In 1972, composer Steve Reich wanted to "create a piece of music that needed no instruments beyond the human body." The result was Clapping Music — a work for two performers in which one claps a simple rhythm over and over again, while the other performer claps the same rhythm, but shifts by one eighth note every 8 or 12 bars.
And now, a new app (called "maddeningly addictive" by The New York Times) developed by Touchpress helps teach you not only the Reich work, but it teaches you about rhythm in general.
While the original work requires two people, you only need your iPhone. The app judges your rhythm as you proceed through the work, and if you mess up, the 'game' ends and you start over.
The composer himself describes the app in the video below:
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