Music for 18 Musicians, Royal Festival Hall

Percussionist Colin Currie needs no introduction to Southbank audiences. Artist in Residence and the subject of a dedicated season in 2014, his technique is so radical that Steve Reich has dubbed him “one of the greatest musicians in the world.” In May 2016, Currie and his own ensemble will take to the Royal Festival Hall stage to perform Steve Reich’s landmark Music for 18 Musicians (1974-6), perhaps the ultimate statement of the American minimalist movement. A little over an hour in length, Reich’s masterpiece cycles eleven chords through twelve continuous movements, creating a mesmerising, ever-shifting tapestry of sound. In the hands of the Colin Currie Group, it is likely to astound even seasoned listeners.
The concert will also provide an opportunity to hear two recent smaller-scale works by Reich. The Mallet Quartet (2010), composed for 2 marimbas and 2 vibraphones, explores the full potential of these two enchanting instruments, with a hypnotic pulse reminiscent of the composer’s earlier Music. And the Quartet (2014) for 2 vibraphones and 2 pianos, written especially for Currie and premiered at the Southbank last season, provides definitive proof that Reich is still pushing at minimalism’s boundaries. Together, these three pieces are likely to provide a fitting celebration for the composer’s 80^th birthday.