October 3, 1936:
Stephen Michael Reich is born in New York, New York, USA, the only child of Leonard J. Reich, an attorney, and June Carroll, singer and lyricist. The parents will divorce a little more than a year from now.
August 15, 1963:
Ruzzante's Maneuvers, a theatre piece by Milton Savage, begins a run in San Francisco. Steve Reich (26) provides songs for the play.
December 11, 1963:
Ubu King, a theatre production of the San Francisco Mime Troupe, with music by Steve Reich (27), opens at the Capp Street Studio, San Francisco.
January 25, 1964:
Robert Nelson's film Plastic Haircut, with a soundtrack by Steve Reich (27), is first shown, at the Capp Street Studio, San Francisco.
November 4, 1964:
Several works by Terry Riley (29) are performed at the San Francisco Tape Music Center, 321 Divisadero Street: Music from the Gift, I, Shoeshine, In B-flat or is it A-flat?, Coulé (Keyboard Study no.1), and the premiere of In C. Among the performers are Steve Reich (29), Pauline Oliveros (32), Morton Subotnick (31), and the composer. Subotnick will recall, "The audience response was wonderful. There was a buzz...It was a kind of warm, vibrant, happy...it was like something had happened, maybe not historical, but something had happened that night that was really special. It was different than other concerts." (Carl, 50) This concert, especially In C, help bring minimalism into the mainstream.
January 27, 1965:
Three works by Steve Reich (28) are performed for the first time, at the San Francisco Tape Music Center: It's Gonna Rain, or, Meet Brother Walter in Union Square after Listening to Terry Riley for tape, Music for Two or More Pianos or Piano and Tape, and Livelihood for tape. Livelihood is edited recordings of customers in Reich's taxi, along with other street sounds.
May 21, 1965:
Tread on the Trail for unspecified instruments by Terry Riley (29) is performed for the first time, at the San Francisco Tape Music Center. Among the performers are Pauline Oliveros (32), Steve Reich (28), and the composer.
June 17, 1965:
An avant garde theatre piece called A Minstrel Show opens at the Commedia Theatre in Palo Alto, California. It includes a silent, color film by Robert Nelson called Oh Dem Watermelons for which Steve Reich (28) provides a live soundtrack.
April 17, 1966:
Come Out for tape loops by Steve Reich (29) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York. It is a benefit for the retrial of six Black teenagers convicted of murder in 1964.
May 22, 1966:
During the night (21-22 May), Steve Reich (29) dreams a melody. He wakes up and tapes himself playing it on the melodica. He loops the tape and completes the piece later in the day. He calls the piece Melodica.
March 17, 1967:
Reed Phase for soprano saxophone and tape by Steve Reich (30) is performed for the first time, at Park Place Gallery, New York. It is originally titled Saxophone Phase.
March 18, 1967:
After study with Nadia Boulanger (79) in Paris and four months travelling through the Himalayas, Philip Glass (30) reacquaints himself with Steve Reich (30) at a concert of Reich’s music at the Park Place Gallery, New York. Afterwards they discuss their recent compositions at Reich’s apartment.
May 27, 1969:
Four Log Drums by Steve Reich (32) is performed for the first time, at the Whitney Museum in New York.
March 9, 1970:
A concert of contemporary music takes place at the Instituto Francés in Madrid. Carlos Santos plays Steve Reich’s (33) Piano Phase which is of unspecified duration. After an hour and a half Santos is removed from the piano. Works remaining on the program can not be performed.
May 7, 1970:
Four Organs for four electronic organs and maracas by Steve Reich (33) is performed for the first time, at the Guggenheim Museum, New York. Organists are Philip Glass (33), Arthur Murphy, Steve Chambers, and the composer. Reviews are mixed. Also premiered is Reich’s Phase Patterns for four electronic organs.
December 3, 1971:
Drumming for percussion, two female voices, whistling, and piccolo by Steve Reich (35) is performed for the first time, at the Museum of Modern Art in New York. The audience grants the music a standing ovation.
January 18, 1973:
In a performance of Steve Reich’s (36) Four Organs at Carnegie Hall, New York, members of the audience become restive, annoyed, complaining, and in some cases are moved to action. According to one story, a woman walks to the front, bangs her head on the stage and cries, “all right--I’ll confess!”
April 27, 1973:
Clapping Music for two humans by Steve Reich (36) is performed for the first time, in New York.
May 16, 1973:
Two new works by Steve Reich (36) are performed for the first time, at the John Weber Gallery in New York: Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices, and Organ, and Six Pianos.
