Steve Reich-any pointers?

Posted by: Bruce Woodhouse on 03 October 2012

Caught a piece by Reich on the radio whilst we were on holiday, not entirely sure what it was but was very intrigued. Lovely intertwined strings and very Phillip Glass-like repetition and rhythm (in fact I thought it might have been by him when it first came on).

 

Quick skim through albums available from him is bit confusing, some seem prettty challenging/different.

 

Can anyone give me some pointers?

 

Bruce

Posted on: 05 October 2012 by graham halliwell

Bruce

 

you probably heard mid to late period Reich - as you say more compositional than his earlier experiments with phasing and loops (It's Gonna Rain is a favourite of mine - but I wouldn't start there).

 

I think you would be happier starting with something like Six Marimbas, or his string quartet Different Trains (the Kronos Quartet recorded it late 80's early 90's for Nonesuch).  But if you dip into his post 1980's compositional work for instruments - rather than say tape loops or microphones swinging across loudspeakers - I think you'll find plenty to like.

 

I find his music more complex and less immediately lyrical than Glass.  Maybe more rewarding and satisfying.

 

good luck! 

Posted on: 05 October 2012 by graham halliwell

Doh! how could I forget Music For 18 Musicians on ECM? 

 

And I see thre is a more recent string orchestra version of Different Trains - from your description this is probably what you may have heard.

Posted on: 05 October 2012 by Bruce Woodhouse

That is really helpful. Gives me a start.

 

Bruce

Posted on: 10 December 2012 by Kevin-W

For me, his two masterpieces are "Different Trains" and "Electric Counterpoint", played by the Kronos Quartet and Pat Metheny espectively.

 

They can both be found on this CD:

 

Posted on: 10 December 2012 by hungryhalibut

The recent work WTC 9/11 is stunningly good, and very powerful. The recordings of the spoken parts spin out into the music in a wonderful way - hard to describe, I guess you just need to buy it!

 

The box set, Phases, on Nonesuch, includes a lot of the key works, and is only about £20, though it may be more from a supplier who pays their taxes.

Posted on: 10 December 2012 by Marky Mark

Bruce, you might also enjoy some of the music from the likes of Alva Noto (Insen), Nils Frahm (Felt), Peter Broderick (Music for Confluence), Biosphere (Substrata) and Ryan Teague (Field Drawings).

 

Just my my train of thought when I saw Reich. Have included some suggested starter album names in brackets in case you don't know these already.

Posted on: 10 December 2012 by Bruce Woodhouse

Cheers folks.

 

I had forgotten about this thread and not pursued things but will do so now.

 

Bruce

Posted on: 10 December 2012 by Christopher_M

Bruce,

Late Junction on R3, Tues-Thurs, 11pm, where I first heard Felt.

 

Chris

Posted on: 10 December 2012 by fred simon
Originally Posted by graham halliwell:

Doh! how could I forget Music For 18 Musicians on ECM? 

 

And I see thre is a more recent string orchestra version of Different Trains - from your description this is probably what you may have heard.

 

Music For 18 Musicians on the ECM label is absolutely where I would suggest starting ... a masterpiece of the 20th century.

 

I much prefer Reich to Glass, for what it's worth.