Back in stock: Modern Classical

Review: This monumental 27-disc box set spans six decades of the composer's career through his evolution as a pioneer of minimalism and one of contemporary music's most influential figures. Released by Nonesuch Records, the collection includes seminal works like Music for 18 Musicians and Different Trains, alongside recent recordings of Traveler's Prayer (2020) and Jacob's Ladder (2023). These pieces reaffirm Reich's enduring relevance in shaping the musical landscape. The set is accompanied by extensive essays from notable collaborators and admirers, including Nico Muhly and Michael Tilson Thomas, offering profound insights into Reich's creative process and his transformative impact. Particularly compelling is Timo Andres' observation of Reich's music as a utopian microcosm, underscoring its harmonious blend of communal effort and structured innovation. Reich's ability to integrate diverse influencesifrom Ghanaian drumming to Hebrew psalmsiremains a defining hallmark. Notably, Music for 18 Musicians continues to stand as a landmark composition, celebrated for its kinetic energy and harmonic brilliance. This collection, the most extensive yet, is a gateway for new audiences to explore his profound reshaping of modern classical music.