In 1976 Reich achieved a definitive breakthrough with this work of one hour’s duration. Its opening minutes generate more swirling harmonies than in Reich’s entire preceding oeuvre.

Reich briefly put aside the extreme minimalist experimentation and the overly rigid phase shifting technique and created a dazzling, energetic composition in which each instrument seems to claim a leading role. From the female voices to the droning clarinets and the rousing percussion, all elements merge in an extremely transparent manner. The hallucinatory interweaving of rhythmic pulses and invigorating melody lines rivets the listener’s attention throughout the entire work. 

Artists

STEVE REICH
Music for 18 Musicians 

ASKO|SCHÖNBERG
SLAGWERK DEN HAAG
WISHFUL SINGING