Steve Reich: influences, peers and legacy

Every connection with its receipt

Steve Reich built minimalism from an unlikely toolkit: a Cornell philosophy degree, Bach's canons, Coltrane's modal drones, Ghanaian drumming learned from a textbook, and a pair of out-of-sync tape loops in a San Francisco studio. This mix traces that assembly — the jazz and serialist teachers, the West Coast tape scene, the Hebrew cantillation of his late work — and follows the pulse outward into ambient, post-minimalism and rock.

The Kynda mix for Steve Reich

• Key Influence · The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky (1913). Reich has repeatedly named Stravinsky — alongside Bach and Bartók — as the music that made him want to compose, hearing the Rite as a teenager and calling it part of the revelation that pulled him from the standard piano repertoire toward rhythm as a structural force. The Rite's additive meters, ostinato blocks and percussive chordal stamping anticipate the pulsing cells of Drumming and Music for 18 Musicians.
• Influencia Obscura · Studies in African Music by A. M. Jones (1959). Reich discovered Jones's two-volume transcription of Ewe drumming while still a student, and its notation of interlocking parts with staggered downbeats showed him that complex rhythm could come from simple patterns offset against a steady pulse. The book led him to study with Ghanaian master drummer Gideon Alorwoyie in 1970 — a trip that directly produced Drumming, the piece that ended his tape period.
• Local Roots · In C by Terry Riley (1964). Reich played in the first performance of In C at the San Francisco Tape Music Center in November 1964 and is credited with suggesting the piece's steady high piano pulse — the eighth-note beat that holds the ensemble together. Riley's earlier tape loop experiments in Paris also fed Reich's phasing discoveries; the two were the core of the Bay Area's repetitive-music circle before both relocated east.
• Beyond the Medium · Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein (1953). Reich took a philosophy degree at Cornell, writing on Wittgenstein, and the influence surfaced decades later when he set the Investigations' text in Proverb and You Are (Variations). Wittgenstein's method — repeating a plain sentence until its meaning shifts under examination — is structurally identical to Reich's practice of looping a phrase until the ear hears new patterns inside it, the idea behind Music as a Gradual Process.
• Peer · Music in Twelve Parts by Philip Glass (1974). Reich and Glass met as students at Juilliard, reconnected in New York in 1967, and played in each other's ensembles during the crucial early years — Glass performing in Reich's Four Organs period, Reich in Glass's first groups. Twelve Parts is the monumental statement of the additive-process side of that shared language, and the comparison clarifies what separates Reich's canons from Glass's arithmetic.
• From the Canon · It's Gonna Rain by Steve Reich (1965). Made in San Francisco from a street preacher's sermon, this is where Reich found phasing: two identical tape loops drifting slowly out of sync, producing canon by accident of machinery. Everything after it — Piano Phase, Drumming, Music for 18 Musicians — translates that discovery onto human performers. The piece also sets his lifelong documentary instinct, recorded speech as both subject and melodic source.
• Key Collaborator · Pieces of Africa by Kronos Quartet (1992). Kronos commissioned and premiered Different Trains, learning to play in lockstep with sampled speech melody, and have remained central interpreters of Reich's string writing. Pieces of Africa shows the quartet's own commissioning instinct — working directly with African composers and performers — the same curiosity that made them the right partners for a piece built from recorded testimony and train whistles.
• Legacy · Discreet Music by Brian Eno (1975). Eno has named It's Gonna Rain as one of the records that changed his thinking, and his systems approach — set a process running, let the machines make the variation — comes straight from Reich's essay Music as a Gradual Process. Discreet Music's tape-delay loops of a simple melodic line are Reich's phase technique turned toward ambience, the bridge from downtown minimalism to generative electronic music.

