Steve Reich – Early Works

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Genre:	Electronic, Classical
Style:	Modern Classical, Experimental, Post-Modern, Minimal, Contemporary
Year:	1987

Tracklist

Germany/Europe CD releases:
Steve Reich - Early Works 1987 issue, Price Code WE 851, pressed by Record Service Alsdorf matrix ‘979169-2.2 RSA’
Steve Reich - Early Works 1987 issue, Price Code WE 851, pressed by Record Service GmbH matrix ‘979 169-2 SRC-01’
Steve Reich - Early Works Code France WE 810, made by Record Service Alsdorf (per disc face) but post-1991 release so probably actually made by WMME Alsdorf) matrix '979169-2.2 RSA’
Steve Reich - Early Works Code France WE 810, made by Record Service Alsdorf (per disc face) but post-1991 release so probably actually made by WMME Alsdorf) matrix ‘755979169-2.3 10/98’

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15 versions

Image	,	–			In Your Collection, Wantlist, or Inventory	Version Details	Data Quality
	Early Works LP, Compilation	Elektra Nonesuch – 9 79169-1	US	1987	US — 1987
	Early Works CD, Compilation	Elektra Nonesuch – 9 79169-2	US	1987	US — 1987	Recently Edited
	Early Works LP, Compilation, Stereo	Nonesuch – 979 169-1	Europe	1987	Europe — 1987	Recently Edited
	Early Works CD, Compilation	Elektra Nonesuch – 979 169-2	Europe	1987	Europe — 1987	Recently Edited
	Early Works Cassette, Compilation	Elektra Nonesuch – 9 79169-4	US	1987	US — 1987	New Submission
	Early Works LP, Compilation, Promo	Elektra Nonesuch – 9 79169-1	US	1987	US — 1987	New Submission
	Early Works CD, Compilation	Nonesuch – 979 169-2	Germany	1987	Germany — 1987	New Submission
	Early Works CD, Compilation, Longbox	Elektra Nonesuch – 9 79169-2	US	1987	US — 1987	New Submission
	Early Works CD, Compilation, Reissue	Elektra Nonesuch – WPCC-4087	Japan	1987	Japan — 1987	New Submission
	Early Works Cassette, Compilation	Elektra Nonesuch – 979 169-4	Germany	1987	Germany — 1987	New Submission
	Early Works CD, Compilation, Reissue	Elektra Nonesuch – WPCS 5052	Japan	1996	Japan — 1996	New Submission
	Early Works CD, Compilation, Reissue	Elektra Nonesuch – 9 79169-2	US		US
	Early Works CD, Compilation	Nonesuch – 979 169-2	Europe		Europe
	Early Works CD, Compilation, Repress	Elektra Nonesuch – 979 169-2	Europe		Europe	New Submission
	Early Works CD, Compilation, Reissue	Elektra Nonesuch – 9 79169-2	US		US	Recently Edited

Bradx Nov 8, 2014
Edited 8 years ago
referencing Early Works (LP, Compilation) 9 79169-1
This is it - the greatest of the early minimal works of Steve Reich. Conceptual experiments with out-of-phase tape recorders on the enigmatic It's Gonna Rain and Come Out (the influence of this track even permeates into the work of Capt Beefheart).
If it's minimal you want - how more mimimal can you get than Clapping Music? Just human hands clapping, gradually phasing in and out of time. Sheer genius. This is the record you could find cheap in HMV sales back in the 1980s... I think mine cost me £2.99.

In my opinion the first 15 years (up to Octet) contain the best and most challenging pieces that Reich composed.
Maybe he was chasing sales or acclaim but, for me, the later, more elaborately orchestrated works become less interesting, with more concessions to accessibility and 'the market'.

I was lucky to see Steve Reich and Musicians at the Queen Elizabeth Hall in London in 1981 where they performed Clapping, Drumming and Octet, a great night that has stuck in my memory.
philbeard Jun 26, 2013
referencing Early Works (CD, Compilation) 979 169-2
Absolutely essential if you are interested in minimalism. The recording of "Clapping Music" is a bit dry for my liking (no resonance to it), but the two tape pieces are masterful & the piano piece very beautiful.