Steve Reich reflects on his most significant works

In 1964, Steve Reich recorded a street preacher's speech, took a razor to the tape, looped samples on two machines - and changed music forever. Today he joins Shad to discuss his decades-long career and music's capacity to document history. Reich's style of looping audio samples laid the groundwork for hip-hop, dub and electronic music.
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[@JJBerthume]

Wonderful interview. Other interviewers should take lessons from this guy, couldn't have done a better job.

[@a.w.bullington7339]

Really great interview. You rarely see an interviewer this prepared and knowledgeable.

[@stevereich9687]

This interview was a joy to partake in for sure! You all should definitely listen to John Coltrane more than me!

[@brainbow]

... this isnt the real guy is it?

[@Joan-ot9nf]

@JayRey does the youtube if you read their KZbin description, they say their music is easy to be turned into a meme. So highly doubt it's Steve Reich.

[@francissadleir9805]

i love the look on steves face whilst he listens to his own music

[@Sub2Investor]

What a likeable guy.

[@jakubbielak7273]

And this Gentleman was almost 80 years old during this Interview. Long live, Mr.Reich! Your music is immortal! :)

[@andresenes]

this interview should be shown on journalism's classes. so good that i repeated it just for the pleasure of listening two very informed people talking about a subject in a serious manner. such a great job. thank you!

[@jppitman1]

Steve Reich basically said it in so many words that it`s natural to be heavily influenced by people and events and styles but that in the end you must primarily be an unforced 'individual' with your own voice. Individualism is paramount. I agree with other commenters...beautiful interview by a knowledgeable interviewer who asks pertinent questions and lets his interviewee speak. I`m happy that such a person still exists, or at least did in 2016.

[@twtobin941]

Not often I would say this about any one piece of music, but Music For 18 Musicians had a massive and lasting effect on me. I used to listen to it every day for weeks on end. I love Reich’s work, there’s something almost spiritual about the effect it has on you…. AND, it’s groovy! And Steve’s always does a great interview with articulate answers and humour. Cool dude. Thanks CBC.

[@weatherrecords]

Relentless humanity from this man. He's a giant.

[@DasShoPahRo]

This is all really moving, the interview, the description for the video. I never thought the main stream world of music would shine light upon Art/Avantgarde Music. A well done job and video thanks for the post! To all the Musicians out there keep writing and making your mark! Namaste

[@MuseDuCafe]

Great interviewer, and such nice, unassuming, matter of fact talk from the composer.

[@enkibumbu]

Yeah. Humility is nice to see.

[@AllanKoayTC]

i was at that show in Singapore, and it was AMAZING to experience Music for 18 Musicians live.

[@musicnerd9100]

Steve Reich is considered to be one of the most gifted composers of all time. The way he approaches music is absolutely captivating.

[@sahaesbati3318]

Steve Reich, you are a genius, brilliant, awesome and incredible Composer and a very lovely Person. Thank you for your Music.

[@MaterLacrymarum]

Superb, and very respectful interview. Thanks for posting.

[@J0hnC0ltrane]

Fun show, everybody is digging it.

[@lensculture]

Great interview -- very generous with insight and information and personality. Really heightens my appreciation. Thanks!

[@QwithTomPower]

Cheers! Thanks for the feedback and thank you for checking it out!

[@AlfonsoPeduto]

this is truly a wonderful interview

[@nickrophiliac7469]

Not only an extrordinarily forward-thinking musician but a charming and engaging interviewee too

[@marra4887]

yes, a great interviewer. Asks good questions and listens well.

[@FCarraro1]

that host should be doing every interview in the world. Such a competent, nice polite guy!

[@LBVocals]

Fantastic interview! The interviewer carried the conversation really well

[@andrewhyde4708]

Super interview

[@deefed7973]

Good interview CBC

[@bono300vox]

Q interviewers are always on point!!

[@paolonatalini4184]

great upload

[@minnietoot9704]

Just amazing

[@paxwallace8324]

1st of all Reich actually swings as opposed to Glass. 2ndly Reich actually grew out of many of his original self imposed limits including most notably static harmonic formats. I like Reich.

[@janiebarker2687]

Awesome .

[@allegroschoolofmusic4424]

I like how he talks about using pieces of signs that he made for his instruments, and how they basically were used by him to make his most important kinds of sounds that he used in his works

[@jelanisurpriscomposer]

Good to see a brotha in the mix 👌🏿

[@DJflyingtaco]

this guys music was waaay ahead of his time its like he invented experimental electronic music

[@casim8842]

I agree. But Schaeffer, Boulez, Mathews, Varese, Stockhausen and Rissett would not.

[@jessekaiser21]

I love both Steve and Shad. Great questions to a great composer, and such a huge inspiration for myself as a fellow composer.

[@satoshikatagiri3428]

Why do all the best youtube interviews come from Canada? Great interviewers, good questions, no hostility.

[@mrJohnDesiderio]

Love him

[@LiamPorterFilms]

A down to earth classical composer

[@MoustiluigiRandom]

Trop cool.

