Steve Reich on Composing "Different Trains"

Composer Steve Reich discusses the compositional process behind his 1988 piece for string quartet and tape, "Different Trains," where carefully chosen speech recordings shaped the musical material for the score. The piece references Reich's childhood spent traveling on trains between New York and Los Angeles in 1939-1942 set against the harsh reality of Jews being transported to concentration camps in Europe at the same time.
Learn more about "Different Trains": bit.ly/Differe...
Purchase the full score and performance CD: bit.ly/Differe...
Music:
"Different Trains" for string quartet and tape
Composed by Steve Reich
Performed by the Kronos Quartet
Courtesy of Nonesuch Records
Photo of Lawrence Davis by Harvey Wang
Film by Jesse Yang

[@longhaulblue]

Different Trains is my favorite Reich's work. I come back to it at least once every 2 months. Not only is it musically rich, but the humanity of the spoken word touches my soul.
My favorite part is at the very end. "There was one girl who had a beautiful voice. And they loved to listen to her singing...And when she stopped, they said, 'More! More!'...
Even in all that brutality, a ray of common humanity.
Truly a masterpiece. Thank you, Mr. Reich.

[@cadeburkhammer5942]

I am so glad I saw this live with Kronos when I was in high school in Cleveland

[@TomGeller]

Thanks for posting this! "Different Trains" meant a lot to me in college. Good to be reminded to listen to it again, too.

[@ZBurtonHunt]

Reich is such a brilliant contemporary composer who brilliantly combines exciting music - albeit with a message - with evocative and emotive images.

[@jonridley]

Im a musician , I can’t stop listening and going back to this snd other minimList masters

[@windowtrimmer8211]

Profound masterpiece

[@Bashkii]

I love this guy!! Besides, to my taste he's the REAL minimalist. Not boreGlass.

[@leoholder7839]

what do you have against glass hahah

[@goddessrenetheone]

My idol ❤❤❤❤❤

[@SimonMackUK77]

Many thks for this. WTC 9/11 after Diff Trains is similar and as powerful

[@peterpunch5757]

I'm curious which sampler/keyboard he used...Fairlight?