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Listening Report to Steve Reich – Different Trains

 

With this piece the title already reveals a lot about what awaits you when listening to it. At first, the piece felt chaotic and at the same time calming to me, due to the recurring rhythm of the train sounds. Therefore, my first feelings when listening were rather restless and impatient. However, these feelings were quickly calmed down by the constant rhythm. I kind of lost the sense of time while listening. At first it felt like an endless loop that goes on and on if you do not pay attention to the voices. But if you listen for a second round and focus on the voices, you notice the story that is being told. Although it was a bit challenging for me to always understand what was being said. However, it felt like different chapters of the story were introduced with every new voiceover. Additional, I found the different changes of tempo exciting, as well as how it was adapted to the spoken word. Especially the fact that the music was adapted to the language and rhythm of each individual person was fascinating to me. I also liked the fact that the string instruments at some point imitated the sounds of the train.

With this piece of music, one has almost no choice but to imagine the young Steve Reich on his practically endless journey through the whole country. Due to the train noises in the background, I have a clear picture of him sitting in a train compartment, where otherwise only adults would sit, with his small suitcase and maybe a stuffed animal clamped under his little arm. The mention of the years and the addition of the sirens as background noise intensifies the story and it becomes much more dramatic. In some way it made me nervous because of the increased pace and at the same time curious how the train journeys continue over the years.

And somehow, I also get goosebumps when I realize again that these were real people who can be heard on the recording, telling their story in a small excerpts. It leaves an oppressive feeling and at the same time I think it is good that Steve Reich chose this theme for the piece and included different perspectives on these difficult years. It reminds you that sometimes it is just a small detail that can save you from a lethal fate. It may be enough just to board another train in another country. For me, the end of the piece was somewhat unexpected and abrupt.

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