Photo: Takahiro Kyono from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0 · credits
Tier 3 · vertical & regionalfull biography
Terry Riley
Person · male · United States · Colfax · born 1935 · recording since 1968
American composer and musician (born 1935)
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Also known as Terrence Mitchell Riley · 特里·赖利
Timeline
54 events▣ Album 52◦ Birth 1★ Debut release 1
1930s
1960s
· Debut release
Debut release: In C
First documented Album in the MusicBrainz discography.
source: musicbrainz
1970s
1980s
1990s
· Album
Album: Harrison: Seven Pastorales / Glanville-Hicks: Etruscan Concerto / Riley: June Buddhas from Mexico City Blues
Album
source: musicbrainz
2000s
2010s
2020s
Biography
English biography1,135 words · 5 sectionssource: wikipedia-en · licence CC BY-SA 4.0 · revision 1358578493
Biography
Terrence Mitchell Riley (born June 24, 1935) is an American composer and performing musician best known as a pioneer of the minimalist school of composition. Influenced by jazz and Indian classical music, his work became notable for its innovative use of repetition, tape delay systems, and improvisation. His best known works are the 1964 composition In C and the 1969 album A Rainbow in Curved Air
A Rainbow in Curved AirSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAA Rainbow in Curved Air18:47BPoppy Nogood and the Phantom Band21:40, both considered landmarks of minimalism and important influences on experimental music, rock, and contemporary electronic music.
Raised in Redding, California, Riley began studying composition and performing solo piano in the 1950s. He befriended and collaborated with composer La Monte Young, and later became involved with both the San Francisco Tape Music Center and Young's New York-based Theatre of Eternal Music. A three-record deal with CBS in the late 1960s brought his work to wider audiences. In 1970, he began intensive studies under Hindustani singer Pandit Pran Nath, whom he often accompanied in performance. Subsequent works such as Shri Camel (1980) explored just intonation. He has collaborated frequently throughout his career, most extensively with chamber ensemble the Kronos Quartet and his son, guitarist Gyan Riley.
Life
Riley was born in Colfax, California on June 24, 1935, and grew up in Redding, California. In the 1950s, he began performing as a solo pianist and studied composition at San Francisco State University, the San Francisco Conservatory, and the University of California, Berkeley, studying with Seymour Shifrin and Robert Erickson. He befriended composer La Monte Young, whose earliest minimalist compositions using sustained tones were an influence; together, Young and Riley performed Riley's improvisatory composition Concert for Two Pianists and Tape Recorders in 1959–60. Riley later became involved in the experimental San Francisco Tape Music Center, working with Morton Subotnick, Steve Reich, Pauline Oliveros, and Ramon Sender. Throughout the 1960s, he also traveled frequently in Europe, taking in musical influences and supporting himself by playing in piano bars. In 1965 he came to New York City and performed for eight months with La Monte Young's Theatre of Eternal Music.
His most influential teacher was Pandit Pran Nath (1918–1996), a master of Indian classical voice who also taught La Monte Young, Marian Zazeela, and Michael Harrison. Riley made numerous trips to India over the course of their association to study and accompany him on tabla, tambura, and voice. In 1971 he joined the Mills College faculty to teach Indian classical music. Riley also cites John Cage and "the really great chamber music groups of John Coltrane and Miles Davis, Charles Mingus, Bill Evans, and Gil Evans" as influences on his work. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate Degree in Music at Chapman University in 2007.
Around 1980, Riley began his long-lasting association with the Kronos Quartet when he met their founder David Harrington while at Mills. Throughout his career, Riley composed 13 string quartets for the ensemble, in addition to other works. He wrote his first orchestral piece, Jade Palace, in 1991, and has continued to pursue that avenue, with several commissioned orchestral compositions following. He is also currently performing and teaching both as an Indian raga vocalist and as a solo pianist. Riley continues to perform live, and was part of the All Tomorrow's Parties festival in May 2011.
Musical style
"Where American minimalism, Indian classical raga, barrelhouse piano, modal jazz, and rugged western individualism all intersect, there stands the sage composer Terry Riley. [...] His work exploded listeners’ notions of classical composition with his ever-shifting structures and epic improvisations." Riley was initially inspired by jazz saxophonist John Coltrane.
Techniques
Riley's music is usually based on improvising through a series of modal figures of different lengths. Works such as In C (1964) and the Keyboard Studies (1964–1966) demonstrate this technique. The first performance of In C was given by Steve Reich, Jon Gibson, Pauline Oliveros, and Morton Subotnick, among others. Its form was an innovation: The piece consists of 53 separate modules of roughly one measure apiece, each containing a different musical pattern but each, as the title implies, in the key of C. One performer beats a steady pulse of Cs on the piano to keep tempo. The others, in any number and on any instrument, perform these musical modules following a few loose guidelines, with the different musical modules interlocking in various ways as time goes on.
