steve

On April 20, 2009 the Pulitzer Board announced that Steve Reich won the 2009 Pulitzer Prize in Music for his 2007 piece, Double Sextet. This piece was commissioned by Eighth Blackbird, premiered by them in 2008 in many cities in America and abroad. It will be recorded by them for Nonesuch records later this year. The score is available from Boosey & Hawkes.

The Paul Sacher Foundation has entered into an agreement with the American composer Steve Reich (b. 1936) to take over his musical archive. The working papers of this internationally renowned artist will shortly be made accessible to scholars at the Foundation's premises in Basel.

Daniel Variations (2006) combines text by Daniel Pearl, the American Jewish reporter and violinist murdered by Islamic fundamentalists in Karachi in 2002 together with text from the Biblical book of Daniel. This premiere recording of Daniel Variations is performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale conducted by Grant Gershon. This new Nonesuch CD also includes the first recording of Variations for Vibes, Pianos and Strings (2005) performed by the London Sinfonietta conducted by Alan Pierson.

On May 21, 2007 Steve Reich was awarded The Polar Prize from the Royal Swedish Academy of Music. The prize was presented by His Majesty King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.

Nonesuch records has released its second boxed set of music by Steve Reich entitled 'Phases - A Nonesuch Retrospective', and sold at a special reduced price. Included in the 5 CD box are a large number of Steve Reich's best know works.

On October 18, 2006 Steve Reich was awarded the Praemium Imperiale for his contribution to the arts. The award was presented by Prince Hitachi at the Meiji Hall in Tokyo . The Praemium Imperiale awards are given annually by the Japan Art Association in five fields not covered by the Nobel Prizes.

Celebrations of Steve Reich’s 70th birthday on 3 October 2006 are already underway, with surveys of his output around the world.

Major Festival of Steve Reich@70 at Barbican Centre, London September 28-October 8, 2006.

Steve Rich's birthday is marked by a unique collaboration among Brooklyn Academy of Music, Carnegie Hall, and Lincoln Center. Celebration includes two U.S. premiers and one NY premiere, anchoring a year of international festivities.