Steve Reich – Music For 18 Musicians
Label: |
ECM Records – 2301 129 |
|---|---|
Format: |
Vinyl
, LP, Album, Stereo
|
Country: |
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Released: |
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Genre: |
Classical |
Style: |
Contemporary |
Tracklist
| A | Pulse - Sections I - IV | 26:55 | |
| B | Sections V - X - Pulse | 32:00 |
Companies, etc.
- Licensed From – Polydor International GmbH
- Phonographic Copyright ℗ – ECM Records GmbH
- Copyright © – Steve Reich
- Lacquer Cut At – PRS Hannover
- Pressed By – PRS Hannover
Credits
- Artwork [Cover Drawing] – Beryl Korot
- Cello – Ken Ishii (2)
- Clarinet, Bass Clarinet – Virgil Blackwell
- Composed By, Liner Notes – Steve Reich
- Design – Paula Bisacca
- Engineer [Recording] – Klaus Hiemann
- Marimba, Maracas – Gary Schall
- Marimba, Xylophone – Russ Hartenberger
- Marimba, Xylophone, Piano – David Van Tieghem
- Metallophone, Piano – James Preiss
- Mixed By [Mixing] – Steve Reich
- Performer – Steve Reich And Musicians
- Photography By [Backliner Photos] – Roberto Masotti
- Piano – Steve Chambers
- Piano, Maracas – Larry Karush
- Piano, Marimba – Steve Reich
- Producer [Production], Recording Supervisor [Recording Supervision] – Rudolph Werner*
- Violin – Shem Guibbory
- Voice – Rebecca Armstrong
- Voice, Piano – Jay Clayton
Notes
The World Premiere was presented April 1976 at Town Hall, NYC, the European Premiere, October 1976 at the Metamusik Festival, Berlin.
Cover Drawing: "Weaver's Notation" (1976)
℗ 1978 ECM Records GmbH
Manufactured under license from Polydor International GmbH
© 1978 Steve Reich
Made in W.
Runouts are stamped:
variant 2: A-side "Q"horizontal "1" reversed / B-side "1"reversed "K" horizontal;
variant 3: A-side "P" sideways / B-side "U" sideways;
variant 4: A-side "1" reversed "M" horizontal / B-side 1" reversed "M" horizontal;
variant 5: A-side "1" inverted "G" sideways / B-side "1" inverted "I" sideways;
variant 6: A-side "D" sideways "1" inverted / B-side "1" inverted "D" sideways;
variant 7: A-side "I" sideways / B-side "J" sideways;
variant 8: A-side "1" reversed "F" horizontal / B-side "1" reversed "I" horizontal;
Cover Drawing: "Weaver's Notation" (1976)
℗ 1978 ECM Records GmbH
Manufactured under license from Polydor International GmbH
© 1978 Steve Reich
Made in W.
Runouts are stamped:
variant 2: A-side "Q"horizontal "1" reversed / B-side "1"reversed "K" horizontal;
variant 3: A-side "P" sideways / B-side "U" sideways;
variant 4: A-side "1" reversed "M" horizontal / B-side 1" reversed "M" horizontal;
variant 5: A-side "1" inverted "G" sideways / B-side "1" inverted "I" sideways;
variant 6: A-side "D" sideways "1" inverted / B-side "1" inverted "D" sideways;
variant 7: A-side "I" sideways / B-side "J" sideways;
variant 8: A-side "1" reversed "F" horizontal / B-side "1" reversed "I" horizontal;
Barcode and Other Identifiers
- Rights Society: GEMA
- Label Code: LC 2516
- Matrix / Runout (A-side label): 2563 931 S 1
- Matrix / Runout (B-side label): 2563 931 S 2
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 1): 2563 931 = 3 S1 320
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 1): 2563 931 S2 = 4 320
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 2): 2563 931 = 3 S 1 3 20 Q 1
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 2): 2563 931 = 3 S 2 3 20 1 K
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 3): 2563 931 S1 = 5 320 1 P
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 3): 2563 931 S2 = 4 320 1A U
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 4): 2563 931 = 3 S 1 3 20 1 M
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 4): 2563 931 = 3 S 2 3 20 1 M
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 5): 2563 931 = 3 S 1 3 20 1 G
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 5): 2563 931 = 3 S 2 3 20 1 I
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 6): 2563 931 = 3 S 1 320 D 1
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 6): 2563 931 S 2 = 4 320 1 D
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 7): 2 563 931 S1=5 320 1 I
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 7): 2563 931 S2=4 320 1A J
- Matrix / Runout (A-side runout, variant 8): 2563 931 = 3 S 1 3 20 1 F
- Matrix / Runout (B-side runout, variant 8): 2563 931 = 3 S 1 3 20 1 I