In the 1950s Riley was already working with tape loops, a technology still in its infancy at the time; he would later, with the help of a sound engineer, create what he called a "time-lag accumulator". He has continued manipulating tapes to musical effect, in the studio and in live performances throughout his career. An early tape loop piece titled Music for the Gift (1963) featured the trumpet playing of Chet Baker. It was during Riley's time in Paris, while composing this piece, that he conceived of and created the time-lag accumulator technique. Premiered in 1968 in the Magic Theatre Exhibition at the Nelson Atkins Gallery in Kansas City, a new version of the installation was commissioned three decades later by Lille 2004-European Capital of Culture and purchased by the Museum of Contemporary Art of Lyon. A third version was built and presented by the Schauspielhaus in Bochum in 2019. He has composed using just intonation as well as microtones. In New York City in the mid-1960s he played with his longtime friend La Monte Young, as well as with John Cale and tabla player Angus MacLise, who were founding members of The Velvet Underground. Riley is credited as inspiring Cale's keyboard part on Lou Reed's composition "All Tomorrow's Parties", which was sung by German actress Nico and included on the album The Velvet Underground and Nico, recorded in 1966.
Riley's famous overdubbed electronic album A Rainbow in Curved AirA Rainbow in Curved AirSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracksAA Rainbow in Curved Air18:47BPoppy Nogood and the Phantom Band21:40 (recorded 1968, released 1969) inspired many later developments in electronic music. These include Pete Townshend's organ parts on The Who's "Won't Get Fooled Again" and "Baba O'Riley", the latter named in tribute to Riley as well as to Meher Baba. Charles Hazlewood, in his BBC documentary on Minimalism (Part 1) suggests that the album 'Tubular Bells' by Mike Oldfield was also inspired by Riley's example. The English progressive rock group Curved Air, formed in 1970, took its name from the album.
Riley's collaborators have included the Rova Saxophone Quartet, Pauline Oliveros, the ARTE Quartett, and, as mentioned, the Kronos Quartet. His 1995 Lisbon Concert recording features him in a solo piano format, improvising on his own works. In the liner notes Riley cites Art Tatum, Bud Powell and Bill Evans as his piano "heroes", illustrating the importance of jazz to his conceptions.
Personal life
He has three children: one daughter, Colleen, and two sons, Gyan, who is a guitarist, and Shahn. He was married to Ann Riley until her death in 2015. Since 2020, Riley has lived in Yamanashi in Japan.
Discography & profile
Normalised profile
Percentiles are computed over every artist in the database, so a tier-3 artist can still sit in the 95th percentile on a single axis.
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 31 | 91th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 86 | 97.3th |
| Studio albums | 52 | 99.3th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 54 | 99th |
| Recording span (years) | 58 | 96.8th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Percentiles are computed at render time; missing values mean the artist has no data on that axis.
Discography (86 release groups · 52 studio albums)
Albums · 52
1968 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 43:00
AIn C23:50BIn C19:101969 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 40:27
AA Rainbow in Curved Air18:47BPoppy Nogood and the Phantom Band21:40Keyboard Study 2 / Initiative 1 (+ Systèmes)
1970 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 48:40
AKeyboard Study 224:00BInitiative 1 (Mixed with "Systèmes")24:401975 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 30:25
A1G. Song3:04A2Mice2:11A3Slow Melody in Bhairavi3:24A4In the Summer6:34B1The Oldtimer2:27B2Delay12:451980 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 43:28
A1Anthem of the Trinity9:23A2Celestial Valley11:30B1Across the Lake of the Ancient Word7:25B2Desert of Ice15:101985 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 1:03:56
1Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector10:262Mythic Birds Waltz16:173Cadenza on the Night Plain37:13In C (Music of a Thousand Springs - Zen (Ch'an) of Water)
1989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 1:08:22
1In C (1964)28:362Music Of A Thousand Springs (1986)15:593Zen (Ch'an) Of Water (1981)23:471989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 1 track · 42:10
1In C42:101989 · studio album
