Steve Reich: Double Sextet, 2x5

For perceptive musicians who enjoy rhythm and percussion Steve Reich's the man. And no, unlke Phili Glass, all of Reich's pieces are distinctly different if you have an ear for music... These two pieces are arguably his best synthesis of classical, jazz, and rock traditions. So ya, the Pullitzer was fully deserved, dude. Buy this!!!

At a time when some music awards seem superfluous and self serving, Double Sextet by Steve Reich reinvigorates the concept of rewarding excellence. It is simply excellent. As a reviewer below stated, Reich has maintained his trademark rhythmic complexity and metric sense but has now suffused that sense with deeper explorations of harmony, subtle timbre shifts and melodic interpolations. Both Double Sextet and 2X5 are poignant on so many levels they really must be heard several times to fully grasp. Pulitzer is well deserved in this case. My faith renewed. Highly recommended.

There's nothing new here. Reich's been writing this for decades, and they seem finally to have tossed him a Pulitzer for it. For his best work, which is indeed decades behind him, seek out The Desert Music or Music for Eighteen Musicians. These two lightweight pieces are soulless, energy-free, and of no interest whatsoever. A real shame. Double Sextet is terribly familiar, and 2x5 sounds like the soundtrack to an early 80s Michael Crichton techno-thriller.

It is true that Reich was well overdue for a Pulitzer although most are convinced that his best work is behind him. This is not such a bad thing. Reich delves into areas that he's explored before but now with the advantage of age to assist him. He's honed his phase and minimalistic rhythims to a greater detail now. Both pieces sound cut from the same cloth and focuses on coloristic detail. 8BB and BOAC play each work with exactness and passion and this will no doubt be the referrence recording for years to come. This is a must for anyone's music library. -Bz

Double Sextet is exciting and fast paced; it is highly rhythmic, but suprisingly lyrical. Eighth Blackbird preforms this piece with both precision and artistry. The recorded second part interlocks with the first to create new rhythms, harmonies and timbres. Definitely one of Reich's best works and well worth the Pulitzer prize. 2x5 puts an interesting twist on the standard rock band instrumentation. It to is quite rhythmical.