Six Pianos is a minimalist piece for six pianos by the American composer Steve Reich. It was completed in March 1973. He also composed a variation for six marimbas, called Six Marimbas, in 1986.[1] The world première performance of Six Pianos was in May 1973 at the John Weber Gallery in New York City. The European première took place in January the next year in Stuttgart, Germany.[2]
Reich's idea was originally for a piece titled Piano Store that could be played on all the pianos in a piano store. A friend in New York gave him and his fellow musicians access to the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company's premises during evenings, where they could try out ideas.[1] Reich eventually settled on an ensemble of six upright pianos in close proximity, which would allow very precise timing without being masked by the resonance of grand pianos.[1]
- ^ a b c Keith Potter (25 April 2002). Four Musical Minimalists: La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass. Cambridge University Press. p. 226. ISBN 978-0-521-01501-1.
- ^ Maxwell, Grant Lyle (1993). Music for Three Or More Pianists: A Historical Survey and Catalogue. Scarecrow Press. p. 97. ISBN 9780810826311.