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Phase | Pattern | Pulse - Music for 18 Musicians

One of the most important works of American minimalism
The classic works of Steve Reich in spatial audio
25 Sep 2026 - 11 Oct 2026
25 Sep 2026
-
11 Oct 2026

Often described as one of the most important works of American minimalism, Music for 18 Musicians is a mesmerising cycle of pulses, harmonies, and gradual transformations.  

In this groundbreaking 360° immersive audio presentation, the piece unfolds as a living ecosystem of sound - expansive, immersive, and endlessly absorbing. Working with the Colin Currie Group, Loss﹥﹤Gain transform Reich’s masterpiece into a spatial experience that reveals its inner logic with striking clarity. Voices, mallet instruments, winds, and pulses orbit the listener, making audible the intricate relationships that drive forward this masterpiece of minimalist music. 

Presented as part of Phase | Pattern | Pulse, created to celebrate Steve Reich’s 90th birthday, this is Music for 18 Musicians as a shared sonic journey.  

Please note that Colin Currie Group is not performing live at this event. 

"It was an incredible experience to hear the music of Steve Reich played in that environment - to hear it like that, in that space and with the lighting as well...it was absolutely amazing. It just really blew my mind."

"It’s like being in a great big ball of music, being in a universe of sound."

"You could hear lots and lots of layers which I’d never heard before…it brought it totally to life in a way I’ve never heard before."

Hear how Music for 18 Musicians grows from a single pulse into an ever-changing world of rhythm, harmony and sound.

 

About Phase | Pattern | Pulse

Across three distinct immersive audio programmes, Phase | Pattern | Pulse offers an exploded 360° insider’s view of some of Reich’s most admired compositions, revealing the inner structures of each piece in fresh and startling detail.  

Music for 18 Musicians - immediately rewarding and richly coloured, and perfect for those new to Reich.

Drumming - Reich’s most rigorous and immersive statement on rhythm, process, and hypnotic repetition.

The Sextets - compact, intense, and rhythmically driven.

 

 

Book more, Save more: Enjoy 15% off when you book more than one Phase | Pattern | Pulse session in one transaction. The discount will be applied to your basket automatically.

Find out more

 

Don't miss a moment of Steve Reich in Focus, a series celebrating the 90th birthday of one of the most influential musical minds of our time. Explore the day-by-day schedule and catch every event.

Browse the full schedule

 

What to expect

Phase | Pattern | Pulse is an immersive experience created from the music of Steve Reich, inviting you to experience the music in a new way. We want everyone to enjoy this experience free of distractions and in complete comfort. 

Relaxed performances

We understand that not everyone experiences the joy of music in the same way. A number of relaxed performances are available, where visitors who may make more sound and movement within the space are welcome. There are a few brief moments where lighting or audio affects may be disorientating or surprising. If you’re concerned about this, please contact us in advance and we’ll be happy to describe the effects in more detail.

If you have specific access needs, please contact our ticket office and we will do our best to accommodate.

Relaxed performance times

Sunday 27 September 14:15
Thursday 1 October 17:30
Tuesday 6 October 12:30

Running time: Approx. 1 hr 10 mins

 

Recommended age: 12+

 

Content advisory: This performance contains flashing light effects & use of theatrical haze

 

Relaxed performances:
Sunday 27 September 14:15
Thursday 1 October 17:30
Tuesday 6 October 12:30

Frances Marshall
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Biographies

Colin Currie Group

Performer

Credits

Creative team: 

Loss﹥﹤Gain
Colin Currie Group 
Sound Intermedia 
Ed Warren 

Photo credit:

Nick White

Commissioned by Oxford Cultural Programme for the Schwarzman Centre for the Humanities & The Glasshouse Internatinal Centre for Music, Gateshead.

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