What influenced Steve Reich

• Terry Riley. Reich explicitly calls his experience preparing Riley’s In C a major influence. (also via In C) “and of course a very big influence on me was preparing "In C" with Terry Riley.” (American Mavericks)
• Ella Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is identified as an early influence on Reich’s work. (also via Steve Reich) “When I was a kid, the two singers that impressed me most were Ella Fitzgerald and Alfred Deller.” (American Mavericks)
• John Coltrane. Coltrane’s playing is described as having an impact on Reich. (also via Africa/Brass) “An [album] like "Africa/Brass," [with two sessions], which really impressed me, was basically a half-an-hour in F. Jazz musicians say, "Hey man, what's the changes?" "F." "No! F for half-an-hour!" That was very instructive.” (American Mavericks)
• Igor Stravinsky. The article says Reich cites Stravinsky as an early influence. (also via Music for 18 Musicians, The Rite of Spring) “I became a composer because I loved Bach, because I loved Stravinsky, because I loved jazz.” (American Mavericks)
• Béla Bartók. The article says Reich cites Bartók as an early influence. “I learned about canons in the mode from Bartók. I mean, I knew about them, but I really could see them in detail, playing these first two books of his children's piano pieces right after Cornell in around 1957.” (The Line of Best Fit)
• Kenny Clarke (1914). Clarke is named as an important influence on Reich. “the drummer Kenny Clarke and I decided I want to be Kenny Clarke and I started studying percussion at the age of 14.” (Mark Larson)
• Alfred Deller. Deller is identified as an early influence on Reich’s work. “When I was a kid, the two singers that impressed me most were Ella Fitzgerald and Alfred Deller.” (American Mavericks)
• Claude Debussy. The article says Reich cites Debussy as an early influence. “and then I become very, very involved with the music, you know: Debussy, Ravel, and ancient Stravinsky, and onwards through my generation and beyond.” (The Line of Best Fit)
• Miles Davis (1926). Davis is named as an important influence on Reich. “At the age of 14, through a number of friends, I heard recordings of the "Rite of Spring," the Fifth Brandenburg [Concerto], Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, and the drummer Kenny Clark.” (American Mavericks)
• Johann Sebastian Bach. The article says Reich cites Bach as an early influence. (also via Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050) “I became a composer because I loved Bach, because I loved Stravinsky, because I loved jazz.” (American Mavericks)
• Africa/Brass by John Coltrane (1961). Africa/Brass (John Coltrane) — titan for Steve Reich “John Coltrane 's style, which Reich has described as "playing a lot of notes to very few harmonies", also had an impact; of particular interest was the album Africa/Brass , which "was basically a half-an-hour in E".” (Wikipedia)
• Studies in African Music by A. M. Jones (1959). Studies in African Music (A. M. Jones) — ghost for Steve Reich (also via Drumming) “From this experience, as well as A. M. Jones 's Studies in African Music about the music of the Ewe people, Reich drew inspiration for his extensive piece Drumming (1970–1971)” (Wikipedia)
• Roland Kohloff. Reich studied drums with Kohloff. “Reich studied drums with Roland Kohloff in order to play jazz .” (Wikipedia)
• Pérotin. The article says Reich cites Pérotin as an early influence. “Reich often cites Pérotin , J. S. Bach , Debussy , Bartók , and Stravinsky as composers whom he admires and who greatly influenced him when he was young.” (Wikipedia)
• Hall Overton. Reich studied composition privately with Overton. “For a year following graduation, Reich studied composition privately with Hall Overton before he enrolled at Juilliard” (Wikipedia)
• Darius Milhaud. Reich studied with Milhaud at Mills College. “he attended Mills College in Oakland, California , where he studied with Luciano Berio and Darius Milhaud (1961–1963)” (Wikipedia)
• Sol LeWitt. LeWitt is named among Reich’s important influences. (also via Paragraphs on Conceptual Art) “Other important influences are Kenny Clarke and Miles Davis , and visual artist friends such as Sol LeWitt and Richard Serra .” (Wikipedia)
• Gideon Alorwoyie. Reich studied with Alorwoyie for five weeks. “In June 1970, Reich travelled to the University of Ghana to study polyrhythmic music for five weeks with the Ewe master drummer Gideon Alorwoyie.” (Wikipedia)
• Balinese gamelan. Reich recalls his discovery of Balinese music before describing his subsequent gamelan studies. “I noticed they had a lot of these old 12 inch, 78 RPM records that had Balinese music. And I put them on, and I thought, wow, this is incredible!” (The Line of Best Fit)
• Luciano Berio. Reich studied with Berio at Mills College. (also via Thema (Omaggio a Joyce)) “he attended Mills College in Oakland, California , where he studied with Luciano Berio and Darius Milhaud (1961–1963)” (Wikipedia)
• Philosophical Investigations by Ludwig Wittgenstein (1953). Philosophical Investigations (Ludwig Wittgenstein) — culture for Steve Reich “thesis was on Ludwig Wittgenstein; later he would set texts by that philosopher to music in Proverb (1995) and You Are (variations) (2006).” (en.wikipedia.org)
• African music. Reich explicitly identifies discovering African music as an important influence. “I would say that later on, very important influences came by discovering African music on recording and having no idea how it was put together, but kind of wanting to find out.” (American Mavericks)
• William Bergsma. Reich worked with Bergsma at Juilliard. “he enrolled at Juilliard [ 16 ] to work with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti (1958–1961).” (Wikipedia)
• Vincent Persichetti. Reich worked with Persichetti at Juilliard. “he enrolled at Juilliard [ 16 ] to work with William Bergsma and Vincent Persichetti (1958–1961).” (Wikipedia)
• A House in Bali by Colin McPhee (1946). A House in Bali (Colin McPhee) — culture for Steve Reich (openlibrary.org)
• Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050 by Johann Sebastian Bach (1721). Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050 (Johann Sebastian Bach) — titan for Steve Reich
• Paragraphs on Conceptual Art by Sol LeWitt (1967). Paragraphs on Conceptual Art (Sol LeWitt) — culture for Steve Reich
• The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky. The Rite of Spring (Igor Stravinsky) — titan for Steve Reich
• Thema (Omaggio a Joyce) by Luciano Berio (1958). Thema (Omaggio a Joyce) (Luciano Berio) — ghost for Steve Reich
• Erik Satie. Piano Phase (Steve Reich) — legacy for Erik Satie (via Piano Phase)

