Watch: Steve Reich on Composing 'It's Gonna Rain'

Browse by:
Year
Browse by:
Publish date (field_publish_date)
Submitted by nonesuch on
Article Type
Publish date
Excerpt

Composer Steve Reich talks about creating his iconic 1965 tape piece It's Gonna Rain in a new video from his publisher Boosey & Hawkes. That year, Reich recorded Pentecostal preacher Brother Walter preaching on Noah and the Flood in San Francisco, then aligned two Wollensak tape recorders that gradually fell out of sync, eventually creating contrapuntal lines from the recording. Reich's first major phasing work, it would become a landmark piece.

Copy

Composer Steve Reich talks about creating his iconic 1965 tape piece It's Gonna Rain in a new video by Jesse Yang from his publisher Boosey & Hawkes. That year, Reich recorded Pentecostal preacher Brother Walter preaching on Noah and the Flood in San Francisco’s Union Square, then aligned two Wollensak tape recorders that gradually fell out of sync, eventually creating contrapuntal lines from the recording. Reich's first major phasing work, it would become a landmark piece. You can hear it on the 1987 Nonesuch collection Early Works here.

“In 1965, I was, and a lot of people were, working with tape loops—plastic loops of tape that went around and around repeatedly,” Reich says of the process. “Instead of using electronic sources for music, I was interested in human speech, because it’s human, and because it’s melodic, occasionally, and if you loop it, if you repeat it, that becomes clearer, and the meaning doesn’t really disappear, actually it gets intensified.”

featuredimage
Steve Reich: On composing 'It's Gonna Rain'
  • Thursday, August 17, 2023
    Watch: Steve Reich on Composing 'It's Gonna Rain'
    Boosey & Hawkes

    Composer Steve Reich talks about creating his iconic 1965 tape piece It's Gonna Rain in a new video by Jesse Yang from his publisher Boosey & Hawkes. That year, Reich recorded Pentecostal preacher Brother Walter preaching on Noah and the Flood in San Francisco’s Union Square, then aligned two Wollensak tape recorders that gradually fell out of sync, eventually creating contrapuntal lines from the recording. Reich's first major phasing work, it would become a landmark piece. You can hear it on the 1987 Nonesuch collection Early Works here.

    “In 1965, I was, and a lot of people were, working with tape loops—plastic loops of tape that went around and around repeatedly,” Reich says of the process. “Instead of using electronic sources for music, I was interested in human speech, because it’s human, and because it’s melodic, occasionally, and if you loop it, if you repeat it, that becomes clearer, and the meaning doesn’t really disappear, actually it gets intensified.”

    Journal Articles:Artist NewsVideo

Enjoy This Post?

Get weekly updates right in your inbox.
terms

X By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Thank you!
x

Welcome to Nonesuch's mailing list!

Customize your notifications for tour dates near your hometown, birthday wishes, or special discounts in our online store!
terms

By submitting my information, I agree to receive personalized updates and marketing messages about Nonesuch based on my information, interests, activities, website visits and device data and in accordance with the Privacy Policy. I understand that I can opt-out at any time by emailing privacypolicy@wmg.com.

Related Posts

  • Friday, January 24, 2025
    Friday, January 24, 2025

    Hurray for the Riff Raff, aka Alynda Segarra, was on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live! to perform "Snake Plant (The Past Is Still Alive)," from their 2024 album, The Past Is Still Alive. You can watch it here.

    Journal Topics: Artist NewsTelevisionVideo
  • Thursday, January 23, 2025
    Thursday, January 23, 2025

    Portuguese fado singer Carminho stopped by the NPR offices in Washington, DC, to perform a Tiny Desk Concert of songs from her albums Portuguesa and Maria and her EP Carmimho at Electrical Audio. "The world of Portuguese fado is full of emotion that is on display within seconds of this performance by vocalist Carminho," says NPR's Felix Contreras. 

    Journal Topics: Artist NewsVideo