In C

This album presents Terry Riley's seminal minimalist composition In C, built from 53 short melodic fragments in the key of C that performers repeat and overlap against a steady pulse. The resulting sound is rhythmic and meditative, with interlocking patterns and shifting harmonies emerging from ensemble interplay; because the score leaves tempo and repetition open, different performances vary in instrumentation and duration, giving the piece a process-driven, improvisatory feel. The work's open form and emphasis on gradual change have been influential in the development of minimalism and experimental classical music.