Minimalism

This week’s artists you didn’t know, or maybe you did…

Listening guide to this weeks Spotify playlist

Today we have American composer and a pioneer of minimalism, Steve Reich

Steve Reich

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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.

— Steve Reich

Stephen Michael Reich (October 3, 1936), was born in New York, he studied philosophy at Cornell University before turning fully to music, later training at Juilliard and Mills College under composers Darius Milhaud and Luciano Berio.

Reich’s early works in the 1960s, such as It’s Gonna Rain (1965) and Come Out (1966), introduced his technique of phasing, where identical patterns gradually shift out of sync, creating complex rhythmic textures. He went on to develop a style characterized by repetitive structures, steady pulse, and gradual process.

Key works like Drumming (1971), Music for 18 Musicians (1976), and Different Trains (1988) solidified his reputation. His music draws from diverse influences, including African drumming, Balinese gamelan, Hebrew cantillation, and jazz.

Reich has received numerous awards, including the Pulitzer Prize (2009 for Double Sextet), and his work continues to inspire composers, electronic musicians, and artists across genres. Often called the “father of minimalism” alongside Philip Glass and Terry Riley, Reich reshaped contemporary music by showing the beauty of repetition, rhythm, and gradual transformation.

Interesting facts

He is a skilled percussionist who often performs his own music and has collaborated with other artists and choreographers.

Best songs

Drumming (1970–71), Music for 18 Musicians (1976) And Piano Phase (1967)

Key points to listen to Steve Reich

• Phasing, a signature technique where multiple copies of the same pattern are played simultaneously, with slight variations in speed causing them to go out of phase, creating evolving rhythmic textures.
• Simple, repetitive figures and patterns, often built from tape loops in early works like It’s Gonna Rain, form the basis of his compositions.
• Complex rhythmic interplays, where different instrumental parts are layered and interwoven, creating a dense and rich texture.

To listen to these artist follow the link to our weekly Spotify playlist.