Talk:Steve Reich

Oh Dem Watermelons

Is the music from Oh Dem Watermelons definitely phasing? I've never heard it, but I was under the impression that it wasn't. As far as I can make out, it's a close vocal canon which has many of the same effects as the phasing tape pieces (recognisable words being reduced to a series of abstract sounds), but it doesn't actually phase. Though I could be wrong. --Camembert

No, it isn't a phase work. I don't know about its production, but it sounds strongly like it still is a tape-cut-and-splice style work, though. You are quite right though with its canonic nature, however. Dysprosia 12:37, 13 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Thanks - I guess the article needs a little fiddling with. Has a recording of it been released, by the way? I need to track it down if so... --Camembert

I don't know. I can't remember where I heard it, it was a while ago... Sorry :/ Dysprosia 12:57, 13 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Ah well - thanks anyway. --Camembert

Glad to be of some help, at least :) Dysprosia 13:03, 13 Sep 2003 (UTC)

Pronunciation

How do you pronounce "Reich" -- is it (1) [raItS], (2) [reIk] or (3) something else?
valter 07:36, 27 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I've heard both reissh and reikh (as in loch). I think the latter is more correct. Dysprosia 08:33, 27 Sep 2004 (UTC)

He pronounces it: reissh. Jimaltieri 07:19, 28 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I've pronounced it Rike for decades and just recently heard an NPR person pronounce it Rishe (the e is to make the i long). It looks like a German name to me. The English language has no sound equivalent to the German "ch".TheScotch 08:12, 25 February 2007 (UTC)

It is a German name, and in German would be pronounced indeed as "reikh (as in loch)". However, there is no logic in how names, especially of foreign origin, are pronounced, so whatever Mr. Reich uses himself should be taken as correct. 82.176.216.87 11:31, 16 September 2007 (UTC)

Actually, in German it would be pronounced [RaIC], that is, pretty close to "reish." (The actual [C] sound is more or less like the consonant at the beginning of the word "human"). "Reish" is definitely the way he pronounces it (though I don't have a source on hand to support that).Masily box (talk) 20:12, 6 May 2008 (UTC)

I was under the impression that the ending "ch" was pronounced like that of the word "rich." Not quite "rike" or "reissh." "Riche." —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.104.2.130 (talk) 13:01, 13 March 2009 (UTC)

Influence

I think the statement that Reich influenced King Crimson is a subjective statement. I've read where Robert Fripp claims that he had never even heard any of Reich's music prior to KC's eighties trilogy. He goes on to say that both Crimson's music and Reich's were influenced by the Javanese Gamelians(I know that's spelled wrong)207.157.121.50 22:17, 15 October 2005 (UTC)mightyafrowhitey

The Guardian

An article in today's Guardian (http://technology.guardian.co.uk/opinion/story/0,16541,1599325,00.html) has a comment on this entry from Mike Barne of serious new-music magazine The Wire (http://www.thewire.co.uk/about/about.php). Anyone willing to contact him to have him help out? I'm new to all this, and hardly qualified -- don't know how to edit very well myself! 70.80.27.104 01:37, 24 October 2005 (UTC)

We may formulate a response, please see: Wikipedia:Village_pump_(news)#Guardian_article. --bodnotbod 22:24, 24 October 2005 (UTC)

To do

1. Not yet mentioned: Sextet, Octet, Music for a Large Ensemble, probably others.
2. The various "counterpoint" pieces - I finally found a recording of Vermont Counterpoint for flute recently (it has also been set for marimba, as Tokyo/Vermont Counterpoint). I know there's also New York Counterpoint, for clarinet.
3. Some mention of the fact that Reich's work is now entering the repertoire - it's not just Reich who is recording his own works these days.

I saw Reich in concert about twenty years ago, and he gave a talk beforehand. He was enthusiastic about Junior Walker's Shotgun as an early influence - I think because it had a simple bassline which repeated without variation throughout the whole song. He was very dismissive of his work being described as "minimalism", saying there was a trend to name musical developments after contemporary schools of painting and he didn't think the word applied to his music. I've got the programme somewhere, I'll try to find it.