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Tracklist · 23 tracks · 1:58:52
Disc 11Anthem of the Great Spirit: I. The Summons4:572Anthem of the Great Spirit: II. Peace Dance11:023Anthem of the Great Spirit: III. Fanfare in the Minimal Kingdom4:304Anthem of the Great Spirit: IV. Ceremonial Night Race4:425Anthem of the Great Spirit: V. At the Ancient Aztec Corn Races Salome meets Wild Talker2:046Anthem of the Great Spirit: VI. More Ceremonial Races0:507Anthem of the Great Spirit: VII. Oldtimes at the Races3:498Anthem of the Great Spirit: VIII. Half Wolf Dances Mad in Moonlight8:179Conquest of the War Demons: I. Way of the Warrior5:0910Conquest of the War Demons: II. Salome and Half Wolf Descend Through the Gates to the Underworld4:3611Conquest of the War Demons: III. Breakthrough to the Realm of the War Demons2:3812Conquest of the War Demons: IV. Combat Dance3:5313Conquest of the War Demons: V. Victory: Salome Re-Enacts for Half Wolf Her Deeds of Valor0:4414Conquest of the War Demons: VI. Discovery of Peace3:3715Conquest of the War Demons: VII. The Underworld Arising10:23Disc 21The Gift: I. Echoes of Primordial Time11:152The Gift: II. Mongolian Winds4:173The Ecstacy: I. Processional2:104The Ecstacy: II. Seduction of the Bear Father3:125The Ecstacy: III. The Gathering5:426The Ecstacy: IV. At the Summit5:247The Ecstacy: V. Recessional2:068Good Medicine: I. Good Medicine Dance13:351992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 57:25
1Etruscan Concerto: I. Promenade4:052Etruscan Concerto: II. Meditation6:453Etruscan Concerto: III. Scherzo3:174Seven Pastorales: I. For Remy Charlip3:285Seven Pastorales: II. For Ellie and David Decker on Their Marriage1:136Seven Pastorales: III. To Remy Charlip1:537Seven Pastorales: IV. To Fritz Rikko1:368Seven Pastorales: V. To John Cage3:249Seven Pastorales: VI. To My Mother1:4810Seven Pastorales: VII. For My Brother6:1311June Buddhas (from "Mexico City Blues"): I. 224th Chorus6:2612June Buddhas (from "Mexico City Blues"): II. 204th Chorus10:1913June Buddhas (from "Mexico City Blues"): III. 216th-B Chorus6:581992 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:50:05
Disc 11The Harp of New Albion: I. The New Albion Chorale / The Discovery21:342The Harp of New Albion: II. The Orchestra of Tao15:303The Harp of New Albion: III. Riding the Westerleys16:40Disc 21The Harp of New Albion: IV. Cadence on the Wind5:052The Harp of New Albion: V. Premonition Rag6:363The Harp of New Albion: VI. Return of the Ancestors10:044The Harp of New Albion: VII. Ascending Whale Dreams8:345The Harp of New Albion: VIII. The Magic Knot Waltz9:266The Harp of New Albion: IX. Circle of Wolves9:467The Harp of New Albion: X. Land's End6:501994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 1:08:51
1Salome's excellent extension - 1. ---6:482Salome's excellent extension - 2. ---9:143Salome's excellent extension - 3. ---14:084Salome's excellent extension - 4. ---7:375The room of remembrance - 1. ---13:056The room of remembrance - 2. ---5:597The room of remembrance - 3. ---12:00Chanting the Light of Foresight
1994 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 52:02
1The Tuning Path17:102The Pipes of Medb / Medb's Blues7:073Song Announcing Dawn's Combat8:574The Chord of War5:415Ferdia's Death Chant4:146Chanting the Light of Foresight8:53Lazy Afternoon Among the Crocodiles
1997 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 26:24
1Lazy Afternoon Among the Crocodiles5:522En La Siesta El Gladiador4:533Orfeo15:391999 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:06:03
1Francesco En Paraiso5:062Cancion Desierto6:293Quijote4:334Llanto4:365Tango Ladeado3:276Zamorra9:527Innocencia - Se Aparace La Muerte Inocentmente Por La Tarde7:288La Muerte En Medias Caladas Negras6:059Barabas4:5310Asencion13:342000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 56:45
1In C35:402Straight On Till Morning11:353Atlantide (extraits): La Guerre des royaumes / Le Cataclysme - L'Engloutissement / L'Appel du royaume des morts / L'Eternité dans l'abîme / Le Cycle eternel de la vie9:302000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:08:29
1Music for the Gift I5:452Music for the Gift II1:523Music for the Gift III4:364Music for the Gift IV1:205Music for the Gift V6:046Bird of Paradise I5:017Bird of Paradise II6:358Bird of Paradise III4:379Bird of Paradise IV6:4910Bird of Paradise V3:4411Mescalin Mix14:2212Concerto for Two Pianists and Five Tape Recorders7:442000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 1:22:56
Disc 11You’re Nogood20:31Disc 21Poppy Nogood1:02:252000 · studio album
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Tracklist · 13 tracks · 1:05:04
