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Terry Riley (b. 1935)


Terry Riley Main Page


Bird Of Paradise (1965)

  1. Bird of Paradise, Part 1 (5:01)
  2. Bird of Paradise, Part 2 (6:34)
  3. Bird of Paradise, Part 3 (4:36)
  4. Bird of Paradise, Part 4 (6:49)
  5. Bird of Paradise, Part 5 (3:44)
Bird of Paradise (1965) recorded in San Francisco at Terry Riley's studio and uses the Junior Walker and his All-Stars song "Shotgun" as its source material.

""Bird of Paradise" is an early example of "plunderphonics," with heavy R&B soul jams, pop tunes, classical music, and who knows what else cut and looped with noise and effects, making them nearly unrecognizable by playing with different speeds and sonorities. Riley made something truly original. When it can be found, the groove itself becomes infectious, but just as it does, it is transformed into something else. Steve Reich used this method later to great effect on "It's Gonna Rain" and other recordings from the period.


RELATED RESOURCES:
Terry Riley in UbuWeb Historical
Terry Riley in UbuWeb Film