Phasing (music)

In the Minimal Music Phasing refers to a composition technique, in which two instruments perform the same, often repetitive voice, one play at a steady pace while the other moved in increasing temporal distance from the first. The two parts thus initially fall " out of phase " and gradually "in phase" (Phase shift). Both voices are perceived as played at the same pace; it merely arise tonally and rhythmically changing auditory information.

The technique had its origin in the " Tape Music " by the composer Steve Reich, are started simultaneously on multiple tape devices in which multiple copies of the same tape loop. Over time, results from the small differences in the band speeds, a " flanger " effect and a rhythmic separation. Examples are Reich's " Come Out " and " It's Gonna Rain." The technique was applied to acoustic instrument ( piano phase ( 1967), marimba phase (1980)); later, the phase shift was also rather gradually executed step by step, as in Reich's " Clapping Music ."

An example from the popular music is " The True Wheel " on Brian Eno's "Taking Tiger Mountain (By Strategy) ".

Playing repetitive phrases with the same speed, but different metric length ( beats per measure ), as in the music of Philip Glass and others, is not phasing, but can be regarded as polyrhythms.

• Musical practice