Steve Reich
Steve Reich
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Full Name and Common Aliases
Steve Reich is an American composer known for his innovative use of minimalism in music. His full name is Steven Paul Reich.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on October 3, 1936, in New York City, USA, Steve Reich continues to be active in the music scene to this day.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Nationality: American
Profession: Composer, Musician, Philosopher
Early Life and Background
Steve Reich grew up in a family that valued art and culture. His father was a painter and an art dealer, while his mother was a pianist. Reich began taking piano lessons at the age of six and went on to study music theory at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). However, he soon became disillusioned with traditional Western music and its formal structures.
Major Accomplishments
In 1963, Steve Reich began experimenting with tape loops, creating a new sound that was repetitive yet evolving. This approach led to his development of minimalism, which emphasized simplicity and rhythmic patterns. His early compositions, such as "It's Gonna Rain" (1965) and "Come Out" (1966), showcased this innovative style.
Notable Works or Actions
Steve Reich's notable works include:
Music for 18 Musicians (1974-76): A six-movement composition that showcases his use of minimalism.
Drumming (1970-71): A four-part work featuring a large ensemble and intricate rhythms.
* Different Trains (1988): An opera incorporating speech, music, and electronic elements.
Impact and Legacy
Steve Reich's impact on modern music is immense. He has influenced countless composers, musicians, and producers across genres. His emphasis on simplicity, repetition, and rhythm has led to the development of new musical styles, such as ambient and techno.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Steve Reich's innovative approach to music, combined with his philosophical outlook, makes him a significant figure in the art world. His quotes often touch on the relationship between sound, silence, and human experience:
> "Music is what I am. It's not something I do."
This quote encapsulates Reich's holistic view of music as an integral part of life itself. As a composer, musician, and philosopher, Steve Reich continues to inspire new generations with his groundbreaking work.
His legacy serves as a reminder that art can be both beautiful and thought-provoking.
Quotes by Steve Reich
I discovered that the most interesting music of all was made by simply lining the loops in unison, and letting them slowly shift out of phase with other.
I discovered that the most interesting music of all was made by simply lining the loops in unison, and letting them slowly shift out of phase with other...
All great music is contemporary. If it's still alive and kicking, then it's contemporary. If it fades away, it was a period piece. It had its moment, and that was it.
I don't care how much people understand what it is that I'm doing, except if they're players in my ensemble or other ensembles. I just want people to be moved by the music. If you're not moved by the music, then everything else falls away. You're not interested in the text, you're not interested in how it was done, and you're not interested in interviewing the composer and all the rest of it.
I write music, and I want people to listen to it and care about it and have it make some difference in their lives. When I'm fortunate for that to happen, then of course I feel very, very good about it.
It's very important for any artist, in any field, to take their own temperature and check out their own energy, and see what it is they ought to be doing to keep the energy up. Because if your energy is not up, you're going to come up with some really dreary piece of work that no one's going to enjoy.
in serial music, the series itself is seldom audible... What I'm interested in is a compositional process and a sounding music that are one in the same thing.
Up to the age of 14 I had not heard a note of anything before 1750, never heard a note of Bach, never heard anything after Wagner, and never heard any real jazz.
All music does come from a time and place. I was born and raised in New York. I moved out of New York, but it's inside of me and it will be inside of me until they put me in a box in the ground.