1In C, Part 15:032In C, Part 24:473In C, Part 35:084In C, Part 45:005In C, Part 54:586In C, Part 65:057In C, Part 75:078In C, Part 84:509In C, Part 94:5910In C, Part 105:0311In C, Part 114:4612In C, Part 125:1613In C, Part 135:02Requiem for Adam / Philosopher's Hand
2001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 47:55
1Requiem for Adam: I. Ascending the Heaven Ladder13:232Requiem for Adam: II. Cortejo fúnebre en el Monte Diablo7:093Requiem for Adam: III. Requiem for Adam21:324The Philosopher's Hand5:512001 · studio album
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Tracklist · 1 track · 45:30
1In C45:302002 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:14:01
1Crucifixion Voices5:442Mosque1:053Derveshum Carnivalis3:064Wedding Song2:085Emerald Runner13:186Gha Ten in Darbari4:357Ascencion15:238Ascencion Final Chord Rising2:239Remember This6:0110Only a Day6:0311Even Your Beloved Wife4:5412The Crucifixion of My Humble Self9:212003 · studio album
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Tracklist · 15 tracks · 1:05:04
1Mountain Songs: Barbara Allen2:572Mountain Songs: The House Carpenter2:053Mountain Songs: He's Gone Away5:344Mountain Songs: Cindy2:575Snow Dreams8:236Cantos desiertos: Canción desierto6:317Cantos desiertos: Quijote4:268Cantos desiertos: Llanto4:479Cantos desiertos: Tango ladeado3:2110Cantos desiertos: Francesco en Paraiso5:2211Sonata for Flute and Guitar, op. 25: Nocturne8:4012Sonata for Flute and Guitar, op. 25: Allegro4:0113Windows, Three Pieces for Flute and Guitar: Pavane1:3414Windows, Three Pieces for Flute and Guitar: Cantilena2:1615Windows, Three Pieces for Flute and Guitar: Refrain2:102005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 54:28
1Diamond Fiddle Language I14:502Tritono12:363Diamond Fiddle Language II27:022005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 1 track · 49:04
1In C49:042005 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 48:24
1Uncle Jard, Part 15:212Uncle Jard, Part 28:383Uncle Jard, Part 35:394Assassin Reverie18:505Tread on the Trail9:562006 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 55:19
1In C, Part 110:002In C, Part 210:003In C, Part 310:004In C, Part 410:005In C, Part 510:006In C, Part 65:192008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 48:21
1[untitled]3:302[untitled]42:313[untitled]2:202008 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 42:51
1The Cusp of Magic: Ⅰ. The Cusp of Magic10:042The Cusp of Magic: Ⅱ. Buddha’s Bedroom10:333The Cusp of Magic: Ⅲ. The Nursery5:104The Cusp of Magic: Ⅳ. Royal Wedding6:145The Cusp of Magic: Ⅴ. Emily and Alice4:096The Cusp of Magic: Ⅵ. Prayer Circle6:412010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 30:02
1String Quartet17:592String Trio12:032010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 17 tracks · 1:16:03
1Dwarf2:202Long Bus Ride1:413See Them Out There2:204The Miracle1:515Zuchinni3:026Black Woman3:507The Faquir7:098The War on the Poor4:259The Hook 11:4210The Royal 888:3211A Dervesh in the Nursery13:5012The Hook 21:3213The Ecstacy4:3314Turning4:1315The Hook 31:4916Ebony Horns9:4317We Will Meet Again3:312010 · studio album
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Tracklist · 1 track · 1:05:56
1In C1:05:562012 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 1:53:35
Disc 11Aleph Part 145:47Disc 21Aleph Part 21:07:482015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 18 tracks · 1:07:40
Disc 11Etude from the Old Country12:462Jaztine8:543Tango Doble Ladiado3:114Half-Wolf Dances Mad In Moonlight7:085Simone's Lullaby5:436G Song9:317Praying Mantis Rag3:288Waltz for Charismas4:329Cinco de Mayo12:27Disc 21Etude from the Old Country2Jaztine3Tango Doble Ladiado4Half-Wolf Dances Mad In Moonlight5Simone's Lullaby6G Song7Praying Mantis Rag8Waltz for Charismas9Cinco de MayoAfrica Express Presents… Terry Riley’s In C Mali
2015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 1 track · 40:51
1In C Mali40:512015 · studio album
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Tracklist · 12 tracks · 1:19:31
1In C: Part 16:112In C: Part 23:523In C: Part 37:494In C: Part 46:365In C: Part 58:546In C: Part 610:287In C: Part 73:218In C: Part 86:359In C: Part 97:4010In C: Part 103:3311In C: Part 118:4812In C: Part 125:442016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 57:27
1In C40:352Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector16:522016 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 1:49:20