Critical review in the Guardian

A critical review of this article was published in The Guardian (see this external link Can you trust Wikipedia Monday October 24, 2005). The comments can be use as feedback to help to improve the article.

Overall mark: 7/10 by Mike Barnes (interviews Steve Reich in the current edition of Wire.)

--Philip Baird Shearer 09:57, 22 November 2005 (UTC)

Here's a start on the points mentioned. Hyacinth 09:17, 15 December 2005 (UTC)

• Was Steve Reich friends with Sol Lewitt and Richard Serra? Do their articles reference him back?
• Discussion of major compositions beside Four Organs.

I attended a recent interview with Reich, in which he mentioned his early art friends & associates with Richard Serra being amoungst them. - John

Sparks

Hi all. I'm doing some work on the Sparks article and while coming up with something on their lyrical style, which on recent albums, Lil Beethoven and Hello Young Lovers, uses repeating lyrical motifs which struck me as being, more than likely, influenced by Reich but I haven't come across any references to this in my research. If anybody has anything on this possible link it would be a great help if you could drop a line on the talk page. Regards KaptKos 09:49, 26 April 2006 (UTC)

Visit to Ghana

I seem to recall reading somewhere that he planned to spend a year in Ghana (having won a Fulbright to do so) but had to return after a few weeks because of contracting malaria. Any confirmation anywhere? Wspencer11 13:28, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Impact of Stravinsky

Shouldn't there be a note somewhere about how he reacted when he first heard Stravinsky's Rite of Spring? I know I read somewhere that he has said it was crucial to his development as a musician. Wspencer11 13:38, 26 July 2006 (UTC)

Since Stravinsky was the most important classical composer of the 20th century, it hardly seems necessary to point this out. It's like saying that a rock band was influenced by the Beatles, when they all were. Richard K. Carson (talk) 07:24, 24 January 2009 (UTC)

Clarification?

This sentence in the article needs clarification: "Human voices are part of the musical pallette in Music for a Large Ensemble but the voices carry no meaning." Does this mean the voices sing using abstract vowel sounds or something like that? Or that they use nonsense words? Or that there are real words but they are used in an abstract way? --Wspencer11 (talk to me...) 13:33, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

They go "...boobooboo..." and "...weeweewee..." and sounds like that. Maybe a short audio clip is in order? —Keenan Pepper 16:13, 1 September 2006 (UTC)

Infobox

Per Wikipedia:WikiProject_Composers#Lead_section and WP:WPO#Infoboxes, consensus exists not to include an infobox opera/composer pages such as this one, unless a contrary consensus exists with respect to the individual article. No such contrary consensus exists here. Fireplace 21:48, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

On the contrary, there has been consensus here to have the infobox since it was first added, in December 2006, and you have not demonstrated any consensus here to remove it. Andy Mabbett 23:05, 12 May 2007 (UTC)

This is a low traffic page and the infobox issue with respect to composers was not a salient one in 2006 when the box was added -- that no one raised issue with it then does not constitute a consensus that overrides the broad consensus at both Wikipedia:WikiProject Composers and WP:WPO. You've extensively argued about this issue on both those projects as well as your ANI and the community has disagreed with you every time. Now you are edit warring over this on individual articles. Fireplace 02:05, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

I agree with Fireplace entirely and ask User:Pigsonthewing to stop reverting this page. --Kleinzach 03:24, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

I'll add a voice to establish consensus here too (and at Phil Glass's page) that the infobox is best removed. --Myke Cuthbert 03:42, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

I concur. No consensus yet exists over infoboxes on composer pages. Work this out on the project page before edit-warring over this (and other composers). Eusebeus 13:14, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

This issue was discussed at great length on the Composers Project (and the Opera Project). The results of the discussion were summarized by Makemi on 28 April here. Statements were later put on both project main pages. --Kleinzach 13:34, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Another in favour of removal. --Folantin 14:30, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

And another in favour of removal. The info box adds nothing to the article. -- roundhouse 14:47, 13 May 2007 (UTC)

Fair use rationale for Image:Steve reich.jpg

Image:Steve reich.jpg is being used on this article. I notice the image page specifies that the image is being used under fair use but there is no explanation or rationale as to why its use in this Wikipedia article constitutes fair use. In addition to the boilerplate fair use template, you must also write out on the image description page a specific explanation or rationale for why using this image in each article is consistent with fair use.

