3 ms·

This one I think is an interestingly specific question. I'm not upvoting it, but I'm not flagging it, either: It might lead to interesting answers. Steve Reich

by unalone 17y ago

This one I think is an interestingly specific question. I'm not upvoting it, but I'm not flagging it, either: It might lead to interesting answers. Steve Reich's Music For 18 Musicians does it for me. It's a beautiful, pulsating piece, with every movement focusing on a single chord, with no progressions for minutes at a time. It's one of the most unique classical pieces I've ever heard, and it gets my mind in a relaxed mood almost instantly.

davepeck 17y ago
You might find some other Reich tunes equally powerful, then. Among the best I've found for programming: Electric Counterpoint, Tehillim [Original ECM recording], You Are (Variations), Eight Lines (the re-instrumented version of Octet), and Music For A Large Ensemble. (Reich has also written some wonderful music that I find harder to listen to in a programming context, including the landmark Different Trains [try the recording that also has Electric Counterpoint], City Life, and the Desert Music [try the San Francisco Symphony recording])
- unalone 17y ago
  I'm a huge Reich fan. City Life is incredible.
- rms 17y ago
  Also check out Terry Reiley...
  - unalone 17y ago
    I've heard that before. Where would you recommend I start with him.
    - rms 17y ago
      I like A Rainbow in Curved Air, but it may be a little distracting for programming work.
      - unalone 17y ago
        That's okay: I'm not a programmer.
        tptacek 17y ago
        You're not? What are you? [edit: that came out wrong]
        unalone 17y ago
        Uncertain. Definitely not a programmer.
    - bingaman 17y ago
      If you like Reich, try "In C". Not sure that I could code to it though. Maybe. PS: It's Terry Riley.