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, 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
David Van Tieghem • percussion (glockenspiel, marimba, xylophone, tuned drums, claves), piano
Glen Velez • percussion (tuned drums)
Thad Wheeler • percussion (tuned drums, glockenspiel, marimba, maracas)
Evan Ziporyn • clarinet, bass clarinet
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
The Cave • Nonesuch 79327
City Life, Nagoya Marimbas, Proverb • Nonesuch 79430
Three Tales • with Synergy Vocals, conducted by Bradley Lubman • Nonesuch 79662