Please go to the image description page and edit it to include a fair use rationale. Using one of the templates at Wikipedia:Fair use rationale guideline is an easy way to insure that your image is in compliance with Wikipedia policy, but remember that you must complete the template. Do not simply insert a blank template on an image page.

If there is other fair use media, consider checking that you have specified the fair use rationale on the other images used on this page. Note that any fair use images uploaded after 4 May, 2006, and lacking such an explanation will be deleted one week after they have been uploaded, as described on criteria for speedy deletion. If you have any questions please ask them at the Media copyright questions page. Thank you.

BetacommandBot 11:43, 6 July 2007 (UTC)

Scott Johnson

Nowhere in Reich's "Writings on Music" (2000) or in any interview that I can find does Reich state that he heard Scott Johnson's "John Somebody" which constantly appears as an influence on Reich's "Different Trains." I think that mention of the piece "John Somebody" is superfluous to any discussion of Reich's oeuvre and that the quote "...following the example of Johnson..." is totally misleading and patently false. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.81.81.82 (talk) 03:14, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

Composer project review

I've reviewed this article as part of the Composers project review of its B-class articles. This is a fine compositional biography; it is lacking in personal, and some professional details. See my detailed review on the comments page. Questions and comments may be left here or my talk page. Magic♪piano 15:23, 25 November 2008 (UTC)

ECM New Series

(regarding my edit:) ECM New Series launched in 1984 with Arvo Pärt's "Tabula Rasa".[1] The Steve Reich records on ECM came out before the New Series existed, though at some stage (maybe when they released CD versions of the albums) they reissued them under the New Series imprint.

Additional citations for verification

It really only needs one. Hyacinth (talk) 09:27, 9 June 2009 (UTC)

About The Gabrielle Zuckerman Interview

Hello. Where is the quote in the all interview? I can't found it. I think there's a mistake here. Maybe it's another interview.

Yes, I think you're right. It seems to be from an interview by Richard Kessler, Executive Director of the American Music Center (see American Music Center's July 1998 issue of NewMusicBox and this excerpted version by NYFA). I'll fix it. Thanks. Sean.hoyland - talk 15:44, 10 April 2011 (UTC)

Composition 'Melodica'

The www sources i found about Melodica say that it was made 1966. So not at Mills College 1961-1963. At least one source: https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/de/wiki/Steve_ReichKabooty (talk) 13:06, 22 July 2011 (UTC)

Steve Reich Spam?

Moving the following from my talk page. It was cross-posted to the talk pages of two other users who reverted the edits in question.

Dear Mr. Görlitz,

Why are you undoing my changes and labeling them as Spam on the Steve Reich Wikipedia page? We are in fact the official Steve Reich Ensemble based in London and I personally wrote, performed and recorded Piano Counterpoint on the EMI Classics CD label in Switzerland last month. What we "have to do with Steve Reich music" as you so nicely put it, is being his official legacy. The London Steve Reich Ensemble is exclusively endorsed by the composer personally in 2004. We have been performing his music worldwide. Also Piano Counterpoint is confirmed on official Steve Reich endorsed arrangement of the Six Pianos piece from 1973, same as all the other existing counterpoint works, such as Tokyo Vermont Counterpoint and New York Counterpoint. I consider it of important to have this at least mentioned on the Steve Reich Wikipedia page.

With all do respect, I have little clue of Wikipedia and its functionalities, and how to properly use them. I leave this up to the experts. There are plenty of references out there for anyone to add to my existing contribution.

