Celebrating minimalist composer Steve Reich
Summary
Fresh Air celebrates Steve Reich’s 90th birthday with a retrospective of his career, featuring excerpts from his latest piece, "In All Your Ways." Terry Gross revisits past interviews where Reich discusses the creation of "It’s Gonna Rain," the rhythmic structures of "Drumming," and the emotional narrative of "Different Trains." The episode also includes a review of the new documentary "Nasa," which exposes the mechanics of remote killings in Gaza through anonymous interviews with Israeli soldiers.
Topics discussed
Intro: Steve Reich's 90th Birthday and New Work
Audio: World Premiere of 'In All Your Ways'
1999 Interview: Origins of 'It's Gonna Rain'
Reich on Intuition vs. Intellectualism in Composition
Influences of African and Balinese Music on 'Drumming'
Audio: Excerpt from 'Drumming' (1971)
Determining the Length and Structure of Minimalist Pieces
Reich's Preference for Pre-Classical Music over Sonata Form
The 1973 Carnegie Hall Audience Riot Incident
Sponsor Breaks and Show Transition
Exploring Jewish Roots and Cantorial Notation
Audio: Excerpt from 'Tehilim' (1981)
Early Career Struggles and Finding a Musical Voice
Sponsor Breaks and Transition to 1989 Interview
1989 Interview: Background on 'Different Trains'
Technique: Using Speech as Musical Text in 'Different Trains'
Musical Structure and Shifts in 'Different Trains' Movements
Audio: Excerpt from 'Different Trains'
Audio: More from 'In All Your Ways' and Sponsor Breaks
Review: Documentary 'Nasa' on Gaza War
Credits and Closing Sponsor Announcements
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