In his book Writings on Music, 1965-2000 (Oxford University Press, 2002) American composer Steve Reich demonstrated a rare ability to explain his musical thinking in a clear and unassuming way. For this book he took inspiration from one of his favorite music books: Stravinsky in Conversation with Robert Craft (Penguin Books, 1962). Stravinsky made observations about his life and the artists he knew, prompted by Craft’s brief questions. Reich has no one like Robert Craft in his life, so he chose to have conversations with a wide variety of associates: composers, musicians, conductors, a sculptor, a choreographer, a video artist and a record company president all spoke with him. Most of the conversations were held via Zoom during the pandemic of 2020 and early 2021. As Reich notes in his Preface, the conversations generally focused on one or more compositions that the other artist either performed or had an interest in. And the order of the conversations is roughly chronological following the composition dates of the pieces discussed, producing a kind of survey of Reich’s entire body of work.

The first conversation is with composer David Lang. Lang was influenced by several early Reich compositions, notably, It’s Gonna Rain and Drumming, and they talk about Reich’s early influences (including Luciano Berio, John Coltrane, African and Balinese music and Terry Riley). Because they both have a background in formal composition studies they talk about that as well. Brian Eno talks about the impact of It’s Gonna Rain. In the then-new era of multitrack recording, there was a tendency to fill up all available audio space. But Reich’s tape-loop piece made a substantial amount of music out of minimal source materials and also presented a way of allowing sonic events to flow freely rather than be fixed as they were in the classical tradition.

The remaining conversations all give similar insight into Reich's work. If there is a weakness, it is the fact that the reader will have to be a Reich superfan to appreciate the whole book. I am a huge fan of much of Reich's music, but found myself a bit lost in some of the later chapters due to lack of familiarity with the music under discussion.

Thanks to NetGalley for an Advance Reader's Copy

What I love about this book is the interview style of it!! It really keeps things interesting. I love how Reich and the interviewer at the time are able to keep the conversation flowing while I learned more about music.

This has a niche audience, and those that pick it up will likely enjoy it. It's tough to go wrong with this subject matter and format, especially for musicians. Recommended.

Thanks very much for the free review copy!!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this memoir, and a guide to contemporary classical music.

Steve Reich, an American composer with a list of accolades longer than some of his compositions has created in his book Conversations both a memoir of his life, but a book addressing and highlighting many of his influences over the years. Drawing on conversations recorded during the start of the COVID- 19 pandemic with previous collaborators, fellow composers and musicians who have spent their professional career pushing the envelope, Mr. Reich shares influences, opportunities, and his own creative decisions.

These conversations focus mostly on Mr. Reich, and one gets the sense that it is a live well lived. Mr. Reich through hard work and determination, plus skill, has been able to record and produce fresh music, important music. And his influence on many, such as the producer, musician Brian Eno, whose eyes were opened to the possibilities of sound by an early album of Mr. Reich's. In addition there are many other composers discussed, so keep a pen and paper as the reader will be making notes for some fascination playlists in the future.

My only complaint is while there is brief biographical sketches for those engaged in conversation, a small glossary would have been nice, since some of the musical terms went over my head. This is a minor complaint, you don't have to be a music major to enjoy or understand this book. Eavesdropping, as it were, on their conversations the reader gains an appreciations for modern works, even the works that seem so simple, take a lot of time, planning and skill to create. A very interesting book, with a lot of new music to follow up on.