»Music for 18 Musicians«

Steve Reich's »Music for 18 Musicians« is a key work of minimal music. Reich created this kaleidoscopic sonic cosmos for strings, woodwinds, xylophones, pianos, and voices – an electrifying one-hour sound experience, presented by the all-star band of Ensemble Modern.

More than 100,000 copies of the first recording of  »Music for 18 Musicians« with »Steve Reich and Musicians« sold in 1978: people went crazy for it. But it wasn't until 20 years after its premiere in New York that the piece came to Europe, where Ensemble Modern rehearsed it – in close collaboration with the composer. Reich hadn't written a full score, and the parts were available only in shorthand. This led to a close relationship between Steve Reich and Ensemble Modern, and to this day, the musicians remain experts in his fascinating music.