Terry Riley

Classical

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Top Songs By Terry Riley

Listen to Performance Two - Part 2 by Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Performance Two - Part 2Terry Riley

Listen to Anthem of the Trinity by Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Anthem of the TrinityTerry Riley

Listen to Celestial Valley by Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Celestial ValleyTerry Riley

Listen to In C (Remastered 2009) by Terry Riley & Members of the Creative & Performing Arts at SUNY-Buffalo, see lyrics, music video & more!

In C (Remastered 2009)Terry Riley & Members of the Creative & Performing Arts at SUNY-Buffalo

Listen to Performance One - Part 1 by Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Performance One - Part 1Terry Riley

Listen to Across the Lake of the Ancient Word by Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Across the Lake of the Ancient WordTerry Riley

Listen to Church of Anthrax by John Cale & Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Church of AnthraxJohn Cale & Terry Riley

Listen to Les Yeux Fermés: II. Happy Ending by Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Les Yeux Fermés: II. Happy EndingTerry Riley

Listen to Les Yeux Fermés: I. Journey from the Death of a Friend by Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

Les Yeux Fermés: I. Journey from the Death of a FriendTerry Riley

Listen to The Hall of Mirrors In the Palace of Versailles by John Cale & Terry Riley, see lyrics, music video & more!

The Hall of Mirrors In the Palace of VersaillesJohn Cale & Terry Riley

More albums from Terry Riley

Listen to In C by Castle in Time Orchestra & Matan Daskal

ALBUMIn CCastle in Time Orchestra & Matan Daskal

ALBUMRare BirdsOwls

ALBUMPoppy 88ContaQt & Evan Ziporyn

Listen to Maya Beiser x Terry Riley: In C by Maya Beiser

ALBUMMaya Beiser x Terry Riley: In CMaya Beiser

Listen to Terry Riley's "In C" by Galen Spikes

ALBUMTerry Riley's "In C"Galen Spikes

Listen to ICONS - The American Minimalists by Bl!ndman

ALBUMICONS - The American MinimalistsBl!ndman

Listen to TERRY RILEY. IN C by Aleksey Peresidly

ALBUMTERRY RILEY. IN CAleksey Peresidly

Listen to Terry Riley, Stefano Scodanibbio: In D by Ludus Gravis Ensemble, Daniele Roccato & Michele Rabbia

ALBUMTerry Riley, Stefano Scodanibbio: In DLudus Gravis Ensemble, Daniele Roccato & Michele Rabbia

Listen to Terry Riley: Autodreamographical Tales by Terry Riley & Bang on a Can All-Stars

ALBUMTerry Riley: Autodreamographical TalesTerry Riley & Bang on a Can All-Stars

Listen to Organum for Stefano by Terry Riley

ALBUMOrganum for StefanoTerry Riley

Listen to Riley: The Sands by Terry Riley, The Cleveland Orchestra, Calder Quartet & James Feddeck

ALBUMRiley: The SandsTerry Riley, The Cleveland Orchestra, Calder Quartet & James Feddeck

Listen to Ensemble Batida: HYDR-X - Terry Riley: In C by Ensemble Batida

ALBUMEnsemble Batida: HYDR-X - Terry Riley: In CEnsemble Batida

Listen to Riley: Archangels by Terry Riley & Julian Wachner

ALBUMRiley: ArchangelsTerry Riley & Julian Wachner

Listen to Terry Riley: Sun Rings by Kronos Quartet

ALBUMTerry Riley: Sun RingsKronos Quartet

Listen to Riley: The Lion's Throne by Terry Riley & Amelia Cuni

ALBUMRiley: The Lion's ThroneTerry Riley & Amelia Cuni

Listen to Mosaïques by Edin Karamazov & Stefan Milenkovich

ALBUMMosaïquesEdin Karamazov & Stefan Milenkovich

ALBUMCodexBruce Brubaker

Listen to Riley: The Palmian Chord Ryddle & At the Royal Majestic by Nashville Symphony & Giancarlo Guerrero

ALBUMRiley: The Palmian Chord Ryddle & At the Royal MajesticNashville Symphony & Giancarlo Guerrero

Listen to Riley: Dark Queen Mantra by Del Sol Quartet & Gyan Riley

ALBUMRiley: Dark Queen MantraDel Sol Quartet & Gyan Riley

Listen to Terry Riley's in C: 53 Rooms for Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company by Salt Lake Electric Ensemble

ALBUMTerry Riley's in C: 53 Rooms for Ririe-Woodbury Dance CompanySalt Lake Electric Ensemble

Listen to Terry Riley: Four Four Three by Ragazze Quartet, Slagwerk Den Haag & Kapok

ALBUMTerry Riley: Four Four ThreeRagazze Quartet, Slagwerk Den Haag & Kapok

Listen to Riley "in C" by Jeroen van Veen

ALBUMRiley "in C"Jeroen van Veen

Listen to Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector by Kronos Quartet

