Influential composer, Pulitzer Prize-winner, and New Yorker Steve Reich reflects on six decades: from early musical signposts to setting Hebrew texts, on the release of a new boxed set. The twenty-seven-disc box set contains six decades of Reich’s compositions, ranging from It’s Gonna Rain (1965) to first recordings of his two latest works: Jacob’s Ladder (2023) and Traveler’s Prayer (2020).

Steve Reich presents some of the newer works and translates and sings the Hebrew text of Traveler’s Prayer [short version: may we take off in peace, fly in peace, land in peace], remarking upon how setting texts to music properly is a real art and is really important. In a departure from some of his other work, Reich also intended for the voices to be almost behind strings in a 50-50 blend, which necessarily creates a different musical texture. Listen to some of Traveler’s Prayer, as recorded by Synergy Vocals with the Colin Currie Group.

Also, listen to Jacob’s Ladder, as recorded by members of the New York Philharmonic, conducted by Jaap van Zweden, and Synergy Vocals, from the new boxed set. Reich then reflects on the early part of his six decades of composing - from hearing music by composers that were “sign posts” to him: J.S. Bach, Stravinsky, and Charlie Parker to the early tape loop pieces, like  It’s Gonna Rain (1965) and Piano Phase (1967), and the processes involved in both. The conversation ends by mentioning what was NOT included in the boxed set, and that is Steve Reich's work commissioned by WNYC called “Know What Is Above You”, and the latest version he had heard by west coast-based Chanticleer, recently shared in a social media post. Plus, hear some of Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians in a recording by Ensemble Signal, conducted by Bradley Lubman. - Caryn Havlik

Program #4999 With Steve Reich (First aired 4/22/2025)

ARTIST: New York Philharmonic, conducted by Jaap van Zweden, Synergy Vocals
WORK: Steve Reich: Jacob's Ladder, opening [4:11] 
RECORDING: Collected Works 27 CD boxed set
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: Nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Steve Reich
WORK: Steve Reich: Drumming, Part II [1:00] 
RECORDING: Collected Works 27 CD boxed set
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: https://www.nonesuch.com/albums/drumming

ARTIST: New York Philharmonic, conducted by Jaap van Zweden, Synergy Vocals
WORK: Steve Reich: Jacob's Ladder, opening [15:01] 
RECORDING: Collected Works 27 CD boxed set
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: Nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Synergy Vocals, Colin Currie Group
WORK: Steve Reich: Traveler's Prayer [12:22] 
RECORDING: Collected Works 27 CD boxed set
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: Nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Ensemble Signal, Conducted by Bradley Lubman
WORK: Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians [4:27] 
RECORDING: Collected Works 27 CD boxed set
SOURCE: Nonesuch
INFO: Nonesuch.com

ARTIST: Chanticleer
WORK: Steve Reich: Know What Is Above You [1:00] 
RECORDING: https://www.instagram.com/chanticleersf/reel/DG37VMrS3hs
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available.
INFO: https://www.chanticleer.org