Steve Reich’s life
The big moments of this life, and what was happening in the world at the same time.
A life at a glance
- 1936👶 Birth
Born in New York on 3 October
- 1939❤️ Private lifeage 3
As a child, often travels by train between his separated parents in New York and Los Angeles
- 1948🌍 Meanwhile
The long-playing record (LP) goes on sale
- 1957📚 Trainingage 21
Philosophy degree from Cornell University
- 1964🌍 Meanwhile
Robert Moog presents his synthesizer
- 1965🎼 Workage 29
It’s Gonna Rain: discovers ‘phasing’ with two tape recorders
- 1966🎩 Careerage 30
Founds his ensemble, Steve Reich and Musicians
- 1967🎼 Workage 31
Piano Phase
- 1969🌍 Meanwhile
First steps on the Moon
- 1970🧳 Journeyage 34
Studies African drumming in Ghana
- 1971🎼 Workage 35
Drumming
- 1982🌍 Meanwhile
The compact disc (CD) is launched
- 2009🎩 Careerage 73
Pulitzer Prize for Double Sextet
Listen to the music
Press the big button to listen. Close your eyes: how does it make you feel?
Steve Reich’s music is still recent: it belongs to its creators and their families. Ask a grown-up to play it for you on the radio or at a concert!
Once upon a time…
Steve Reich was born in New York. His parents lived far apart, so as a little boy he often took long train journeys across the United States.
One day he played the same recording on two tape recorders at once. The two slowly drifted apart… and that created amazing music! That is how he invented “phasing”.
He went to Ghana, in Africa, to learn drumming. He wrote Clapping Music, a piece played only by clapping your hands: you can try it with a friend!
In Different Trains he remembers the trains of his childhood and thinks of the Jewish children in Europe who, at the same time, were being taken away on trains to the camps.
Steve Reich’s instruments
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