Steve Reich and Musicians, sometimes credited as the Steve Reich Ensemble, is a musical ensemble founded and led by the American composer Steve Reich (born 1936) to perform his compositions. This ensemble has premiered many of Reich's works and has performed his works more than any other. The ensemble received a Grammy Award in 1999.
In 1966, Steve Reich founded his own ensemble of three musicians, which quickly grew to 18 members or more beginning 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.
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.
Steve Reich • percussion (tuned drums, marimba), piano, whistlingPamela Wood Ambush • vocalsRebecca Armstrong • vocals (soprano)Marion Beckenstein • vocals (soprano)Bob Becker • percussion (tuned drums, marimba, xylophone) • original member • member of the Nexus percussion groupPhillip Bush • pianoJay Clayton • vocals (alto), pianoTim Ferchen • percussion (marimba, xylophone)Ben Harms • percussion (tuned drums, marimba)Russell Hartenberger • percussion (tuned drums, marimba, xylophone) • original member • member of the Nexus percussion groupGarry Kvistad • percussion (glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone), pianoJeanne LeBlanc • celloRichard Rood • violinElizabeth Lim • violinEdmund Niemann • pianoJames Preiss • percussion (tuned drums), vibraphone, pianoJoseph Rasmussen • percussionScott Rawls • violaTodd Reynolds • violin • former member of EthelCheryl Bensman Rowe • vocals (soprano)Gary Schall • percussion (tuned drums)Leslie Scott • clarinet, bass clarinetMort Silver • piccoloNurit Tilles • piano, electric organDavid Van Tieghem • percussion (glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone, tuned drums, claves), pianoGlen Velez • percussion (tuned drums)Thad Wheeler • percussion (tuned drums, glockenspiel, marimba, maracas)Evan Ziporyn • clarinet, bass clarinetSteve Reich and Musicians
The Desert Music • with Brooklyn Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Michael Tilson Thomas • Nonesuch 79101Drumming • Nonesuch 79170Drumming, Music for Mallets, Voices and Organ, Six Pianos • Deutsche Grammophon DG 427 428-2Drumming • Deutsche Grammophon DG 474 323-2Music for a Large Ensemble, Octet, Violin Phase • ECM New Series 78118-21168Music for 18 Musicians • ECM New Series 78118-21129Music for 18 Musicians • Nonesuch 79448Sextet, Six Marimbas • Nonesuch 79138Six Pianos, Pendulum Music, Violin Phase, Music for Pieces of Wood, Drumming Part Four • live at The Kitchen 1977 • Orange Mountain Music 0018Tehillim • ECM New Series 21215Variations for Winds, Strings and Keyboards • with San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Edo de Waart • Deutsche Grammophon 20/21 Series DG 471 591-2The Cave • Nonesuch 79327City Life, Nagoya Marimbas, Proverb • Nonesuch 79430Three Tales • with Synergy Vocals, conducted by Bradley Lubman • Nonesuch 79662