ALBUMSunrise of the Planetary Dream CollectorKronos Quartet

Listen to ZOFO Plays Terry Riley by Zofo Duet

ALBUMZOFO Plays Terry RileyZofo Duet

Listen to Terry Riley's Dorian Reeds (For Brass) by Matt Starling

ALBUMTerry Riley's Dorian Reeds (For Brass)Matt Starling

ALBUMTerry Riley's Dorian Reeds (For Brass) [2019 Remastered]Matt Starling

Listen to Africa Express Presents... Terry Riley's In C Mali by Africa Express

ALBUMAfrica Express Presents... Terry Riley's In C MaliAfrica Express

Listen to Guitarscapes by Terry Riley, David Hansson, Thomas Hansy & The Gothenburg Combo

ALBUMGuitarscapesTerry Riley, David Hansson, Thomas Hansy & The Gothenburg Combo

Listen to Guitarscapes by The Gothenburg Combo

ALBUMGuitarscapesThe Gothenburg Combo

Listen to Differential Moods by Jeffrey Loeffert

ALBUMDifferential MoodsJeffrey Loeffert

ALBUMminimaLIST ENsemble: In CAlexander Campkin & minimaLIST ENsemble

Listen to New World by Array Ensemble & Michael J. Baker

ALBUMNew WorldArray Ensemble & Michael J. Baker

Listen to In C by Ictus & Blindman Kwartet

ALBUMIn CIctus & Blindman Kwartet

ALBUMAlephTerry Riley

Listen to Live @ De Toonzaal by Amstel Quartet

ALBUMLive @ De ToonzaalAmstel Quartet

Listen to Riley: Keyboard Studies Nos. 1 & 2 and Tread on the Trail by Fabrizio Ottaviucci

ALBUMRiley: Keyboard Studies Nos. 1 & 2 and Tread on the TrailFabrizio Ottaviucci

Listen to In C by Salt Lake Electric Ensemble

ALBUMIn CSalt Lake Electric Ensemble

Listen to Riley: Two Early Works by Calder Quartet

ALBUMRiley: Two Early WorksCalder Quartet

ALBUMCloudsSilo String Quartet

Listen to Autodreamographical Tales by Terry Riley

ALBUMAutodreamographical TalesTerry Riley

Listen to Minimal Flute - EP by Hans Balmer

ALBUMMinimal Flute - EPHans Balmer

Listen to Terry Riley: In C by Terry Riley & Members of the Creative & Performing Arts at SUNY-Buffalo

ALBUMTerry Riley: In CTerry Riley & Members of the Creative & Performing Arts at SUNY-Buffalo

Listen to Riley: The Last Camel in Paris by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: The Last Camel in ParisTerry Riley

Listen to Banana Humberto by The Paul Dresher Ensemble & Terry Riley

ALBUMBanana HumbertoThe Paul Dresher Ensemble & Terry Riley

Listen to Riley: Les Yeux Fermés, Lifespan by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: Les Yeux Fermés, LifespanTerry Riley

Listen to Changes Chances by Elena Casoli

ALBUMChanges ChancesElena Casoli

Listen to Riley, Scodanibbio: Diamond Fiddle Language by Terry Riley & Stefano Scodanibbio

ALBUMRiley, Scodanibbio: Diamond Fiddle LanguageTerry Riley & Stefano Scodanibbio

Listen to I Like Your Eyes Liberty by Michael McClure & Terry Riley

ALBUMI Like Your Eyes LibertyMichael McClure & Terry Riley

Listen to Riley: Cantos Desiertos by Alexandra Hawley & Jeffrey McFadden

ALBUMRiley: Cantos DesiertosAlexandra Hawley & Jeffrey McFadden

ALBUMAtlantis NathTerry Riley

ALBUMIn Cre-sound

ALBUMRiley: Keyboard StudiesSteffen Schleiermacher & Bernd E. Gengelbach

Listen to Riley: In C by European Music Project & Zignorii++

ALBUMRiley: In CEuropean Music Project & Zignorii++

Listen to Riley: In C by Bang on a Can All-Stars

ALBUMRiley: In CBang on a Can All-Stars

Listen to Terry Riley: in C / Steven: Straight On Till Morning / Bregent: Atlantide (Excerpts) by Ensemble de la Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, Walter Boudreau, Ensemble vocal de Montréal & Raôul Duguay

ALBUMTerry Riley: in C / Steven: Straight On Till Morning / Bregent: Atlantide (Excerpts)Ensemble de la Société de musique contemporaine du Québec, Walter Boudreau, Ensemble vocal de Montréal & Raôul Duguay

Listen to Reed Streams by Kcaj Redir, Luoar Yaugud, Naej Dramirg & Terry Riley

ALBUMReed StreamsKcaj Redir, Luoar Yaugud, Naej Dramirg & Terry Riley

Listen to Riley: In C by Terry Riley & Members of the Creative & Performing Arts at SUNY-Buffalo

ALBUMRiley: In CTerry Riley & Members of the Creative & Performing Arts at SUNY-Buffalo

