Editing Piano Phase (section)

==History==
''Piano Phase'' represents Steve Reich's first attempt to apply his "[[Phasing (music)|phasing]]" technique. Reich had earlier used [[tape loop]]s in ''[[It's Gonna Rain]]'' (1965) and ''[[Come Out (Reich)|Come Out]]'' (1966), but wanted to apply the technique to live performance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wqxr.org/articles/q2-music/2009/dec/10/maximum-reich-introductions/|title=Maximum Reich: Introductions|work=WQXR}}</ref> Reich carried out a hybrid test with ''[[Reed Phase]]'' (1966), combining an instrument (a [[soprano saxophone]]) and a [[magnetic tape]].

Not having two pianos at his disposal, Reich experimented by first recording a piano part on tape, and then trying to play mostly in sync with the recording, albeit with slight shifts, or phases, with occasional re-alignments of the twelve successive notes against each other. Reich found the experience satisfying,<ref name=Potter182>[[#POT00|Potter (2000)]], p.182</ref> showing that a musician can phase with concentration.

With the premiere of ''Reed Phase'' at [[Fairleigh Dickinson University]] in early 1967, Reich and a musician friend, Arthur Murphy, had the opportunity to attempt ''Piano Phase'' with two pianos in live concert. Reich discovered that it was possible to dispense with tape and phase without mechanical assistance. Reich experimented phasing with several versions, including a version for four electric pianos titled ''Four Pianos'' dating from March 1967, before settling on a final version of the piece written for two pianos.<ref name=Potter182/> The first performance of the version for four pianos was given on March 17, 1967 at the [[Park Place Gallery]], with [[Art Murphy]], [[James Tenney]], [[Philip Corner]], and Reich himself.<ref name="Potter195">[[#POT00|Potter (2000)]], p.195</ref>
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