Disc 11Rainbow In Curved Air (For Organ)1:01:11Disc 21The Persian Surgery Dervishes (For Organ)48:092017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 9 tracks · 1:02:24
1Dark Queen Mantra: I. Vizcaino5:442Dark Queen Mantra: II. Goya with Wings8:063Dark Queen Mantra: III. Dark Queen Mantra11:504Mas Lugares (Su Madrigali di Monteverdi): I. Allegro3:535Mas Lugares (Su Madrigali di Monteverdi): II. Io mi son giovinetta3:246Mas Lugares (Su Madrigali di Monteverdi): III. Largo3:577Mas Lugares (Su Madrigali di Monteverdi): IV. Quell'augellin, che canta3:258Mas Lugares (Su Madrigali di Monteverdi): V. Che se tu se' 'l cor mio6:069The Wheel & Mythic Birds Waltz15:59Eighty Trips Around the Sun: Music by and for Terry Riley
2017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 22 tracks · 3:39:49
1Two Pieces: No. 12:462Two Pieces: No. 26:103Keyboard Studies25:194Fandango on the Heaven Ladder11:105Simone's Lullaby8:396Misha's Bear Dance2:237Be Kind to One Another13:048Cinco de Mayo13:239Tango Doble Ladiado3:0510Waltz for Charismas4:4711Jaztine9:5712Etude From the Old Country14:0513Circle Songs: 14:4314Circle Songs: 27:2315Circle Songs: 34:0016Poppy Infinite8:5917Shade Studies9:2218Sparkita and Her Kittens6:5219Before C4:2720In C Too4:1721Y E A R15:2022A Trilling Piece for Terry39:38The Palmian Chord Ryddle / At the Royal Majestic
2017 · studio album
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Tracklist · 11 tracks · 1:09:22
1The Palmian Chord Ryddle: I. Starting from Here5:192The Palmian Chord Ryddle: II. Iberia6:343The Palmian Chord Ryddle: III. Slow Drag3:134The Palmian Chord Ryddle: IV. Towards the Clouds5:495The Palmian Chord Ryddle: V. For Maresa3:116The Palmian Chord Ryddle: VI. Ghandi - Ji's Danda5:237The Palmian Chord Ryddle: VII. Wedding Music4:228The Palmian Chord Ryddle: VIII. The Afterglow1:339At the Royal Majestic: I. Negro Hall15:3610At the Royal Majestic: II. Lizard Tower Gang4:3711At the Royal Majestic: III. Circling Kailash13:452018 · studio album
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Tracklist · 4 tracks · 43:53
A1In C (Version #1)20:52B1In C (Version #2)7:53B2In C (Version #3)8:30B3In C (Version #4 V.2)6:382019 · studio album
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Tracklist · 5 tracks · 1:17:42
1Lion's Throne10:582Arica21:403Crazy World18:454Cantico16:295Tarana In Hindol9:502019 · studio album
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Tracklist · 2 tracks · 2:19:12
Disc 11In C (Version acoustique)1:14:00Disc 21In C (Version électrique)1:05:122019 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 1:19:31
1Overture1:252Hero Danger7:153Beebopterismo7:144Planet Elf Sindoori7:485Earth Whistlers10:056Earth/Jupiter Kiss6:387The Electron Cyclotron Frequency Parlour5:598Prayer Central16:449Venus Upstream7:1810One Earth, One People, One Love9:052021 · studio album
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Tracklist · 6 tracks · 50:46
1Remember This, O Mind; I. Remember This5:532Remember This, O Mind; II. Only A Day6:443Remember This, O Mind; III. Even Your Beloved Wife9:494Madrigal9:045Archangels; I. Queen of Black Waters6:136Archangels; II. Protection Vigil13:032022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 52:14
1DWARF2:432Long Bus Ride1:403See Them Out There2:414The Miracle2:185Zucchini3:016Black Woman3:527The Faquir7:278The War on the Poor8:309Cannabis11:3610Science Fiction8:262022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 7 tracks · 43:58
1I3:482II8:053III8:404IV11:005V3:006VI7:147Audience / Applause + Terry Riley speech2:112022 · studio album
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Tracklist · 3 tracks · 1:12:38
1Keyboard Study No. 117:522Keyboard Study No. 230:573Dorian Reeds23:49Standard(s)and: Kobuchizawa Sessions #1
2023 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 52:32
1Isn’t It Romantic5:482Blue Room6:093The Best Thing for You (Would Be Me)4:284‘Round Midnight4:445Ballade for Sara & Tadashi (piano)4:366Pasha Rag6:107Ballade for Sara & Tadashi (Synth)5:318Yesterdays8:399It Could Happen to You5:4410Gotcha Wakatcha0:43Maya Beiser x Terry Riley: In C
2024 · studio album
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Tracklist · 10 tracks · 55:05
1In C 17:092In C 28:173In C 36:464In C 45:335In C 52:556In C 66:007In C 71:588In C 83:589In C 94:1010In C 108:192026 · studio album
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Tracklist · 22 tracks · 1:01:44
