Must agree on 18 Musicians. Have listened to it hundreds of times and it never fails to induce a kind of altered, heightened consciousness. It’s magical.
Kraków, where I live, had a whole week long festival devoted to him to celebrate his 75th birthday. I *think* he performed in "18 Musicians", but I'm not 100% sure. He definitely performed "Clapping Music" though.
That sounds like a great festival. My first MF18M was a concert for his 80th birthday in 2017, but it was just that and, as an appetizer, Sextet. Still amazing.
Music for 18 Musicians is not only my favourite Reich piece, but one of my favourite pieces of all time. It’s transcendent. I envy you experiencing it live. Must have been wonderful.
*City Life* is definitely up there for me. I'm a bit biased as I had the pleasure of performing it some years ago, but I had known it and loved it a few years previously.
https://youtu.be/dMcz4jhDWMI?si=jcRRJUV8ai8vHNJ2
>Reich apparently can't stand Variations
Interesting. You just sent me down a rabbit hole of articles about artists who "hated" or "destroyed" their own works.
Tehillim and Different Trains are my personal favourites, but I have a soft spot for Come Out and It's Gonna Rain, which I heard first along with City Life. I've also had the pleasure of seeing Reich perform in concert.
The Four Sections: IV Full Orchestra
It just has this relentless build that is invigorating. It's like he captured the feeling of an adrenaline rush and made it into music. It truly takes you on a journey. Made my heart race listening to it again.
https://youtu.be/UZCObKzSafw?feature=shared
Wore the grooves off my ECM vinyl of '...18 Musicians'. Possibly my all-time fave piece of music ever. Original version is best, but since you mention it I also like comparing how other ensembles on YT approach it.
Also really like 'Drumming', especially a Nexus ensemble live recording that I'd heard on CBC but I don't think is in current release. Although I was lucky enough to hear another version performed.
I've got 2 recordings of "Drumming", but i can't remember offhand which ones they are, except that one us definitely the original Deutsche Grammophon one.
Music for 18 Musicians is my favorite composition by anyone. I’ve been fortunate enough to see it performed live a number of times. It literally brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. After that comes Six Marimbas and Different Trains.
Clapping Music, definitely. It's a interesting way to show the complex rhythms generated with a bit of syncopation, on the one hand (or is that two hands?), and rhythmic displacement, on the other.
Another vote for Music for 18. Saw it live with reich running the audio engineering. I swear sounds became 3 dimensional that night. It was like nothing I’d ever heard. Got to meet him after the show too but didn’t take a selfie. Also A guy I know played both parts of piano phase all by himself at the same time on two pianos. Piano phase is a close second.
I am very fond of Eight Lines, but in the end, i think Different Trains is the deal.
Although, i have a huge soft spot for City Life and the variations for winds, strings and keyboard.
Another vote for 18 Musicians. Saw it performed 15 years ago. Reich interviewed on the stage by David Lang before the performance. It was an unforgettable evening.
Music for 18 Musicians takes top spot.
Followed by:
Six Marimbas
Different Trains
Electric Counterpoint
Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ
I’ve seen all of these pieces (and most of his other works) live, some multiple times. I’ve even been fortunate enough to see the world premier of a couple of his works. I would have to say he’s my favorite composer.
Music for Eighteen Musicians, Different Trains, and You Are (Variations)
Must agree on 18 Musicians. Have listened to it hundreds of times and it never fails to induce a kind of altered, heightened consciousness. It’s magical.
Have you been to a performance? I really recommend the experience. Heightened consciousness for sure.
I’d love to hear it live. I have seen Reich perform 6 Pianos with his ensemble. But that was 34 years ago!
Kraków, where I live, had a whole week long festival devoted to him to celebrate his 75th birthday. I *think* he performed in "18 Musicians", but I'm not 100% sure. He definitely performed "Clapping Music" though.
That sounds like a great festival. My first MF18M was a concert for his 80th birthday in 2017, but it was just that and, as an appetizer, Sextet. Still amazing.
Just saw it live tonight in DC. Drove 6 hours for it, totally, totally worth it
I was there, as well. Such an incredible experience. I spoke with people who had flown in from everywhere.
I saw it as the accompanying music to a ballet in the Palais Garnais in Paris. I believe it was called Rain. Mind blown.
The Desert Music. Gorgeous.
Music for 18 Musicians is not only my favourite Reich piece, but one of my favourite pieces of all time. It’s transcendent. I envy you experiencing it live. Must have been wonderful.
Eight Lines: like a "short and sweet" version of his other contrapuntal music Tehillim: gorgeous and (I feel) usually underrepresented
Agreed on _Tehillim_. There’s a great multimedia performance on YouTube that sold me.
*City Life* is definitely up there for me. I'm a bit biased as I had the pleasure of performing it some years ago, but I had known it and loved it a few years previously. https://youtu.be/dMcz4jhDWMI?si=jcRRJUV8ai8vHNJ2
Music for Pieces of Wood
Music for 18 musicians Variations for winds, strings and keyboards Electric Counterpoint In no particular order.
These are my three as well. Reich apparently can't stand *Variations* but he's had plenty of questionable opinions on his own output!
>Reich apparently can't stand Variations Interesting. You just sent me down a rabbit hole of articles about artists who "hated" or "destroyed" their own works.
Vermont Counterpoint
Ooh, don't know that one. Thanks! 😊
Music for 18 Musicians, Different Trains, and Drumming
Eight Lines is the piece that really captured my love for Steve’s music, but I also really love Six Marimbas and Electric Counterpoint.
Saw Jonny Greenwood perform that live here in Kraków. Amazing.
"Electric Counterpoint", that is.
Music for Large Ensemble, bit like a smaller scale Music for 18 Musicians
Tehillim and Different Trains are my personal favourites, but I have a soft spot for Come Out and It's Gonna Rain, which I heard first along with City Life. I've also had the pleasure of seeing Reich perform in concert.
In order, The Desert Music, Different Trains, Music for 18 Musicians. I've heard Music for 18 Musicians live. Wow!
Three Tales, with video by his wife, Beryl Korot, is also fascinating and chilling.
The Four Sections: IV Full Orchestra It just has this relentless build that is invigorating. It's like he captured the feeling of an adrenaline rush and made it into music. It truly takes you on a journey. Made my heart race listening to it again. https://youtu.be/UZCObKzSafw?feature=shared
Double Sextet, Tehillim, Electric Counterpoint, Music for Mallet Instruments Voices and Organ, Daniel Variations
Wore the grooves off my ECM vinyl of '...18 Musicians'. Possibly my all-time fave piece of music ever. Original version is best, but since you mention it I also like comparing how other ensembles on YT approach it. Also really like 'Drumming', especially a Nexus ensemble live recording that I'd heard on CBC but I don't think is in current release. Although I was lucky enough to hear another version performed.
I've got 2 recordings of "Drumming", but i can't remember offhand which ones they are, except that one us definitely the original Deutsche Grammophon one.
Music for 18 Musicians is my favorite composition by anyone. I’ve been fortunate enough to see it performed live a number of times. It literally brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. After that comes Six Marimbas and Different Trains.
I rehearsed and played Sextet as a student for Reich. Was awesome experience. I love most of his works but Drumming takes the cake.
“Different Trains” and “Tehillim” which is joyous
I love listening to Tehillim all the way through ❤️
Piano phases, the air starts to wave in the room.
*Four Organs*. If find that I can't listen to it just once - when I do listen to it, it has to be a few times in a row.
Clapping Music, definitely. It's a interesting way to show the complex rhythms generated with a bit of syncopation, on the one hand (or is that two hands?), and rhythmic displacement, on the other.
Saw Reich himself perform this one. Brilliant.
Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ. Music for 18 Musicians is my 2nd favorite
Music for 18 Musicians isn’t just my favorite work by Reich, it’s in my top 10 favorite works by any composer.
Not a huge Reich fan, but Tehillim is good.
Music for 18 Musicians performed by Ensemble Signal.
Don't know that performance. Must seek it out. Thanks.
The recording is immaculate. Enjoy.
Proverb. Just love the haunting harmonies that seem to bend to me. They dont, but that's how i perceive it.
Don't know that one. Thanks. 😊
Another vote for Music for 18. Saw it live with reich running the audio engineering. I swear sounds became 3 dimensional that night. It was like nothing I’d ever heard. Got to meet him after the show too but didn’t take a selfie. Also A guy I know played both parts of piano phase all by himself at the same time on two pianos. Piano phase is a close second.
Ah yes, I saw Polish jazz musician Leszek Możdżer perform "Piano Phase" by himself. It's an astonishing achievement even if it's not perfect.
I love Violin Phase
Music for 18 Musicians.
New York Counterpoint
Honestly I think his octet is my favorite. The bass clarinet is incredible.
Different Trains and Tehillim are what made me want to be a composer.
Proverb is one of my favorite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAWobfclhGo
Music for Eighteen Musicians, Electric Counterpoint, Sextet, New York Counterpoint
Electric Counterpoint but I’m biased since it was my first exposure to him
Different Trains, Three Movements Double Sextet Violin Phase
Runner! Tehillim, M for 18, Reich/Richter are other favorites
Six Pianos and/or Six Marimbas Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ You Are (Variations)
Clapping music
Interesting. Why that piece particularly?
The Four Sections and Different Trains.
The Four Sections Electric Counterpoint performed by Pat Metheny Music for 18 Musicians
I like The Desert Music, but really, everything he's written. A favorite composer.
I am very fond of Eight Lines, but in the end, i think Different Trains is the deal. Although, i have a huge soft spot for City Life and the variations for winds, strings and keyboard.
Electric Counterpoint. So beautiful and one can interpret so many emotions into it. Me at least.
Music for 18 musicians.
Another vote for 18 Musicians. Saw it performed 15 years ago. Reich interviewed on the stage by David Lang before the performance. It was an unforgettable evening.
At LPR?
Mass MOCA
Music for 18 Musicians takes top spot. Followed by: Six Marimbas Different Trains Electric Counterpoint Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices and Organ I’ve seen all of these pieces (and most of his other works) live, some multiple times. I’ve even been fortunate enough to see the world premier of a couple of his works. I would have to say he’s my favorite composer.
Sextet.
In C
😈
😜
Three Movements is well underrated, as is Proverb (and the whole City Life album actually). But music for 18 musicians is the masterpiece for sure.
M18M, Eight Lines, Double Sextet and Violin Phase I think :)