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.
Section I
Steve Reich Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Section I' by these artists:
We were giants Their scales begin to show, try to make us. We have…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Steve Reich:
Drumming: Part III This text was withdrawn at the request of its author…
Its Gonna Rain He began to warn the people. He said: "After a…
It’s Gonna Rain/ 1965 He began to warn the people. He said: "After a…
Proverb How small a thought it takes to fill a whole…
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David Paul
Thank you for bringing this video back - it was gone for a while and honestly I was a little upset. This is some of the most peaceful, calming music I've ever heard and I frequently listen to it to ground myself.
Macraebeam
Reich is the man- this is a great experiment- shows that his musical construction has amazing bones and strength. It hits the emotional core without sentiment.
Thomas Kayser
Lovely! This is actually a great example of Karplus-Strong/granular synthesis, used in a nice way. Nice sample to use too! I'm certainly rushing out to get the software, thanks for the tip!
Marc Smith
Thank you so much for creating this. It honestly is so tranquil and beautiful that it provides a real musical escape for me. It lets my mind wander and puts me in a beautiful headspace :)
kevvymac
Beautiful. Reminds me of "Signals" from Brian Eno's Apollo album. You've given me an instant favourite.
Mathias Waldmann
Wow, I always considered Reich a master of rhythmn but here, slowed down you see a very different side of his music. I am very much into ambient music and this is one of the subtlest pieces I've heard in a long time and it doesn't come from an ambient composer.
Thank you for this. Truly made my day!
Mathias Waldmann
Now I hear/feel it: Reminds me of Distintegration Loop I of William Basinski.
Marc Smith
Beautiful music to let your mind wander.
M 42
Très belle expérience ! Nous sommes nous-mêmes performants et éprouvons, reconstruisons pleinement ce que nous entendons ou percevons !!
Denise Johnson
Thanks for sharing, very cool. Listened to this on a sunny summer morning, great way to start the day:)