1The Holy Liftoff Chorale5:022Chorale March1:463Hymn0:574Chorale March 21:165Lift Off Harmony1:296Pastorale1:537Parked Between Two Clouds1:118Chorale (Cameo)1:129Pastorale Hymn0:5310C Major Ishi4:0011Interlude0:4212E-Flat Minor Ishi4:3113Ishi Dream3:2714Pastorale Hymn (reprise)1:0315Flying Snakes1:2216The Realm of the Silver Balloons3:1117The Tragedy of What We Lost7:2818Angels in the Snooker Parlor1:5919Horizon Streakers Rag2:4520All Arise7:2421Pulsing Liftors4:1622Escape3:57
Album · 32
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | Poppy Nogood & The Phantom Band / A Rainbow In Curved AirSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 40:20AA Rainbow in Curved Air18:40 BPoppy Nogood and the Phantom Band21:40 | Compilation | 1968 | |
| 1968 | Poppy Nogoods All Night Flight (The First Ascent)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 39:00APoppy Nogoods All Night Flight (The First Ascent)19:30 BPoppy Nogoods All Night Flight (The First Ascent)19:30 | Live | 1968 | |
| 1972 | Persian Surgery DervishesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 1:30:30Disc 1 AFace 120:45 BFace 222:00 Disc 2CFace 125:00 DFace 222:45 | Live | 1972 | |
| 1972 | Happy EndingSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 37:00AJourney From the Death of a Friend18:30 BHappy Ending18:30 | Soundtrack | 1972 | |
| 1975 | LifespanSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 30:25A1G. Song3:04 A2Mice2:11 A3Slow Melody in Bhairavi3:24 A4In the Summer6:34 B1The Oldtimer2:27 B2Delay12:45 | Soundtrack | 1975 | |
| 1982 | Descending Moonshine DervishesSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 52:32APart 128:18 BPart 224:14 | Live | 1982 | |
| 1983 | Songs for the Ten Voices of the Two ProphetsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 45:181Embroidery22:24 2Eastern Man11:28 3Chorale of the Blessed Day11:26 | Live | 1983 | |
| 1986 | No Man's LandSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 43:03A1Jewel Movement7:13 A2Medusa's Refrain, Part 28:39 A3A Spark From the Infinite, Part 24:30 A4Return of the Dream Collector2:51 B1Jaipur Local6:30 B2Blue Anthem3:35 B3A Spark From the Infinite, Part 15:26 B4Medusa's Refrain, Part 14:19 | Soundtrack | 1986 | |
| 1992 | The Padova ConcertSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 1:18:001The New Albion Chorale - The Discovery19:00 2Cadenza on the Wind4:34 3Premonition Rag13:11 4The New Albion Chorale (reprise)2:13 5Peace Dance12:20 6Turning6:10 7Mongolian Winds8:40 8The Magic Knot Waltz5:27 9The New Albion Chorale (Final reprise)2:10 10Land's End4:15 | Live | 1992 | |
| 1992 | Descending Moonshine Dervishes / Songs for the Ten Voices of the Two ProphetsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 1:36:39Disc 1 1Descending Moonshine Dervishes51:48 Disc 21Embroidery22:09 2Eastern Man11:19 3Chorale of the Blessed Day11:23 | Compilation | 1992 | |
| 1992 | Sky ViewSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 1:02:091Suite in C1:02:09 | Live | 1992 | |
| 1995 | In C: 25th Anniversary ConcertSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 1:16:161In C1:16:16 | Live | 9 February 1995 | |
| 1996 | Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band “All Night Flight”Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 5 tracks · 40:201[untitled]8:21 2[untitled]8:57 3[untitled]8:30 4[untitled]8:25 5[untitled]6:07 | Live | 1996 | |
| 1996 | Lisbon ConcertSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 1:10:381Arica11:44 2Negro Hall14:32 315-165:07 4Havana Man6:26 5Island of Never Anger8:33 6Peace Dance5:49 7Underworld Arising2:35 8The Ecstacy4:47 9The Lake4:17 10Mongolian Winds6:48 | Live | 17 September 1996 | |
| 1998 | Reed Streams / In C (Mantra)Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 1:04:301Untitled Organ20:07 2Dorian Reeds14:57 3In C (Mantra)29:26 | Compilation | 1998 | |
| 1999 | Olson IIISearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 53:571Olson III53:57 | Live | 1999 | |
| 2001 | In C / In DO(M) / In MoscowSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 1:17:271In C / In DO(M) / In Moscow1:17:27 | Live | 2001 | |
| 2001 | Moscow Conservatory Solo Piano ConcertSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 1:13:301Introduction3:57 2Arica Which Segues to Havana Man23:06 3Negro Hall13:31 4The Ecstacy Which Segues to Missigono14:47 5Requiem for Wally7:34 6Song From the Old Country10:35 | Live | 2001 | |
| 2007 | Les Yeux Fermes & LifespanSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 1:07:151Les Yeux Fermes: 1. Journey From the Death of a Friend18:28 2Les Yeux Fermes: 2. Happy Ending18:26 3Lifespan: 1. G Song3:07 4Lifespan: 2. Mice2:11 5Lifespan: 3. Slow Melody in Bhairavi3:16 6Lifespan: 4. In the Summer6:40 7Lifespan: 5. The Oldtimer2:28 8Lifespan: 6. Delay12:39 | Soundtrack | 27 April 2007 | |