December 7, 1973:
Music for Pieces of Wood by Steve Reich (37) is performed for the first time, at New York University in New York City.
April 24, 1976:
Music for 18 Musicians by Steve Reich (39) is performed for the first time, in Town Hall, New York.
May 30, 1976:
Steve Reich (39) marries Beryl Korot, an artist, in Lower Manhattan.
June 1, 1979:
Music for a Large Ensemble by Steve Reich (42) is performed for the first time, in Amsterdam.
June 21, 1979:
Octet for two flutes/piccolos/clarinets/bass clarinets, two pianos, two violins, viola, and cello by Steve Reich (42) is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of Hessischer Rundfunk, originating in Frankfurt.
February 19, 1980:
Variations for winds, strings, and keyboards for chamber ensemble by Steve Reich (43) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York. See 14 May 1980.
May 14, 1980:
The orchestration of Steve Reich’s (43) Variations for winds, strings, and keyboards is performed for the first time, in War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco. See 19 February 1980.
September 20, 1981:
Tehillim for three sopranos, alto, flute, piccolo, oboe, english horn, two clarinets, bassoon, percussion, and string quintet (all amplified) by Steve Reich (44) to words of the Psalms, is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of WDR, originating in Cologne. See 16 September 1982.
September 16, 1982:
Tehillim for three sopranos and chamber orchestra by Steve Reich (45) to words of the Psalms, is performed for the first time, in Avery Fisher Hall, New York. See 20 September 1981.
October 1, 1982:
Vermont Counterpoint for flute/piccolo/alto flute and tape by Steve Reich (45) is performed for the first time, at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. See 10 December 1983.
December 10, 1983:
Two works by Steve Reich (47) are performed for the first time, at the 92nd Street Y in New York: Eight Lines, an orchestration of his Octet, and Vermont Counterpoint for flute ensemble. See 1 October 1982.
March 17, 1984:
The Desert Music for chorus and orchestra by Steve Reich (47) to words of Williams is performed for the first time, over the airwaves of WDR, originating in Cologne. See 10 January 1986.
December 19, 1984:
Sextet for two amplified pianos or synthesizers and various percussion instruments by Steve Reich (48) is performed for the first time, in Centre Pompidou, Paris.
January 10, 1986:
A chamber version of The Desert Music by Steve Reich (49) to words of Williams, is performed for the first time, in Richmond, Virginia. See 17 March 1984.
January 20, 1986:
New York Counterpoint for clarinet and tape by Steve Reich (49) is performed for the first time, in Avery Fisher Hall, New York. See 21 June 1987.
April 3, 1986:
Three Movements for orchestra by Steve Reich (49) is performed for the first time, in St. Louis.
November 22, 1986:
Salute for orchestra by Steve Reich (50) is performed for the first time, in Houston.
April 20, 1987:
Six Marimbas by Steve Reich (50) is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
June 21, 1987:
New York Counterpoint for clarinet and ensemble by Steve Reich (50) is performed for the first time, at Florida State University in Tallahassee.
October 7, 1987:
The Four Sections for orchestra by Steve Reich (51) is performed for the first time, in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco.
November 5, 1987:
Electric Counterpoint for electric guitar and tape by Steve Reich (51) is performed for the first time, in the Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York. See 24 February 1990.
November 2, 1988:
Different Trains for string quartet and tape by Steve Reich (52) is performed for the first time, in Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
February 24, 1990:
Electric Counterpoint for 13 electric guitars by Steve Reich (52) is performed for the first time, at the University of Southern California.
May 16, 1993:
The Cave, for two sopranos, tenor, baritone, four percussionists, three keyboards, string quartet, two wind instruments, and videotape by Steve Reich (56) to words of the Torah, Koran, and various commentaries, is performed for the first time, in Theater Messe Palast, Vienna. The videotape is created by the composer’s wife, Beryl Korot.
December 21, 1994:
Nagoya Marimbas for two marimbas by Steve Reich (58) is performed for the first time, in Shirakawa Hall, Nagoya.
March 7, 1995:
City Life for 17 players by Steve Reich (58) is performed for the first time, in the Arsenal de Metz.
September 7, 1995:
Proverb for three sopranos, two tenors, two basses, and four synthesizers by Steve Reich (58) to words of Wittgenstein, is performed for the first time, in Royal Albert Hall, London.
February 10, 1996:
Proverb for three sopranos, three tenors, two vibraphones, and two electronic keyboards by Steve Reich (59) to words of Wittgenstein is performed for the first time, in Alice Tully Hall, New York.
April 25, 1996:
Duet for two violins and string orchestra by Steve Reich (59) is performed for the first time, in Bochum.
