In The First Person: Steve Reich

Steve Reich List of Works

Stage Works

The Cave (1990-93) 142'

Documentary video opera in three acts, in collaboration with video artist Beryl Korot

Text: Torah, plus Rabbinical commentary (H, E); Koran (Arabic); documentary material (E)

First Performance: 16 May 1993, Vienna Festival, Theater Messe Palast, Vienna
The Steve Reich Ensemble conducted by Paul Hillier

Vocal forces: 2lyrS,T,Bar

2ww (fl, ob, corA, cl, bcl) -- perc(4): vib / marimba / BD / kick drums / claves -- 3 keyboard (pft, sampler, computer keyboard) -- strings (1.1.1.1.0)

Hindenburg (1997-98) 25'

First act of Three Tales, documentary video opera in collaboration with video artist Beryl Korot

Text: documentary material (E)

First Performance (complete): 26 May 1998, Sottile Theater, Spoleto USA Festival, Charleston, South Carolina
Steve Reich and Musicians conducted by Bradley Lubman

Vocal forces: 2lyrS, 3Tr

perc (4): 2vib / 2SD / 2pedal kick dr / susp.cym -- 2 pft (I, II=samplers) -- pre-recorded tape-strings (1.1.1.1.0)

Vocal Works with Orchestra or Large Ensemble

The Cave
see Stage Works

The Desert Music (1982-84) 46'

for chorus (27 voices amplified) and orchestra

Text: from the book of collected poems, "The Desert Music", by William Carlos Williams

First Performance: 17 March 1984, West German Radio (WDR), Cologne
Chorus and Symphony Orchestra of West German Radio conducted by Peter Eõtvõs

4 (II, III, IV=picc).4 (II, III, IV=corA).4 (II, III, IV=bcl).4 (IV=dbn) -- 4.4 (I=picc.tpt adlib).3.1-timp (2 players=rototoms).perc (7): 2 marimbas / 2vib / 2xyl / 2glsp / maracas / sticks / 2BD/ medium tam-t -- 2 pft (4 players: I, III, IV=synthesizer) -- chorus (9S, 6A, 6T, 6B) -- strings (12.12.9.9.6) (woodwinds and voices amplified; strings divided into 3 sections)

Chamber version

for 10 voices (amplified) and orchestra

First Performance: 10 January 1986, Richmond, Virginia
Steve Reich and Musicians, singers and members of the Brooklyn Philharmonic conducted by George Manahan

4 fl (II, III, IV=picc) -- timp (2 players=rototoms).perc(7): 2 marimbas / 2vib / 2xyl / 2glsp / maracas / sticks / 2BD / medium tam-t -- 2 pft (4 players=synthesizer) -- voices (3S, 3A, 2T, 2B) -- 13 solo strings (flutes, strings, and voices amplified)

Hindenburg
see Stage Works

Music for Eighteen Musicians
see Works for Percussion/Keyboards Ensemble

Music for a Large Ensemble
see Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble

Tehillim (1981) 30'

for voices and ensemble

Text: Psalms 19, 34, 18, 150 (Hebrew)

First Performance: (movements 1 and 2): June 1981, Stuttgart
Soloists and orchestra of South German Radio conducted by Peter Eötvös
First Performance (Complete): 20 September 1981, West German Radio, Cologne
Steve Reich and Musicians conducted by George Manahan

1.picc.1.corA.2.0-0.0.0.0 -- perc(6): maracas / clapping / 4 tuned tamb without jingles / marimba / vib / crot -- 2 elec.organ -- 4 female voices (hS, 2lyrS, A) -- string quintet (woodwinds, strings, and voices amplified)

Orchestral version

for voices and chamber orchestra

First Performance: 16 September 1982, Avery Fisher Hall, New York
New York Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta

3.picc.2.corA.2.1-0.0.0.0 -- perc (6): maracas / clapping / 4 tuned tamb without jingles / marimba / vib / crot -- 2 elec.organ -- 4 female voices (hS, 2lyrS, A) -- strings (6.6.4.2.1) (woodwinds and voices amplified)

Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble

City Life (1995) 24'

for ensemble

First Performance: 7 March 1995, Arsenal de Metz, Metz, France
Ensemble InterContemporain conducted by David Robertson