| 2008 | The Last Camel in ParisSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 10 tracks · 53:391Un Chameau Triste4:43 2Crystals of Resonance Factor 43:05 3Fez Memory Horns Ballet3:19 4Low Kick Snake Samba7:10 5Diego El Regno6:04 6Trikster Dancing6:28 7Locust Night Dominance5:12 8The Humble Man in Full Colour Feels Heroi6:57 9Flightomatic Hornophony5:49 10A Queen Sensuous and Regal4:52 | Live | 6 May 2008 | |
| 2010 | In CSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 1:01:271In C (feat. Dennis DeSantis)1:01:27 | Live | 27 April 2010 | |
| 2011 | LIVESearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 6 tracks · 1:17:061Las Puertas15:02 2Work Song13:13 3Turning5:57 4Mongolian Winds11:12 5Emerald Runner16:36 6Ebony Horns15:06 | Live | 29 January 2011 | |
| 2014 | Studio session for TambourinenSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracksA[untitled] B1[untitled] B2[untitled] | Live | 2014 | |
| 2015 | One Earth, One People, One Love: Kronos plays Terry RileySearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 49 tracks · 4:45:35Disc 1 1Anthem of the Great Spirit: I. The Summons4:57 2Anthem of the Great Spirit: II. Peace Dance11:02 3Anthem of the Great Spirit: III. Fanfare in the Minimal Kingdom4:30 4Anthem of the Great Spirit: IV. Ceremonial Night Race4:42 5Anthem of the Great Spirit: V. At the Ancient Aztec Corn Races Salome meets Wild Talker2:04 6Anthem of the Great Spirit: VI. More Ceremonial Races0:50 7Anthem of the Great Spirit: VII. Oldtimes at the Races3:49 8Anthem of the Great Spirit: VIII. Half Wolf Dances Mad in Moonlight8:17 9Conquest of the War Demons: I. Way of the Warrior5:09 10Conquest of the War Demons: II. Salome and Half Wolf Descend Through the Gates to the Underworld4:36 11Conquest of the War Demons: III. Breakthrough to the Realm of the War Demons2:38 12Conquest of the War Demons: IV. Combat Dance3:53 13Conquest of the War Demons: V. Victory: Salome Re-Enacts for Half Wolf Her Deeds of Valor0:44 14Conquest of the War Demons: VI. Discovery of Peace3:37 15Conquest of the War Demons: VII. The Underworld Arising10:23 Disc 21The Gift: I. Echoes of Primordial Time11:15 2The Gift: II. Mongolian Winds4:17 3The Ecstacy: I. Processional2:10 4The Ecstacy: II. Seduction of the Bear Father3:12 5The Ecstacy: III. The Gathering5:42 6The Ecstacy: IV. At the Summit5:24 7The Ecstacy: V. Recessional2:06 8Good Medicine: I. Good Medicine Dance13:35 Disc 31Requiem for Adam: I. Ascending the Heaven Ladder13:23 2Requiem for Adam: II. Cortejo Fúnebre en el Monte Diablo7:09 3Requiem for Adam: III. Requiem for Adam21:32 4The Philosopher's Hand5:51 Disc 41The Cusp of Magic: I. The Cusp of Magic10:04 2The Cusp of Magic: II. Buddha’s Bedroom10:33 3The Cusp of Magic: III. The Nursery5:10 4The Cusp of Magic: IV. Royal Wedding6:14 5The Cusp of Magic: V. Emily and Alice4:09 6The Cusp of Magic: VI. Prayer Circle6:41 Disc 51Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector12:32 2One Earth, One People, One Love (from Sun Rings)9:07 3Cry of a Lady5:14 4G Song9:43 5Lacrymosa – Remembering Kevin8:36 6Cadenza on the Night Plain: Introduction2:19 7Cadenza on the Night Plain: Cadenza: Violin I2:34 8Cadenza on the Night Plain: Where Was Wisdom When We Went West?3:05 9Cadenza on the Night Plain: Cadenza: Viola2:24 10Cadenza on the Night Plain: March of the Old Timers Reefer Division2:19 11Cadenza on the Night Plain: Cadenza: Violin II2:02 12Cadenza on the Night Plain: Tuning to Rolling Thunder4:53 13Cadenza on the Night Plain: The Night Cry of Black Buffalo Woman2:53 14Cadenza on the Night Plain: Cadenza: Cello1:08 15Cadenza on the Night Plain: Gathering of the Spiral Clan5:24 16Cadenza on the Night Plain: Captain Jack Has the Last Word1:44 | Compilation | 23 June 2015 | |
| 2015 | Sunrise of the Planetary Dream CollectorSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 16 tracks · 1:15:571Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector12:32 2One Earth, One People, One Love (from Sun Rings)9:07 3Cry of a Lady5:14 4G Song9:43 5Lacrymosa – Remembering Kevin8:36 6Cadenza on the Night Plain: I. Introduction2:19 7Cadenza on the Night Plain: II. Cadenza: Violin I2:34 8Cadenza on the Night Plain: III. Where Was Wisdom When We Went West?3:05 9Cadenza on the Night Plain: IV. Cadenza: Viola2:24 10Cadenza on the Night Plain: V. March of the Old Timers Reefer Division2:19 11Cadenza on the Night Plain: VI. Cadenza: Violin II2:02 12Cadenza on the Night Plain: VII. Tuning to Rolling Thunder4:53 13Cadenza on the Night Plain: VIII. The Night Cry of Black Buffalo Woman2:53 14Cadenza on the Night Plain: IX. Cadenza: Cello1:08 15Cadenza on the Night Plain: X. Gathering of the Spiral Clan5:24 16Cadenza on the Night Plain: XI. Captain Jack Has the Last Word1:44 | Compilation | 23 June 2015 | |