June 23, 1997:
Excerpts from Three Tales for five singers and ten players with video projections by Steve Reich (60) are performed for the first time, in Bonn State Opera. The videos are by Reich’s wife, Beryl Korot. See 12 May 2002.
May 26, 1998:
Act I of Three Tales entitled Hindenburg, a documentary video opera by Steve Reich (61) and his wife Beryl Korot, is performed for the first time, in Sottile Theatre, Charleston, South Carolina. See 12 May 2002.
May 22, 1999:
Triple Quartet for string quartet and tape by Steve Reich (62) is performed for the first time, at the Kennedy Center in Washington. See 28 January 2000.
November 19, 1999:
Know What is Above You for chorus and percussion by Steve Reich (63) to words of Pirkei Avos is performed for the first time, in St. Anne’s Church, Brooklyn.
January 28, 2000:
Triple Quartet by Steve Reich (63) is performed by all live musicians (three string quartets) for the first time, in the Juilliard Theatre, New York. See 22 May 1999.
May 12, 2002:
Three Tales for five singers, ten players, and recordings by Steve Reich (65) is performed completely for the first time, in Vienna. Accompanying video projections are by Reich’s wife, Beryl Korot.
March 13, 2003:
Dance Patterns for two xylophones, two vibraphones, and two pianos by Steve Reich (66) is performed for the first time, in the Palais des Beaux Arts, Brussels. Also premiered is Moving Trees for 18 players by Jonathan Harvey (63) and Counter Phrases, a ballet by Magnus Lindberg (44), to a choreography by Keersmaeker.
August 18, 2003:
Cello Counterpoint for solo cello by Steve Reich (66) is performed for the first time, in Urbana-Champaign, Illinois.
October 18, 2003:
Cello Counterpoint for cello and tape or eight cellos by Steve Reich (67) is performed for the first time, in Urbana, Illinois.
September 16, 2004:
For Strings (With Winds and Brass) by Steve Reich (67) is performed for the first time, in Davies Symphony Hall, San Francisco.
October 24, 2004:
You Are (Variations) for chorus and chamber ensemble by Steve Reich (68) to words of Rebbe Nachman, the Bible, Wittgenstein, and the Talmud is performed for the first time, in Disney Hall, Los Angeles.
August 14, 2005:
Steve Reich (68) receives the MacDowell Medal at a ceremony in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
March 18, 2006:
Variations for Vibes, Pianos, and Strings, a dance piece by Steve Reich (69), is performed for the first time, in the Philharmonie, Cologne.
October 8, 2006:
Daniel Variations for voices and instruments by Steve Reich (70) is performed for the first time, in Barbican Hall, London.
October 18, 2006:
Steve Reich (70) is presented with the Praemium Imperiale for music in Meiji Hall, Tokyo.
May 21, 2007:
Steve Reich (70) is awarded the Polar Prize by King Gustaf XVI Adolf of Sweden.
March 26, 2008:
Double Sextet for twelve players or six players and tape by Steve Reich (71) is performed for the first time, at the University of Richmond, Virginia.
April 20, 2009:
Steve Reich (72) is awarded the Pulitzer Prize for his Double Sextet.
July 2, 2009:
2x5 for two drum sets, two pianos, four electric guitars, and two bass guitars (some of which may be prerecorded) by Steve Reich (72) is performed for the first time, in Manchester Velodrome, Manchester, Great Britain.
December 6, 2009:
Mallet Quartet for four mallet instruments by Steve Reich (73) is performed for the first time, in the Palace of Arts, Budapest.
March 19, 2011:
WTC 9/11 for string quartet and tape by Steve Reich (74) is performed for the first time, at Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
March 5, 2013:
Radio Rewrite for 13 players by Steve Reich (76) is performed for the first time, in Royal Festival Hall, London.
March 16, 2013:
The Cave: Four Genesis Settings for voices, ensemble, and sampler by Steve Reich (76) is performed for the first time, in Bing Concert Hall of Stanford University.
October 12, 2014:
Quartet for two pianos and two vibraphones by Steve Reich (78) is performed for the first time, in Queen Elizabeth Hall, London.
November 1, 2016:
Pulse for winds, strings, piano, and electric bass by Steve Reich (80) is performed for the first time, in Carnegie Hall, New York.
November 10, 2016:
Runner for winds, percussion, pianos, and strings by Steve Reich (80) is performed for the first time, by the Royal Ballet, London, for a dance called Multiverse.
November 1, 2018:
Music for Ensemble and Orchestra by Steve Reich (82) is performed for the first time, in Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles.