Reich on Art, Politics, and His Friendship with Philip Glass

Steve Reich makes music that sounds like patterns. His music is called “minimalist.”  

Minimalist Music: Repeating Sounds

• Minimalist music repeats sounds.  
• The sounds change slowly.
• This makes you listen closely.

Steve Reich and David Bowie

• David Bowie liked Steve Reich’s music.  
• Bowie went to see Reich play.  
• Bowie’s music used some of Reich’s ideas.  

Making Music: Tools and Help

• Reich used drums and other things to make music.  
• He needed help to buy some of his instruments.

Steve Reich and Philip Glass: Friends and Work

• Reich and Philip Glass were friends.  
• They worked together.
• They had some problems, but became friends again.
• They ran a moving company together.

Steve Reich and the Grateful Dead

• Reich worked with Phil Lesh from the Grateful Dead.
• They both liked making new kinds of music.

Rock and New Music

• Reich liked the band Radiohead.  
• He made music from their songs.

Music and Streaming

• Some of Reich’s songs are long.
• Streaming music makes it hard to listen to long songs.
• Short songs are good for streaming.

Art and Politics

• Reich thinks music can make you feel things.
• He does not think music can change politics.  
• He thinks art has limits.

Jewish Music

• Reich uses Jewish music in his songs.  
• He uses old singing styles.

Also Read: François Ozon Talks Sex, Death, and Filmmaking Evolution in ‘When Autumn Falls’—From Provocation to Tasteful Eroticism

Music From All Over

• Reich uses music from many places.
• He mixes different sounds.

What Do You Think?

• What Steve Reich songs do you like?
• Please leave a comment.
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