Steve Reich

Steve Reich (born October 3, 1936) is an American composer widely regarded as one of the pioneers of minimalism and one of the most influential figures in contemporary classical music. Born in New York City and raised partly in California, Reich studied philosophy at Cornell University before turning to music, earning degrees from The Juilliard School and Mills College. Early in his career, he was drawn to the possibilities of rhythmic repetition, gradual process, and tonal clarity—elements that would become hallmarks of his style.

In the 1960s, Reich began experimenting with tape loops and phase shifting, techniques that produced subtle rhythmic and harmonic changes over time. Works such as It’s Gonna Rain (1965) and Come Out (1966) demonstrated his groundbreaking approach to sound and structure, influencing not only classical music but also electronic and popular music. He soon transitioned these ideas to live performance, creating instrumental pieces like Piano Phase (1967) and Violin Phase (1967) that explored similar gradual processes using acoustic instruments.

Reich’s music often draws from non-Western traditions, incorporating rhythmic patterns from African drumming, Balinese gamelan, and Hebrew cantillation. His travels to Ghana in the early 1970s deeply informed works such as Drumming (1971), which expanded his rhythmic language and marked a turning point in his career. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, pieces like Music for 18 Musicians (1976) and Tehillim (1981) brought him increasing acclaim, blending pulsating rhythms, shifting harmonies, and a sense of spiritual openness.

In later decades, Reich continued to evolve his style, tackling historical and political subjects in works such as Different Trains (1988), which juxtaposes live string quartet with recorded speech and train sounds to reflect on his childhood train journeys in the U.S. during World War II alongside the trains that carried Jews to concentration camps in Europe. Other notable works include The Cave (1993), City Life (1995), and WTC 9/11 (2010), each combining his signature rhythmic drive with innovative use of recorded voices and instrumental textures.

Over his long career, Steve Reich has been awarded numerous honors, including the Pulitzer Prize for Music (2009) for Double Sextet, the Grammy Award for Best Small Ensemble Performance, and the Polar Music Prize. His influence extends beyond classical music into jazz, rock, and electronic genres, with artists from Brian Eno to Radiohead citing his work as an inspiration. Today, he remains a central figure in contemporary music, admired for his ability to combine intellectual rigor, rhythmic vitality, and emotional resonance.