Peers and kindred spirits

• Philip Glass (1937). Drumming (Steve Reich) — peer for Philip Glass (via Drumming, Piano Phase, Music in Twelve Parts) “Glass attended a performance of works by Steve Reich (including the ground-breaking minimalist piece Piano Phase ), which left a deep impression on him; he simplified his style” (Wikipedia)
• San Francisco Tape Music Center. Reich worked with the San Francisco Tape Music Center. “Reich worked with the San Francisco Tape Music Center along with Pauline Oliveros , Ramon Sender , Morton Subotnick , Phil Lesh and Terry Riley .” (Wikipedia)
• Silver Apples of the Moon by Morton Subotnick (1967). Silver Apples of the Moon (Morton Subotnick) — geography for Steve Reich “Reich worked with the San Francisco Tape Music Center along with Pauline Oliveros, Ramon Sender, Morton Subotnick, Phil Lesh and Terry Riley.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• In C by Terry Riley (1964). In C (Terry Riley) — geography for Steve Reich “Reich worked with the San Francisco Tape Music Center along with Pauline Oliveros, Ramon Sender, Morton Subotnick, Phil Lesh and Terry Riley.” (en.wikipedia.org)
• Beryl Korot. Reich and Korot collaborated on The Cave. “In 1993, Reich collaborated with his wife, the video artist Beryl Korot , on an opera, The Cave” (Wikipedia)
• Music in Twelve Parts by Philip Glass (1974). Music in Twelve Parts (Philip Glass) — peer for Steve Reich (musicbrainz.org)
• Pieces of Africa by Kronos Quartet (1992). Pieces of Africa (Kronos Quartet) — collaborator for Steve Reich (musicbrainz.org)
• Stimmung by Theatre of Voices (2007). Stimmung (Theatre of Voices) — collaborator for Steve Reich (musicbrainz.org)
• Dolmen Music by Meredith Monk (1981). Dolmen Music (Meredith Monk) — peer for Steve Reich (musicbrainz.org)
• Bright Size Life by Pat Metheny (1976). Bright Size Life (Pat Metheny) — collaborator for Steve Reich (musicbrainz.org)
• Radiohead (1985). Performed live 1 time (2012) per setlist.fm (via Electric Counterpoint) (setlist.fm)
• The Well-Tuned Piano by La Monte Young (1964). The Well-Tuned Piano (La Monte Young) — peer for Steve Reich
• Bye Bye Butterfly by Pauline Oliveros (1965). Bye Bye Butterfly (Pauline Oliveros) — geography for Steve Reich
• Richard Alston. Six Marimbas (Steve Reich) — collaborator for Richard Alston (via Six Marimbas)

