis transform, while maintaining a common pulse. Both in listening and performance, the challenge is subtle: the second performer always plays the same pattern as the first, but starting at different points, which can blur perception and enhance the illusion of two distinct patterns.

This score is intended for anyone wishing to approach contemporary music through rhythm: percussionists, ensembles, composition classes, body percussion workshops, or musicians curious about a repertoire that is both demanding and accessible. Clapping Music also marks a milestone in Reich's evolution, closing his use of gradual phasing in favor of a more immediate transformation process.

Technical specifications

Musical Genre

Classical

Publication

Sheet music

Composer	Steve Reich	Genre	contemporary score, minimalism
Instrumentation	two performers, hand clapping