This chapter presents Reich's thoughts about Music for a Large Ensemble, which was premiered in June 1979 by the Netherlands Wind Ensemble under the direction of Reinbert de Leeuw at the Holland Festival. The piece is a development of two of his earlier works, Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices, and Organ and Music for 18 Musicians. The instrumental forces are the largest he has ever used and include all the orchestral families plus women's voices. All instruments are acoustical, and electronics are limited to microphones for the strings, winds, voices, and pianos.

This chapter presents Reich's thoughts about Music for a Large Ensemble, which was premiered in June 1979 by the Netherlands Wind Ensemble under the direction of Reinbert de Leeuw at the Holland Festival. The piece is a development of two of his earlier works, Music for Mallet Instruments, Voices, and Organ and Music for 18 Musicians. The instrumental forces are the largest he has ever used and include all the orchestral families plus women's voices. All instruments are acoustical, and electronics are limited to microphones for the strings, winds, voices, and pianos.