Steve Reich and Musicians

Steve Reich and Musicians, sometimes credited as the Steve Reich Ensemble, is a musical ensemble founded and led by the American composer Steve Reich (b. 1936) to perform his compositions. This ensemble has premiered many of Reich's works and has performed his works more than any other.

History

Steve Reich and Musicians began its performing history in the early 1970s with concerts in lofts and small galleries in New York City. Within a few years, especially after the success of Reich's Music for 18 Musicians, the group began touring nationally and internationally. The size of the ensemble has always fluctuated depending on the works to be performed, with the aforementioned "18 Musicians" being approximately the upper limit, but with many works such as Piano Phase or Clapping Music using only a pair of musicians.

By organizing an ensemble of his own with which to perform his works, Reich, like fellow minimalist composer Philip Glass with his group, altered the traditional route by which classical composers sought to have their music disseminated. The composer-led ensemble became a new model which was to be highly influential on the creation of groups such as Bang on a Can.

Instrumentation

The ensemble's instrumentation varies according to the piece being performed, but consists primarily of tuned percussion (marimbas, vibraphones, glockenspiels) and voices, as well as bowed string instruments, bass clarinets, and electronic organs.

Members

• Steve Reich • percussion (tuned drums, marimba), piano, whistling
• Pamela Wood Ambush • vocals
• Rebecca Armstrong • vocals (soprano)
• Marion Beckenstein • vocals (soprano)
• Bob Becker • percussion (tuned drums, marimba, xylophone) • original member • member of the Nexus percussion group
• Phillip Bush • piano
• Jay Clayton • vocals (alto), piano
• Tim Ferchen • percussion (marimba, xylophone)
• Ben Harms • percussion (tuned drums, marimba)
• Russell Hartenberger • percussion (tuned drums, marimba, xylophone) • original member • member of the Nexus percussion group
• Garry Kvistad • percussion (glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone), piano
• Jeanne LeBlanc • cello
• Richard Rood • violin
• Elizabeth Lim • violin
• Edmund Niemann • piano
• James Preiss • percussion (tuned drums), vibraphone, piano
• Joseph Rasmussen • percussion
• Scott Rawls • viola
• Todd Reynolds • violin • former member of Ethel
• Cheryl Bensman Rowe • vocals (soprano)
• Gary Schall • percussion (tuned drums)
• Leslie Scott • clarinet, bass clarinet
• Mort Silver • piccolo
• Nurit Tilles • piano, electric organ
• Glen Velez • percussion (tuned drums)
• Thad Wheeler • percussion (tuned drums, glockenspiel, marimba, maracas)
• Evan Ziporyn • clarinet, bass clarinet

Discography

Steve Reich and Musicians

• The Desert Music • with Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas • Nonesuch 79101
• Drumming • Nonesuch 79170
• Drumming, Music for Mallets, Voices and Organ, Six Pianos • Deutsche Grammophon DG 427 428-2
• Drumming • Deutsche Grammophon DG 474 323-2
• Music for a Large Ensemble, Octet, Violin Phase • ECM New Series 78118-21168
• Music for 18 Musicians • ECM New Series 78118-21129
• Music for 18 Musicians • Nonesuch 79448
• Sextet, Six Marimbas • Nonesuch 79138
• Six Pianos, Pendulum Music, Violin Phase, Music for Pieces of Wood, Drumming Part Four • live at The Kitchen 1977 • Orange Mountain Music 0018
• Tehillim • ECM New Series 21215
• Variations for Winds, Strings, and Keyboards • with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Edo de Waart • Deutsche Grammophon 20/21 Series DG 471 591-2

Steve Reich Ensemble

• The Cave • Nonesuch 79327
• City Life, Nagoya Marimbas, Proverb • Nonesuch 79430
• Three Tales • with Synergy Vocals, conducted by Bradley Lubman • Nonesuch 79662

See also

• Steve Reich

External links

• Steve Reich-discography