American composer Steve Reich's "Different
Trains," a piece of modern classical music, was performed for the first
time in 1988. The composition, which is composed for a string quartet and tape,
addresses the issue of trains and their function in the movement of people
during World War Two, especially in relation to the Holocaust. Train whistles and the somber voices
of survivors remembering their experiences opened the play. The string quartet
joined in as the composition developed with a monotonous, mesmerizing tune that
appeared to mimic the pace of the railway tracks.
The audio samples and
music together produced a powerful emotional effect. When I listened to the
survivors describe their journeys to concentration camps, I was filled with
despair and fear. These emotions seemed to be amplified by the music, whose
monotonous melody induced apprehension and stress. I noticed that as the
performance went on, I was sucked more and deeper into the sound. I experienced
a strong connection to the survivors and their experiences as a result of the
music's ability to take me to another time and place.
The music
occasionally become more strong and frightening, causing emotions of dread and
uncertainty. The selection of the soundscapes gave the impression of being a
voyage through the various emotions we encounter on a daily basis.
I was completely
engrossed in the performance the entire time, my body and mind responding to
the sounds in unanticipated ways.
Steve Reich's Various
Trains is a wonderfully transforming work that left me fascinated and
reflective. I gained a profound understanding of the significance of keeping a
historical record and the ability of sound to provoke strong emotions and
sensations in us as a result of the combination of the well-composed music and
the potent audio samples, which together made for an amazing experience.
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