Among the numerous minimalist pieces that appeared in the mid-1970s,
Steve Reich's Music for 18 Musicians is universally regarded as an essential work, and the increasing number of performances over the years have guaranteed its popularity. Premiered in 1976 by
Reich and his hand-picked ensemble, the piece demanded extraordinary precision and stamina of its players, and it was long thought that only
Reich's group had the wherewithal to play its steady pulses, sustained tones, and intricate patterns. Yet in time, several other ensembles have not only mastered the work's challenges but also made first-rate recordings that closely match
Reich's original ECM New Series recording in accuracy and sound quality. This Innova release by the
Grand Valley State University New Music Ensemble was first issued in 2007 as a multichannel hybrid SACD, and this 2013 CD version retains much of the original's richness of tone and spacious ambience. The excellence of this performance has been noted by
Reich, and it has been critically praised for its beauty and virtuosity, all the more remarkable in that this is a university-level ensemble that matches any professional group.