2.2.2.0-0.0.0.0 -- perc (3 or 4) : 2 vib / cym / SD / 2BD -- 2 pft.2 sampling keyboards -- strings(1.1.1.1.1)

Eight Lines (1979, rev.1983) 17'

revised version of Octet

First Performance: 10 December 1983, 92nd Street Y, New York
Solisti New York conducted by Ransom Wilson

2 fl (=picc).2 cl (=bcl) -- 2 pft-strings(2.2.2.2.0)

The Four Seasons (1987) 17'

for orchestra

First Performance: 7 October 1987, Davies Hall, San Francisco
San Francisco Symphony conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas

4 (IV=picc).4.4 (IV=bcl).4 (IV=dbn) -- 4.4.4.1 -- perc: 2vib / 2marimba / 2 BD -- 2 synthesizer.2pft -- strings (18.16.12.8.6)

Music for a Large Ensemble (1978) 15'

First Performance: June 1979, Holland Festival
Netherlands Wind Ensemble conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw

1.0.2.2 sax.0-0.4.0.0 -- perc (7): 4 marimba / 2xyl / vib -- 2 pft (4players) -- 2 female voices (wordless) -- 2 vln.2vla.2vlc.2db (woodwinds, pianos, voices, and strings amplified)

Three Movements (1986) 15'

for orchestra

First Performance: 3 April 1986, St Louis, Missouri
St Louis Symphony conducted by Leonard Slatkin

2.2picc.3 (III=corA).3.3 (III=dbnII).dbn -- 4.3.3.1 -- perc: 2 marimba / 2 vib / BD -- 2 pft(4hands) -- strings (left:6.6.4.4.4; right:6.6.4.4.4)
If required for balance, 1st violin section right may be expanded to 8 players.

Variations for Winds, Strings, and Keyboards (1979, rev.1980) 21'

First Performance: 14 May 1980, War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
San Francisco Symphony conducted by Edo de Waart with Steve Reich playing the organ

3.3.0.0-0.3.3.1 -- 2 pft -- 3 elec.organ -- strings (woodwinds amplified)

Ensemble version

First Performance: 19 February 1980, Carnegie Hall, New York
Steve Reich and Musicians

3.3.0.0-0.3.3.1 -- 2 pft -- 3 elec.organ -- solo strings (woodwinds and strings amplified)

Works for Percussion/Keyboards Ensemble (with or without voices)

Drumming (1971) 57'-86'

for 4 pairs of tuned bongos, 3 marimbas, 3 glockenspiels, 2 female voices, whistling, and piccolo

First Performance: 3 December 1971, Museum of Modern Art, New York
Steve Reich and Musicians

Part 1: 4 pairs of tuned bongos     1712'-25'
Part 2: 3 marimbas (9 players), 2 female voices     18'-26'
Part 3: 3 glsp (4 players), picc, whistling     11'-16'
Part 4: complete ensemble     10'-19'
Note: each of the four parts may be performed separately

Music for Eighteen Musicians (1974-76) c55'

First Performance: 24 April 1976, Town Hall, New York
Steve Reich and Musicians

2cl (=bcl) -- 4 pft -- perc :3 marimba / 2xyl / vib -- 4 female voices (wordless) -- vln.vlc

Music for a Large Ensemble
see Works for Orchestra or Large Ensemble

Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ (1973) 18'

First Performance: 16 May 1973, John Weber Gallery, New York
Steve Reich and Musicians

perc: 4 marimba / 2glsp / vib -- 3 female voices (I, II: long tones with organ; III: melodic patterns with marimbas) -- elec.organ

Proverb (1995) 24'

for voices and ensemble

Text: Ludwig Wittgenstein (E)

First Performance: 10 February 1996, Alice Tully Hall, New York
Theater of Voices and members of the Steve Reich Ensemble conducted by Paul Hillier

3lyrS.2T -- 2 vib.2 keyboard (playing four 5-octave keyboards)

Sextet (1984, rev.1985) 28'

for percussion and keybords

First Performance: 19 December 1984, Centre Georges Pompidou, Paris
Nexus

2 pft (=2synthesizers) -- perc: 2vib / 3marimba / tam-t / click sticks / 2 BD / crot (marimbas, vibraphones, and pianos amplified)