Who Steve Reich influenced

• Brian Eno. Eno names Reich’s early experiments among the musical threads he drew on. (also via It's Gonna Rain, Steve Reich) “The musical threads I picked up would include Satie , of course, but also the early experiments of Steve Reich, Terry Riley , and the other minimalist composers of the late '60s” (Wikipedia)
• John Adams. Adams is listed among musicians influenced by Reich. (also via Shaker Loops) “Reich's style of composition has influenced many other composers and musical groups, including John Adams , Michael Nyman , Aphex Twin , Björk , Sonic Youth , Brian Eno” (Wikipedia)
• Tortoise. Tortoise appears in the article’s list of groups influenced by Reich. “You hear the dub of Scientist, Neu! krautrock, British house, Reich-like polyrhythm, all played using the traditional (minus the vibes) rock and roll materials: bass, drums, and guitar.” (Fogged Clarity)
• Aphex Twin (1971). Aphex Twin is listed among musicians influenced by Reich. “Reich's style of composition has influenced many other composers and musical groups, including John Adams , Michael Nyman , Aphex Twin , Björk , Sonic Youth , Brian Eno” (Wikipedia)
• Stereolab. Stereolab is listed among groups influenced by Reich. “Reich's style of composition has influenced many other composers and musical groups, including John Adams , Michael Nyman , Aphex Twin , Björk , Sonic Youth , Brian Eno , [ 58 ] American Football , [ 59 ] Stereolab” (Wikipedia)
• Sonic Youth. Sonic Youth is listed among groups influenced by Reich. “Reich's style of composition has influenced many other composers and musical groups, including John Adams , Michael Nyman , Aphex Twin , Björk , Sonic Youth , Brian Eno” (Wikipedia)
• Michael Nyman (1944). Nyman is listed among musicians influenced by Reich. “Reich's style of composition has influenced many other composers and musical groups, including John Adams , Michael Nyman , Aphex Twin , Björk , Sonic Youth , Brian Eno” (Wikipedia)
• Björk (1965). Björk is listed among musicians influenced by Reich. “Reich's style of composition has influenced many other composers and musical groups, including John Adams , Michael Nyman , Aphex Twin , Björk , Sonic Youth , Brian Eno” (Wikipedia)
• Little Fluffy Clouds. Little Fluffy Clouds samples Reich’s Electric Counterpoint. (via Electric Counterpoint) “In featuring a sample of Reich's Electric Counterpoint (1987) in the 1990 track Little Fluffy Clouds the British ambient techno act the Orb exposed a new generation of listeners to his music.” (Wikipedia)
• Ashley Bathgate. Bathgate’s commission series was inspired by Cello Counterpoint. (via Cello Counterpoint) “Reich's Cello Counterpoint (2003) was the inspiration for a series of commissions for solo cello with pre-recorded cellos made by Ashley Bathgate in 2017” (Wikipedia)
• Discreet Music. Discreet Music (Brian Eno) — legacy for Steve Reich (musicbrainz.org)
• Talking Heads (1975). Music for 18 Musicians (Steve Reich) — ghost for Talking Heads (via Music for 18 Musicians) (musicbrainz.org)
• Wilco. Drumming (Steve Reich) — culture for Wilco (via Drumming) (musicbrainz.org)
• Hans Zimmer. Music for 18 Musicians (Steve Reich) — culture for Hans Zimmer (via Music for 18 Musicians) (musicbrainz.org)
• Shaker Loops by John Adams (1978). Shaker Loops (John Adams) — legacy for Steve Reich
• Popcorn Superhet Receiver by Jonny Greenwood (2005). Popcorn Superhet Receiver (Jonny Greenwood) — legacy for Steve Reich
• King Crimson. King Crimson appears in the article’s list of groups influenced by Reich.
• Music for Airports (Bang on a Can arrangement) by Bang on a Can All-Stars (1998). Music for Airports (Bang on a Can arrangement) (Bang on a Can All-Stars) — legacy for Steve Reich
• Autechre. Autechre appears in the article’s list of groups influenced by Reich.
• Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend. Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians — Music for 18 Musicians (Steve Reich) — ghost for Vampire Weekend (via Steve Reich: Music for 18 Musicians — Music for 18 Musicians)