Steve Reich

Steve Reich, a New York composer and minimalism pioneer, shares stories from his 60-year career. He discusses the groundbreaking piece 'It's Gonna Rain' and how cassette tape experiments shaped his orchestral masterpieces. Diving into the evolution of minimalism, he contrasts it with complex serialism, blending personal memories and historical context. Reich also reflects on his Jewish heritage, the emotional depth behind 'City Life,' and the innovative techniques that inspire his music at 88. His insights reveal the enduring power of passion in the creative process.

Steve Reich is a legendary composer who was one of the pioneers of minimalism. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music, and the New York Times called him “America’s greatest living composer.” I had the incredible honor of getting to speak to Steve Reich about his piece Different Trains, written for string quartet and pre-recorded performance tape. It was first performed in 1988 by the Kronos Quartet, and they released a recording of it in 1989, which won the Grammy for Best Classical Contemporary Composition. Different Trains is a piece about World War II and the Holocaust. It’s made up of three movements: America – Before the War, Europe – During the War, and After the War. For this episode, Steve Reich breaks down the first movement, which was inspired by his own childhood experiences. For more, visit songexploder.net/steve-reich