Steve Reich - Music for 18 Musicians

Performed live at the Conservatoriumzaal of Amare (Den Haag) on the 29th of April.
Being composed between 1974-76, "Music for 18 Musicians" is considered the pinnacle of the Minimal Music since its premiere. A complex and mathematical composition that sounds surprisingly
organic to the audience. It's not a stretch to say that Reich's music transcends us. His music irradiates a feeling of warmth and familiarity, that is hard to put into words. How do you describe something so natural as the movement of the waves in the ocean?
With this performance, I aim to transmit this feeling to the audience, embracing them in a sonic journey throughout the whole concert, never once loosing their connection with the music.
Steve Reich famously said about this piece "The relationship between the different sections is thus best understood in terms of resemblances between members of a family".
This project was organised, produced and marketed by Miguel Varela
Vibraphone: Miguel Varela
Marimba: Gonçalo Martins, Diogo Marques and João Borralho
Xylophones: Darío Anton and Te-Ping Teng
Maracas: João Brito
Pianos: André Teixeira, Carlota Carvalho, Rui Braga Simões and Miki Kawashima
Clarinets: Miguel Esperanza and Guillermo Arnedo
Singers: Carolina Andrade, Hella Termeulen, Sandra Sinivali and Anne Luize Razdovska
Cello: Thomas Zonderop
Violin: Ruth Mareen
Sound: Mick van Broekhoven and Vito Vicar

[@joaoborralho6511]

The clarinets are otherworldly!

[@Goran_D]

I am living for the eye contact at the 50 minute mark!!!! A lot of people don’t understand how important it is. There’s a secret language of glances and nods I adore and miss being a part of as a musician. Really loved watching every interaction here. We are talking 16th and 32nd note lengths worth of synchronisation amongst a large ensemble. So mesmerising ❤

[@karmineka]

Music is a language!

[@ni1661]

One of my biggest dreams is to hear this live

[@spridgejuice]

I heard Steve Reich and Musicians performance in the QEH London, must have been quite near the time of composition. Bliss! And it has been my favourite piece of music ever since I first heard it. I think it expresses what music actually is.

[@lesimprosdulezardvert1342]

I heard it live this week in Paris, and it's so amazing

[@WaywardPython]

I love how they all seem to be really enjoying themselves.

[@ormirian7364]

Thank you for this - I’ve been batheing in this piece since the 70s and this is one of the loveliest live performances I’ve heard ☀️🌿

[@dreamhaven140]

A very clear, bright recording. I saw Steve Reich perform this with his ensemble in Cincinnati in the spring of 1979.

[@melsonic1463]

amazing performance, excellent recording and production doing justice to the masterpiece. Thank you All so much!💚

[@machida5114]

sodelicious............. I heard this piece for the first time in my third year of college (1978) on a program called "Contemporary Music" on NHK-FM in Japan. However, it did not fit into the broadcast time and I could not finish the piece. Later, when Philips released a record of it, I bought it and listened to it all the way through for the first time.🙂

[@j-mv.3602]

Tears!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@JayEssw]

my favorite ever piece brilliantly performed. The sound of life happening.

[@SilA108Fo]

Wow ! That was mind blowing. Thank you for this.

[@emetcole333]

Breathtaking performance 🌈🌈🌈🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼💖💖💖

[@jimmymack4079]

Magnificently played. The best version of this most difficult piece of music I’ve heard. And played by such talented kids. Excellent. Bravo.

[@jacquestoledano5975]

J'ai l'impression que cette œuvre, avec Trains..., sera de plus en plus jouée de génération en génération, tellement malgré son minimalisme, reflète une très grande diversité de possibilités. Diversité, comme TOUS les vivants naturels complexes par leurs nombreuses interdépendances très enrichissantes pour chacun.e de nous. Nous tous les vivants naturels, dont l'humain.e n'est qu'une partie de tous ces vivants naturels, qu'il nous faudra sauvegarder et quoi qu'il en coûte, à ces qqs ivrognes unidimensionnels de la finance internationale privée qui n'excellent qu'à détourner NOS multiples richesses interdépendantes et COMMUNES. Et cette composition est UNE bonne révolution qui nous appelle à respecter LA VIE. MERCI BEAUCOUP STEVE REICH ET ATTENDONS IMPATIEMMENT VOS OEUVRES NOUVELLES, QUI SONT LE REFLET DE L'UNIVERSALITÉ.

[@diederikvanvleuten8341]

What a great performance! So full of life and energy

[@Goran_D]

😮I love how the mistakes sound on purpose and blend in

[@sergiobernardo1280]

Muito bom!

[@ianyoung1613]

I really enjoyed this, thank you!

[@MagentaFlavouredMusic]

The smile at 40:18 is great

[@philderby6029]

He wants to ask her out, but... bad timing. 😆

[@SkumBanana]

Nice job, I like the fast tempo

[@levioneverything4847]

This is great.

[@martinhsl68hw]

Nice!

[@tombleijendaal]

Absolutely fabulous!

[@tehlinne8538]

Waou

[@cocor7371]

Beautiful, thank you !

[@epsisphal]

Very great performance ! Why are they 19 to perform? Isn't it this piece for 18 musicians?

[@subbyplayz6332]

Ah! Reich originally composed this FOR 18 musicians that can alternate instruments between each section. If one person who plays, let say, the marimba, but cannot play the piano, another musician would be added to the ensemble to fill up the deficiency. Hope this helps! 😊

[@epsisphal]

@@subbyplayz6332 Thanks a lot! That makes sense. 18 musicians, some having multiple talents.