Earlier this month I was invited to photograph Terry Riley's PIPE DREAMS concert at the Berkeley Art Museum. It was a pipe dream come true for me since he has been one of my inspirations in my sound designs ever since I first heard his album, A Rainbow in Curved Air, in the late 60's. The complete Rainbow track can be heard on YouTube.
Riley has worked with many of the best-known electronic composers: Morton Subotnick, Steve Reich and Pauline Oliveros, to name just a few. For more information see: 20,000 Vinyl LPs 9: Terry Riley - A Rainbow In Curved Air.
The gallery partitions on the main floor that had been put in place many years ago were removed restoring the museum, designed by San Francisco architect, Mario Ciampi, to its original, wide-open configuration; so, the resulting acoustics were sensational. it was not only a grand event but a spacious one!
The concert drew over 600 people to the show. The crowd sat on blankets, sleeping bags, bean bags, pillows or just sat on the floor. It was an style be-in.
Terry Riley concert audience at the BAM
photo by Styrous®
Riley played solo piano but was accompanied by his son, Gyan Riley, playing guitar on several selections until midnight with only one short break. What a fantastic evening.