Six Marimbas (1986) 16'-24'

version of Six Pianos (1973)

First Performance: 20 April 1987, Alice Tully Hall, New York
Manhattan Marimba Quartet and members of Steve Reich and Musicians

Six Pianos (1973) 16'-24'

First Performance: 16 May 1973, John Weber Gallery, New York
Steve Reich and Musicians

Typing Music [Genesis XII] (1993) 3'

for percussion

First Performance: 22 February 1991, Town Hall, New York
Steve Reich and Musicians

amplified computer keyboard. 2clapping. 2claves. 2BD

Works for Solo Instrument(s) or Small Ensemble (with or without tape)

Different Trains (1988) 27'

for string quartet and tape

First Performance: 2 November 1988, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London
Kronos Quartet

Duet (1993) 5'

for two solo violins and string ensemble or string orchestra

First Performance: 8 August 1995, Gstaad Festival, Switzerland
ensemble of Gstaad Festival conducted by Yehudi Menuhin

2 solo vln. 4vla. 3vlc. cb (or small string orchestra)

Electric Counterpoint (1987) 15'

for electric guitar and tape

First Performance: 5 November 1987, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York
Pat Metheny

Ensemble version

First Performance: 24 February 1990, University of Southern California
Contemporary Music Ensemble, Donald Crockett

for 11 electric guitars and 2 electric bass guitars

Works for Solo Instrument(s) or Small Ensemble

Nagoya Marimbas (1994) 5'

for two marimbas

First Performance: 21 December 1994, Shirakawa Hall, Nagoya City, Japan
Yukie Kurihari and Maki Kurihari, marimbas

Nagoya Guitars (1994, arr. 1996) 5'

for two marimbas

Transcription of Nagoya Marimbas for two guitars by David Tanenbaum

First Performance: 25 July 1996, Daniel Recital Hall, California State University at Long Beach
David Tanenbaum and Marc Teicholz, guitars

New York Counterpoint (1985) 11'

for clarinet and tape

First Performance: 20 January 1986, Avery Fisher Hall, New York
Richard Stoltzman

Ensemble version

First Performance: 21 June 1987, Florida State University School of Music, Tallahassee
James Croft

for 9 clarinets (1 doubling bass clarinet) and 2 bass clarinets

Version for saxophone quartet and tape

Transcribed by Susan Fancher

ssax.asax.tsax.barsax -- pre-recorded performance CD

Version for soprano saxophone and ensemble

Transcribed by Susan Fancher

solo ssax-4ssax.2asax.3tsax.2barsax

Vermont Counterpoint (1982) 9'

for flute (=piccolo, alto flute) and tape

First Performance: 1 October 1982, Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York
Ransom Wilson

Ensemble version

First Performance: 10 December 1983, 92nd Street Y, New York

for 8 flutes (1 doubling piccolo and alto, 4 doubling piccolo), and 3 alto flutes

Works for Tape

Come Out (1966) 13'

Daniel Hamm, one of the six, is the voice on the tape.

First Performance: April 1966, Town Hall, New York as part of a benefit for the re-trial of the "Harlem Six".

It's Gonna Rain (1965) 17'

Voice of a black preacher, Brother Walter, preaching about the Flood in Union Square, San Francisco.

First Performance: January 1965, San Francisco Tape Music Center

Melodica (1966) 11'

First Performance: June 1966, Park Place Gallery, New York

Reich Interview

1. Starting Out

2. Audiences

3. Orchestras and Acoustics

4. Music as Language

5. Music and Technology

6. New Works

Supporting Materials
Biography
List of Works
List of Recordings
Links

Archive Home

Steve Reich
(photo: John Halpern)

Interview Contents
1.	Starting Out

2.	Audiences

3.	Orchestras and Acoustics

4.	Music as Language

5.	Music and Technology

6.	New Works

Supporting Materials
Biography
List of Works
List of Recordings
Links

Archive Home

Steve Reich's photo, biography, list of works, and discography courtesy of Boosey & Hawkes


	30 W. 26th St., Suite 1001, New York, NY 10010-2011 Tel: 212-366-5260 Fax: 212-366-5265 box@NewMusicBox.org