Steve Reich: Drums

They are works inspired by the rhythms of drums that Reich heard while travelling through Ghana. The rhythms he heard there thrilled him and reminded him of his own »phasing« method: the drifting apart and coming together of various rhythms, all playing at the same basic speed, but moving slightly away from each other, creating an almost hypnotic sonic effect.

Steve Reich is regarded as one of minimal music’s pioneers and one of the most influential composers of the second half of the 20th century. His innovative work with tapes in »tape music« and the resulting technique of »phasing« stood at the beginning of his career – an early form a »sampling«.

The world-class British percussionist Colin Currie and his ensemble specialise in the music of Steve Reich. Their performances are so convincing that Steve Reich himself is among their greatest fans.