Guitar Ensemble and Quartet will perform Electric Counterpoint live April 20

The Guitar Ensemble and Guitar Quartet will present a joint concert Tuesday, April 20, at 8 p.m. in Rosch Recital Hall. Free and open to the public, the performance may be one of those that goes down in history.

“In addition to programming great compositions by the legendary Cuban composer, Leo Brouwer, we will be performing Steve Reich's Electric Counterpoint, and in an unusual manner,” said guitar professor James Piorkowski.

“Most performances of this masterpiece use a taped accompaniment of 14 guitars playing behind the solo guitarist. We will be performing this live, with all 15 performers and a conductor on stage, and will videotape it for YouTube posting. Our hope is that this will become the ‘definitive’ reference rendition on the internet.”

"Our hope is that this will become the ‘definitive’ reference rendition on the internet."

American composer Steve Reich is a pioneer of minimalist music. Recently call “our greatest living composer” by The New York Times and “…the most original musical thinker of our time” by The New Yorker, this Pulitzer prize-winner’s path has embraced not only aspects of Western Classical music, but the structures, harmonies, and rhythms of non-Western and American vernacular music, particularly jazz.

Steve Reich's music has been performed by major orchestras and ensembles around the world, and several noted choreographers have created dances to his music.

In May 2007 Mr. Reich was awarded The Polar Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of music. The prize was presented by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden. The Swedish Academy said: "...Steve Reich has transferred questions of faith, society and philosophy into a hypnotic sounding music that has inspired musicians and composers of all genres." Former winners of the Polar Prize have included Pierre Boulez, Bob Dylan, Gyorgi Ligeti and Sir Paul McCartney.