The headliner at RA's stage at Bloc goes in-depth about the way that African music played a role in his influential early recordings, as well as revealing that he's currently reworking two songs from Radiohead.More ›
The minimalist US composer will debut a piece based on the the band's "Jigsaw Falling Into Place" and "Everything In Its Right Place" at the Southbank Centre in London next year.
Stephen Michael "Steve" Reich, born October 3, 1936, is an American composer who pioneered the style of minimalist music. His innovations include using tape loops to create phasing patterns (examples are his early compositions, "It's Gonna Rain" and "Come Out"), and the use of simple, audible processes to explore musical concepts (for instance, "Pendulum Music" and "Four Organs"). These compositions, marked by their use of repetitive figures, slow harmonic rhythm and canons, have significantly influenced contemporary music, especially in the US. Reich's work took on a darker character in the 1980s with the introduction of historical themes as well as themes from his Jewish heritage, notably the Grammy Award-winning Different Trains.
