November 4, 2014 marks the 50th anniversary since the first performance of Terry Riley's In C and the advent of a new way of making music: Minimalism. The work is often cited as the first Minimalist composition and continues to receive numerous performances around the world every year from musicians of all standards and musical backgrounds – from classical to rock to jazz to non-Western. The various recordings made over the years reflect the all-encompassing nature of the work. A new version, led by conductor André de Ridder and presented by Africa Express, was recorded in Bamako, Mali in 2013 and will be released by Transgressive Records later this year. Further details to be announced.
Terry Riley will celebrate his 80th Birthday in 2015 and he continues to be an active composer. His most recent large-scale piece is an organ concerto, At the Royal Majestic, which was premiered earlier this year. His full list of published works can be viewed here.