Listen to The Book of Abbeyozzud by David Tanenbaum, Gyan Riley, Tracy Silverman & William Winant

ALBUMThe Book of AbbeyozzudDavid Tanenbaum, Gyan Riley, Tracy Silverman & William Winant

Listen to Terry Riley: Assassin Reverie by ARTE Quartett

ALBUMTerry Riley: Assassin ReverieARTE Quartett

ALBUMJohn Cage: Litany for the WhalePaul Hillier, Theatre of Voices & Terry Riley

Listen to Piano Music of John Adams & Terry Riley by Gloria Cheng

ALBUMPiano Music of John Adams & Terry RileyGloria Cheng

ALBUMOlson IIITerry Riley

Listen to Riley: Music for the Gift by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: Music for the GiftTerry Riley

Listen to Riley: No Man's Land by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: No Man's LandTerry Riley

ALBUMLisbon ConcertTerry Riley

Listen to In C / Djembé by Eddy De Fanti & Terry Riley

ALBUMIn C / DjembéEddy De Fanti & Terry Riley

Listen to Intuitive Leaps: Zeitgeist Plays Terry Riley by Zeitgeist

ALBUMIntuitive Leaps: Zeitgeist Plays Terry RileyZeitgeist

Listen to Chanting the Light of Foresight by Rova Saxaphone Quartet

ALBUMChanting the Light of ForesightRova Saxaphone Quartet

Listen to Riley: Persian Surgery Dervishes by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: Persian Surgery DervishesTerry Riley

Listen to The Padova Concert by Terry Riley

ALBUMThe Padova ConcertTerry Riley

Listen to Reich: Six Pianos - Riley: in C by Piano Circus

ALBUMReich: Six Pianos - Riley: in CPiano Circus

Listen to Riley: In C by Shanghai Film Chinese Orchestra & Wang Yongji

ALBUMRiley: In CShanghai Film Chinese Orchestra & Wang Yongji

Listen to Terry Riley: Salome Dances for Peace by Kronos Quartet

ALBUMTerry Riley: Salome Dances for PeaceKronos Quartet

Listen to Riley: The Harp of New Albion by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: The Harp of New AlbionTerry Riley

ALBUMCadenza On The Night Plain And Other String Quartets (1985 Version)Terry Riley & Kronos Quartet

Listen to Riley: Songs for the Ten Voices of the Two Prophets by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: Songs for the Ten Voices of the Two ProphetsTerry Riley

Listen to Riley: Descending Moonshine Dervishes by Terry Riley

ALBUMRiley: Descending Moonshine DervishesTerry Riley

ALBUMShri CamelTerry Riley

Listen to Church of Anthrax by John Cale & Terry Riley

ALBUMChurch of AnthraxJohn Cale & Terry Riley

Listen to Keyboard Study 2 / Initiative 1+ Systèmes (Remastered 2021) [feat. Germ & Pierre Mariétan] by Terry Riley

ALBUMKeyboard Study 2 / Initiative 1+ Systèmes (Remastered 2021) [feat. Germ & Pierre Mariétan]Terry Riley

Listen to In C by Daniel Brandell, Horn Ensemble D3 & Terry Riley

ALBUMIn CDaniel Brandell, Horn Ensemble D3 & Terry Riley

Listen to Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band: All Night Flight: SUNY Buffalo, New York, 22 March 1968 by Terry Riley

ALBUMPoppy Nogood and the Phantom Band: All Night Flight: SUNY Buffalo, New York, 22 March 1968Terry Riley

Terry Riley's Popular Music Videos

In C (Live)

Oliver Zeffman & Ozero Ensemble

Artist Playlists

Terry Riley Essentials

One of the original voices of minimalism and tape loops.

Inspired by Terry Riley

Music influenced by the minimalist composer and spiritual explorer.

Terry Riley: Deep Cuts

Remixes and collaborations from a classical minimalist veteran.

About Terry Riley

Born

1935

Genre

Classical

A pioneering force of American minimalism, performing composer Terry Riley eventually extended his musical vision to the cosmic. Riley was born in Colfax, CA, in 1935 and studied composition in San Francisco, where he performed his earliest work at the San Francisco Tape Music Center. While the delayed tape loops of his 1963 debut, Music for the Gift, laid the groundwork for electronic dance music, Riley’s most popular composition remains In C. Released in 1968, minimalism’s first masterpiece involves any number of musicians improvising upon 53 short phrases. The following year’s equally influential A Rainbow in Curved Air found Riley radiantly improvising trancelike phrases on overdubbed keyboards and percussion. Extended studies with Indian vocalist Pandit Pran Nath beginning in 1970 added a spiritual dimension to Riley’s oeuvre. After moving away from influential ’70s electronic works like Shri Camel, he returned to relatively traditional compositional styles in works like 2002’s Sun Rings—written for the Kronos Quartet with added vocal chorus and outer-space sounds—and eventually came full circle to concoct ”G Song” for Kronos on the occasion of his 80th birthday.