| 2016 | Köln – February 23, 1975Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 40:331Descending Moonshine Dervishes19:45 2Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector8:13 3[untitled]12:35 | Live | 2016 | |
| 2017 | Terry Riley Don Cherry DuoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 53:161The Descending Moonshine Dervishes32:34 2Sunrise of the Planetary Dream Collector20:42 | Live | February 2017 | |
| 2017 | Terry Riley Krishna Bhatt DuoSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 3 tracks · 1:23:56Disc 1 1Song From The Old Country37:54 2Jaipur Local10:15 Disc 21The Harp Of New Albion35:47 | Live | February 2017 | |
| 2021 | 67Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 1 track · 43:35A1Keyboard Study43:35 | Live | 2021 | |
| 2023 | In C IrishSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 8 tracks · 1:58:261In C Irish (High Definition)48:53 2The Gold Ring (High Definition)4:23 3Zoë Conway Acknowledgements1:26 4The Old Bush – Spike Island Lasses (High Definition)4:31 5In C Irish (Binaural Version for Headphones)48:53 6The Gold Ring (Binaural version for Headphones)4:23 7Zoë Conway Acknowledgements (Binaural version for Headphones)1:26 8The Old Bush – Spike Island Lasses (Binaural version for Headphones)4:31 | Live | 3 November 2023 | |
| 2024 | In C — 60th Birthday Full Moon Celebration at Kiyomizu‐dera TempleSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracks · 1:09:301Opening Prayer1:58 2In C1:07:32 | Live | 20 December 2024 | |
| 2025 | The Columbia RecordingsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 13 tracks · 2:41:03Disc 1 1In C41:57 Disc 21A Rainbow in Curved Air18:44 2Poppy Nogood and the Phantom Band21:47 3A Rainbow in the Curved Air (Radio Spot)0:58 Disc 31Church of Anthrax9:05 2The Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles8:01 3The Soul of Patrick Lee2:49 4Ides of March11:03 5The Protégé2:55 Disc 41Anthem of the Trinity9:29 2Celestial Valley11:34 3Across the Lake of the Ancient World7:28 4Desert of Ice15:13 | Compilation | 25 August 2025 |
EP · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | CrossroadsSearch SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 2 tracksACrossroads BCrossroads | 2015 |
Other · 1
| Cover | Year | Title | Notes | First release |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | Live at Glasgow Tramway 26-Apr-07Search SpotifySearch YouTube MusicTracklist · 4 tracks · 1:06:321A Rainbow in Curved Air29:01 2Cinco de Mayo13:33 3Jazz Time9:40 4Etude From the Old Country14:18 | — |
Stats & PK
Percentile within all 23,672 published artists.Put Terry Riley head-to-head →
| Metric | Value | Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| Wikipedia language versions | 31 | 91th |
| Spotify monthly listeners | — | no data |
| Release groups in DB | 86 | 97.3th |
| Studio albums | 52 | 99.3th |
| Awards recorded | 1 | 89th |
| Timeline events | 54 | 99th |
| Recording span (years) | 58 | 96.8th |
| Genres | 6 | 91th |
Awards & honours
| Year | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| — | Guggenheim Fellowship | won |
Line-up
| Name | From | To | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Theatre of Eternal Music(band) | — | present |
Where this record comes from
portrait—Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 2.0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Terry_Riley%2C_Tokyo_8_Nov_2017_%28cropped%29.jpgaliases/urls—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/7bf257bf-19a8-4205-8ae8-98511e50b719discography—musicbrainz · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://musicbrainz.org/artist/7bf257bf-19a8-4205-8ae8-98511e50b719core—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365243genre—wikidata · CC0 · retrieved 11 October 2026
https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q365243seed-list—wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Rileybiography—wikipedia-en · CC BY-SA 4.0 · retrieved 10 October 2026
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terry_Riley
Why this artist is in the database
- List of composers by name
Tier rule: notable long tail (listeners 0, 31 language versions)
Image: Takahiro Kyono from Tokyo, Japan · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Wikidata: Q365243 · MusicBrainz: 7bf257bf-19a8-4205-8ae8-98511e50b719
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