The reason I have added my markings is because of other individuals supplying incorrect information otherwise. This simply states the truth and is in no way purposefully added as spam or advertisement. Yours sincerely, Vincent C. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Vincentcorver (talk • contribs) 18:35, 14 September 2011 (UTC)

It seems like SPAM as the content you're adding is unrelated to the subject of the article and appears only to be designed to advertise your work. It may be appropriate to add a new section for works in honour of Reich, which is what yours is.

With all due respect, I placed something on your talk page to help you become familiar with Wikipedia and how it functions. Feel free look at that and explore the various areas.

In the meantime, if you want to discuss this further, I suggest you make your case at Talk:Steve Reich so that multiple editors may discuss this. --Walter Görlitz (talk) 18:45, 14 September 2011 (UTC)

Dear Mr. Görlitz, I don't really feel like going into the subject with someone totally unfamiliar with the project. I stated quite clearly that Piano Counterpoint is an official Reich composition and not "in honor" of Mr. Reich, just like the other Steve Reich pieces mentioned on the page such as Tokyo Vermont Counterpoint and New York Counterpoint. How is it you believe to know anything about this subject baffles me. I don't have the urge to discuss the subject at your level. You have clearly no idea who you're speaking with. I believe this way of communication which you address is more a power-play than it has anything to do with you protecting the article from SPAM entries. My entry is purely informational. Nevertheless, I have better things to do than to discuss the subject at your level of thinking. May it be added at later time by someone else, I wish you good luck with your hunt removing it once again. The London Steve Reich Ensemble (talk) 19:35, 14 September 2011 (UTC)

You need to learn to write more clearly. Your addition read in part: "Celebrating the 75th birthday of the composer Steve Reich, the composer-endorsed London Steve Reich Ensemble, and its founder Vincent Corver have been exclusively commissioned to write and record the world premiere Piano Counterpoint." So it seems to me that the ensemble and Corver have been commissioned to write the piece. It also seems that Reich is being honoured (as a Canadian, I would never spell it honor) if not merely celebrated.

Second issue: "The collaboration between Corver and Reich" isn't explained at all, it's just dropped into the middle of the paragraph. Is it a commission from Reich, from the group to Reich, or something else?

Third issue: There's no article for Piano Counterpoint and you're introducing a redlink, but that's an easy fix.

Fourth issue: "August 12th 2011" is the wrong date format, but that's an easy fix too.

Fifth issue: "released the new EMI Classics album" obvious SPAM. You're selling a product.

Sixth issue: "The world premiere of ... is due to take place in London in 2012." More SPAM.

Seventh issue: You link to Piano Counterpoint as second time. That's repeat-linking.

Eight issue: It's completely unreferenced.

Ninth issue: you keep removing another piece without explaining why: *Livelihood (1964).

Tenth and final issue. You're in a conflict of interest Mr. Corver. While it's good to have first-hand knowledge, in this case, you're too close to the content you're adding.

Feel free to discuss these issues, or any others you think we might understand. --Walter Görlitz (talk) 20:14, 14 September 2011 (UTC)

Well, I'm kindly inviting you to write the entry yourself, as you know enough on the subject by now. To make it clear: Steve Reich personally asked me to write the arrangement. The recording is piano solo and tape. I invite you to go have a listen online on any website or youtube. I have no clue what a red-link is or or how to insert references and have little time to get myself too acqainted. English isn't my first language, but thank you. Please bear in mind I have been merely overwriting and old entry containing fully incorrect information. I wouldn't have felt challenged to do this otherwise. My work is receiving enough attention on the web otherwise. (I don't need Wikipedia to advertise my work). Interestingly enough, nobody ever made effort to verify the old entry. Only when I made an edit to it suddenly many got strong urge to delete it. So interesting. Anyway. I shall keep my frustration further to myself. And feel free to contact me with your thoughts The London Steve Reich Ensemble (talk) 23:45, 14 September 2011 (UTC)

Hi Vincent, If your work is (as you put it) "receiving enough attention on the web" I'm sure other Wikipedia users will add it to the article. You clearly have a conflict of interest here - so best leave this to others. Hope this helps. Snoop God (talk) 09:35, 15 September 2011 (UTC)