Music for 18 Musicians

Performers

Felicia J. Storn, Victoria Greiner, Patricia Llopis Aleixandre, Charlotte Kersting → Vocals
Cheng Yang → Violin
Sarah Sofía Gutiérrez Biraben → Violoncello
Steponas Plukas, Andrea Carraro → Clarinet
Simona Malerba, Eduardo Marin Sanz, Chaewan Lim, Anna Zanforlini → Piano
Alex Quitin, Alexander Shkirando, Léo Pignon, Hung-Hsuan Chen, Alessandro Cozza, Pietro Squarzon, Andrea Rampazzo → Percussion
Håkon Stene and Massimo Pastore → Conductor

Program

Steve Reich → Music for 18 Musicians (1974-1976)

"Music for 18 Musicians" is one of the central works of minimal music and lasts around 55 minutes. It is characterized by a steady pulse, high rhythmic energy and a novel combination of harmony, structure and timbre.

The instrumentation is unusual: in addition to strings and clarinets (including bass clarinet), there are four female voices, four pianos and a wide range of percussion instruments including marimbas, xylophones and vibraphone. Electronics are only used for amplification.

The work is based on a cycle of eleven chords, which are introduced at the beginning and taken up again at the end. Each chord forms the basis for a separate section in which musical processes gradually unfold. Individual harmonic states are strongly stretched and function - similar to a cantus firmus - as a tonal center.

The interplay of two time levels is characteristic: a continuous pulse in pianos and percussion instruments as well as the natural breathing rhythm of voices and wind instruments. This combination creates a lively, wave-like flow of sound that is constantly changing and yet remains calm.

The transitions between the sections are not controlled by a conductor, but by musical signals within the ensemble. This creates a sensitive network of repetition, variation and gradual transformation - a sound process that develops organically and immerses the listener in a continuous musical flow.