If you’re not yet familiar with this essential 20th century composer, YouTube has an excellent British documentary on Steve Reich.

Introductory without being stupid, the 50 minute program ranges from Reich’s early proto-serialist beginnings to his recent music. Reich himself discusses his connection to Luciano Berio and John Coltrane, explains his phasing technique (Brian Eno also appears, brilliantly describing Reich’s classic tape pieces like “It’s Gonna Rain” as “aural moiré patterns”), and much more.

For a quick intro, check out Reich discussing phasing in this 3 minute snippet of an interview from the 1987.

My only quibble with the South Bank documentary - and it’s negligible - is whether the documentary’s wallpaper picture of the street preacher is really Brother Walter, whose voice Reich layered to make the unforgettable “It’s Gonna Rain.” I blame Ken Burns for my newfound suspicion of documentary still and stock footage. Apart from shamefully neglecting post-1960s jazz, Burns’ documentary Jazz was rife with period-inaccurate use of film; every documentary should caption non-germane stills and film sequences, e.g. “New York E 90th St, date unknown.”

Last December, I exhorted Reich’s label, Nonesuch, to compile and release some rare Steve Reich tracks. You can see and hear one now: My Name is Oona, one of the most beautiful films from the late 1960s (anyone a fan of Carolee Schneeman’s landmark and NSFW Fuses?), features a soundtrack by Reich with Herbie Hancock collaborator and synth wizard Patrick Gleeson.

To see a composer’s true self, watch her or him in rehearsal. This short, nifty documentary with the Portland ensemble Third Angle shows Reich coaching, complaining, and commending the ensemble as they tackle the classic Music for 18 Musicians.

If you want to hear complete pieces, listen to the The London Steve Reich Ensemble play Reich’s Eight Lines; there’s not much to see - it’s a continuous long shot - and the flute solo is a tad too soft, but otherwise it gives you an idea of Reich’s music. There’s also the joyously buoyant Music for a Large Ensemble.