Other Versions (5 of 45)
View All| Title (Format) | Label | Cat# | Country | Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Recently Edited
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Music For 18 Musicians (LP, Album, Stereo) | ECM Records | ECM-1-1129 | US | 1978 | ||
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Recently Edited
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Music For 18 Musicians (Cassette, Album) | ECM Records | ECM M5E 1129 | US | 1978 | ||
|
New Submission
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Music For 18 Musicians (LP, Album, Stereo) | Trio Records | ECM 1129, PAC-2055 | Japan | 1978 | ||
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New Submission
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Excerpts From Music For 18 Musicians (12", 33 ⅓ RPM, Promo, Sampler) | ECM Records | PRO-A-791 | US | 1978 | ||
|
New Submission
|
Music For 18 Musicians (LP, Album, Promo) | ECM Records | ECM 1129, 2301 129 | 1978 |
Recommendations
Reviews
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I’ve just read that versions made after 2016 (and not on ECM?), have a 10 minute chunk taken out.
This version (preferably on vinyl) is essential. Mesmeric. -
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Edited 6 years agoDear EmekaNweze
No, there's nothing quite like it really. Reich's masterpiece and loads better live, than on a recording, if you ever get a chance - quite unlikely given the forces it needs! It's on in the UK in February played by the London Sinfonietta who manage to get to Birmingham but no further North.
For scale, you might want to try Canto Ostinato by Dutch composer Simon ten Holt. At 1' 11'' it's not for the fainthearted and is on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/FfBP2UNcMX8
Of course there is always Philip Glass" Music in 12 Parts" but that divides people into enthusiasts and detractors. Personally I don't warm to him but having said that, listening to the whole of this work sort of won me round to it.
Happy listening and exploring. -
Hello Bradx,
I don't think you have strange tastes at all. I personally found your review of this album quite beautiful.
Please, do you know of any works that equal this one in conception (i.e genius) and beauty?
Warm Regards. -
absolutely incredible. those who don't know it check out some of the live performances on youtube (there's a good Vic Firth one).
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Edited 11 years agoThis will blow out your mind. Its hard to describe this special kind of hypnotizing mood in it. Its like if your tired it gets you up and opposite. Stunning!
This album is like a spaceship!
A brilliant masterpiece! -
Reich's very early compositions were truly minimalist. He used only small ensembles.... sometimes just clapping, drumming or phasing tape loops. In 1974 he started work on this piece. It took nearly 4 years to complete. The sound was a giant leap for Reich, as he says in the sleeve notes; "there is more harmonic movement in the first 5 minutes of 18 Musicians than in any other complete work of mine to date". Violin, cello, clarinets, women's voices, pianos, marimbas and metallophone all combine to create an intricate, interwoven, phased-out beauty of a piece. For me this is the zenith of his work. He went on to make many more records exploring similar themes and ideas but this is the one that works for me.... melodically it is fabulous, conceptually it is genius. Highly recommended for fans of minimalism.... whether that is in the classical zone or techno. Reich's 60s and early 70s work is less polished (a good thing) and also comes highly recommended.
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Edited 20 years agoIt's quite a shame that the music doesn't fit on one side of the record. The piece is composed by combining musical loops, performed by 18 musicians on acoustical instruments. The way these loops interact results in a deeply mesmerizing soundscape. Having to turn the record in the middle of the performance may be quite annoying. My advice would be to get it on cd.
Due to the nature of the composition the piece may be of particular interest to those who are into deep loopy techno.
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