A Catchy Melody

Back in the late 1960’s, my mother listened to KING-FM in Seattle. It was (and still is) a classical music station. Today I understand it is non-commercial, but back then it was a commercial station.

If there are any commercial classical stations today, they tend to play the “Top 40” of classical music. Back then, KING-FM would play a wide range of music, anywhere from Gregorian Chants to Aaron Copeland. They would also play contemporary compositions as well.

One such piece was by American composer Terry Riley called In C. This piece is named for the fact that there is one instrument or another playing a C note as something of a metronome throughout the piece. It may be buried from time to time, but it is always there. I think I can guarantee that this won’t be an ear-worm.

A few years ago I was talking to a musician and I mentioned In C to him. He was impressed that I knew of it, as not many people do.

Now you are part of an elite club.