DRUMMING IS A MUSIC COMPOSITION BY THE MINIMALIST COMPOSER STEVE REICH DATING FROM 1970/71, REICH BEGAN COMPOSITION OF THE WORK AFTER A VISIT TO AFRICA AND OBSERVING MUSIC AND MUSICAL ENSEMBLES THERE UNDER THE MASTER DRUMMER GIDEON ALORWOYIE IN GHANA.
THE PIECE EMPLOYS REICH'S TRADEMARK TECHNIQUE OF PHASING. PHASING IS ACHIEVED WHEN TWO PLAYERS, OR ONE PLAYER AND A RECORDING ARE PLAYING A SINGLE REPEATED PATTERN IN UNISON, USUALLY ON THE SAME KIND OF INTRUMENT. ONE PLAYER CHANGES TEMPO SIGHTLY, WHILE THE OTHER REMAINS CONSTANT, AND EVENTUALLY THE TWO PLAYERS ARE ONE OR SEVERAL BEATS OUT OF SYNC WITH EACH OTHER. THEY MAY EITHER STAY HERE, OR PHASE FURTHER, DEPENDING ON THE PIECE.