Stephen Michael Reich (born October 3, 1936 in New York City) is an America… Read Full Bio ↴Stephen Michael Reich (born October 3, 1936 in New York City) is an American composer. He is a pioneer of minimalism, although his music has increasingly deviated from a purely minimalist style. Reich's innovations include using tape loops to create phasing patterns (examples are his early compositions, "It's Gonna Rain" and "Come Out"), and the use of processes to create and explore musical concepts (for instance, "Pendulum Music" and ""Four Organs"). These compositions, marked by their use of repetitive figures and phasing effects, have significantly influenced contemporary music, especially that of his country.
The Guardian has described Reich as one of the few composers to have "altered the direction of musical history."
Reich often cites Pérotin, J.S. Bach, Debussy and Stravinsky as composers he admires, whose tradition he wished as a young composer to become part of. Jazz is a major part of the formation of Reich's musical style, and two of the earliest influences on his work were vocalists Ella Fitzgerald and Alfred Deller, whose emphasis on the artistic capabilities of the voice alone with little vibrato or other alteration was an inspiration to his earliest works. John Coltrane's style, which Reich has described as "playing a lot of notes to very few harmonies", also had an impact; of particular interest was the album "Africa/Brass", which "was basically a half-an-hour in F." Reich's influence from jazz includes its roots, also, from the West African music he studied in his readings and visit to Ghana. Other important influences are Kenny Clarke and Miles Davis, and visual artist friends such as Sol Lewitt and Richard Serra.
Reich's music is published by Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishing, www.boosey.com/reich.
Steve Reich won the Polar prize in 2007.
The Guardian has described Reich as one of the few composers to have "altered the direction of musical history."
Reich often cites Pérotin, J.S. Bach, Debussy and Stravinsky as composers he admires, whose tradition he wished as a young composer to become part of. Jazz is a major part of the formation of Reich's musical style, and two of the earliest influences on his work were vocalists Ella Fitzgerald and Alfred Deller, whose emphasis on the artistic capabilities of the voice alone with little vibrato or other alteration was an inspiration to his earliest works. John Coltrane's style, which Reich has described as "playing a lot of notes to very few harmonies", also had an impact; of particular interest was the album "Africa/Brass", which "was basically a half-an-hour in F." Reich's influence from jazz includes its roots, also, from the West African music he studied in his readings and visit to Ghana. Other important influences are Kenny Clarke and Miles Davis, and visual artist friends such as Sol Lewitt and Richard Serra.
Reich's music is published by Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishing, www.boosey.com/reich.
Steve Reich won the Polar prize in 2007.
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32The Desert Music: First Movement (Fast)7:54Steve Reich and Musicians, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Chorus & Michael Tilson Thomas
33The Desert Music: Second Movement (Moderate)6:59Steve Reich and Musicians, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Chorus & Michael Tilson Thomas
34The Desert Music: Third Movement Pt. One (Slow)7:00Steve Reich and Musicians, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Chorus & Michael Tilson Thomas
35The Desert Music: Third Movement Pt. Two (Moderate)5:54Steve Reich and Musicians, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Chorus & Michael Tilson Thomas
36The Desert Music: Third Movement Pt. Three (Slow)5:55Steve Reich and Musicians, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Chorus & Michael Tilson Thomas
37The Desert Music: Fourth Movement (Moderate)3:35Steve Reich and Musicians, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Chorus & Michael Tilson Thomas
38The Desert Music: Fifth Movement (Fast)10:48Steve Reich and Musicians, Brooklyn Philharmonic and Chorus & Michael Tilson Thomas
47The Four Sections - I. Strings (with Winds and Brass)11:25Steve Reich, London Symphony Orchestra & Michael Tilson Thomas
48The Four Sections - II. Percussion2:30Steve Reich, London Symphony Orchestra & Michael Tilson Thomas
49The Four Sections - III. Winds and Brass (with Strings)5:54Steve Reich, London Symphony Orchestra & Michael Tilson Thomas
50The Four Sections - IV. Full Orchestra6:14Steve Reich, London Symphony Orchestra & Michael Tilson Thomas
81City Life: III. "It's Been A Honeymoon - Can't Take No Mo"4:47The Steve Reich Ensemble & Bradley Lubman
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Works 1965-1995
Steve Reich Lyrics
Drumming: Part III This text was withdrawn at the request of its author…
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