Film / Germany / 2016
In 2016, Gregor Schwellenbach, Hauschka, Erol Sarp (Grandbrothers), Daniel Brandt and Paul Frick (Brandt Brauer Frick), and John Kameel Farah released a modern studio recording of Steve Reich's "Six Pianos" in celebration of his 80th birthday. This reinterpretation, released via FILM, followed a widely acclaimed performance at Cologne's Philharmonic Hall during the Acht Brücken Festival. Originally composed by Reich in 1973, "Six Pianos" was inspired by his time rehearsing at the Baldwin Piano & Organ Company in New York, where he had access to multiple pianos.
In this new recording, each of the six pianists performed their parts separately on different grand pianos across Germany, layering their individual styles and studio setups into a unified composition. Jan Brauer mixed the final piece, capturing the modern sound aesthetics of 2016. The release also includes Terry Riley's "Keyboard Study #1," a fitting companion to Reich's work. This piece, characterized by its repetitive patterns and flexible structure, echoes the pianists’ belief that Riley's and Reich's music is accessible to both classically trained and pop-socialized musicians and audiences alike.