Monday, April 20, 2009

Steve Reich wins 2009 Pulitzer


Steve Reich won this year's Pulitzer Prize for his "Double Sextet," which premiered on March 26, 2008 by the ensemble Eighth Blackbird in Richmond, Virgina. According to the Boosey & Hawkes web site, "Double Sextet" is a "22-minute work has two performing options, either as a live sextet of flute, clarinet, violin, cello, vibraphone and piano playing against a pre-recorded sextet on tape, or as an ensemble of 12 instrumentalists."

The New York Times states this about Reich's "Double Sextet:" is "a major work that displays an ability to channel an initial burst of energy into a large-scale musical event, built with masterful control and consistently intriguing to the ear."

2 comments:

bob priest said...

I once asked Robert Ward (a Pulitzer winner and past juror) why "so & so" won a particular year, He said;

"well, it was their turn."

And, so it goes with Reich.

James Bash said...

The Pulitzer Prize is a unique beast. Interestingly enough, online publications were supposed to be under consideration this year for an award, but none were chosen.