Performed by pianists Sarah Watkins, Liam Wooding, Jian Liu, Stephen De Pledge, Michael Houstoun, and Somi Kim at an Auckland Arts Festival event featuring the world premiere of Voices at the End by John Psathas.
Photo: screenshot ex Sounz video
Steve Reich wrote Six Pianos in 1973 after a process of experimentation with fellow musicians – they’d been given access to the Baldwin Piano and Organ Company's premises in New York during evenings to try out ideas. Reich originally called the piece ‘Piano Store’.
The piece sticks to repeated patterns of a very restricted range of notes. Certain pitches and figures are given prominence at various times, creating hypnotic waves of sound.
Recorded by RNZ Concert, Auckland Town Hall, 18 March 2021
Sound engineer: Adrian Hollay
Producer: Tim Dodd