[@ThomasBaxter]

You had to play pt2 of Different Trains didn't you? The most heartbreaking section. "From New York to Los Angeles"

[@francissadleir9805]

I know it's so sad! But its a beautiful piece of art

[@TiagoNugentComposer]

1:03 I didn't know I needed to see Steve Reich making pigeon noises.

[@joseph-zoramcbride4029]

YES! :) I'd heard that about the Pigeon but for got it. Man I love this guy. He and Philip Glass are two of the composers who have had the greatest influence on my music/playing. Sucks that they hate one another. lmao But so it goes. Chomsky and Foucault hated each other as well.

[@rooneyjosuehernandezvillan4213]

This guy should be inmortal

[@slowblack3947]

Master!

[@liammcooper]

oh damn it's Shad

[@coleemmersonhallman5329]

from chicago from chicago to new york

[@bruce1533]

Steve Reich is a lovely, humble, incredibly friendly man who freely shares his life and opinions in a most gentle way. Steve is 81 and is doing just great. I saw him 2 evenings, ago. He is a far greater composer than Glass. It is Glass who loves himself. Steve is not the least bit arrogant. Reich is an expert with rhythm, polyrhythms. Glass is, often, such a bore.

[@themetallicmoon]

anyone know where I can find Runner or Pulse at?

[@kyrla]

Runner: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIHIl4qQo9qKp6c Pulse: kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWm4kIp8g7yWd80

[@trodenn4977]

I wonder what he thinks about the "Variations for Wind, Strings and keyboard"

[@mvarick1]

Ooff. Shad was out of his element with Steve. And Steve knew it, then proceeded to tell his stuff. But again, Shad - the guy was out of his element to speak with Steve. Thankfully, Steve controlled the conversation.

[@BendikKeymer]

Maybe the trains in the first four years of his life were the origin of his rhythm.

[@leoholder7839]

Come to show them come out to show them

[@MC-fw1tz]

C’mon maestro

[@darylcumming7119]

🙂

[@firaspring7859]

gileeee lop bangeettv

[@clairelg1437]

Anyone know how to pronounce "Reich", does the final sound is "ch" or "k"?

[@hiqwertyhi]

I've never heard it not pronounced "ch" (more of a "sh" sound, really)

[@PromixDelPiero]

he himself said he pronounces it as Reish, but his son pronounces it as Reik.

[@johnwaters5675]

“…ch” as I discovered.

[@marcelomellado1969]

The director didn't make it bad... it's just the extension of the plot doesn't let to deep into Steve

[@enkibumbu]

His wife said "You're really sane!" Did I hear that correctly? What a interesting marriage. He's usually not so sane?

[@kendallburks]

“You’re really singing!”

[@ernestmaciel]

Who are the four people that disliked this 😆

[@Psyxic_Crimes]

His genius makes me feel as small as an ant turd.

[@tr7938]

Someone needs to state that none of his work is terribly substantial.

[@davidstein8891]

"someone"? how courageous of you. especially on a thread of people praising him, nincompoop.

[@benjaminwoodrowmusic6070]

Righto 🙄

[@ANPHKI]

I Miss Jian... He wasn't even convicted. Give the guy a break, if we'd have access to _your_ minds and if we'd be able to browse _your_ personal fantasies and perversions, I bet there would be a hell of a lot more people fired. Stop being all fucking sacred and PC, give the man a second chance. A huge amount of talent, wasted into nothingness, because people are self-righteous, petty and hypocrite. This new guy doesn't cut it - he's okay, but not NEARLY as charismatic, inquisitive and talented, as Jian.

[@rosskolnikov]

Agree that Jian was good, but there was no way he could remain employed by the national broadcaster (essentially on a government salary) after those revelations. No, he was not convicted, but that's not to say that his actions are proclivities are in any way acceptable or respectable. They are not. He is rejected because that's as it should be. If he doesn't like it? Behave differently.

[@ANPHKI]

rosskolnikov I disagree. It is only an act of hypocrisy, trying to pretend that human beings don't have flaws and even a bit dark aspects to their personal lives. That kind of thinking breeds a withdrawn culture, it creates taboos. It's essentially an archaic and ultimately not a healthy way to progress as a society. I mean let's be real: he likes rough sex, that's it. He didn't beat up and rape a 10 year old. So all things considering, It's ridiculous that they sacked him, and didn't give him his job back. It's absolutely ridiculous.

[@nem0763]

I watched and listened to Ghomeshi's Q like crazy, and he was very good at his job. However, it's so hard to believe that there would be that much smoke with no fire. Really, it's just not as easy to confront abuse as people seem to think - especially not when the probable outcome is defeat and public humiliation. And even if the reports of violence were untrue, the stories of his toxic ego that came out at the same time would still make me disgusted with how much time I spent with him. It's one thing to be John Lennon and to do terrible things but repent, it's another to act like the misunderstood victim, which is what Jian Ghomeshi did with zero grace. I don't miss him anymore.