#4305: Bach Meets Bollywood in Latest by Steve Reich

New Sounds | Nov 6, 2020

Steve Reich, one of the most influential composers of the past half century, makes a return visit to the studio to introduce his latest work, Music For Ensemble And Orchestra. The new five-movement work, a combination homage to J.S. Bach and a nod to the rhythms of Bollywood film music, is modeled on his recent piece, Runner.

Music For Ensemble And Orchestra is an extension of the Baroque Concerto Grosso where there is more than one soloist - actually 20 soloists - all regular orchestral instruments like strings, winds, vibes, and piano. Also, the tempo never changes, “only the note value of the constant pulse in the pianos.”(Composer’s Notes - Boosey) The work receives its New York Premiere (Dec. 5-7) with the New York Philharmonic and Music Director Jaap van Zweden.

Hear excerpts from Steve Reich's Music For Ensemble And Orchestra. Also, listen to music recorded from the 2019 New Sounds Live concerts of music by Steve Reich - his Four Organs, and an even earlier work, My Name Is.

Program #4305: Bach Meets Bollywood in Latest by Steve Reich (First aired 12/04/2019)

ARTIST: Ensemble Signal, Brad Lubman
WORK: Steve Reich: Runner [:30]
RECORDING: Live at Library of Congress, March 2019
SOURCE/INFO: This performance not commercially available

ARTIST: Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson, cond.
WORK: Steve Reich:Music for Ensemble and Orchestra, 1st mvmt [3:06]
RECORDING: This performance not commercially available
SOURCE: Boosey
INFO: boosey.com

ARTIST: Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson, cond.
WORK: Steve Reich:Music for Ensemble and Orchestra, 2nd mvmt [3:03]
RECORDING: This performance not commercially available
SOURCE: Boosey
INFO: boosey.com

ARTIST: Sydney Symphony Orchestra, David Robertson, cond.
WORK: Steve Reich:Music for Ensemble and Orchestra, 4th mvmt [3:13]
RECORDING: This performance not commercially available
SOURCE: Boosey
INFO: boosey.com

ARTIST: Members of Ensemble Signal
WORK: Steve Reich: Four Organs (1970) [18:31]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live from Brookfield Place, Oct 16, 2019
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available
INFO: signalensemble.org

ARTIST: Audience and Ensemble Signal's Paul Coleman, Sound Design
WORK: Steve Reich: My Name Is (1967) [9:57]
RECORDING: New Sounds Live from Brookfield Place, Oct 16, 2019
SOURCE: This performance not commercially available
INFO: signalensemble.org

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