Steve Reich: The Sextets Colin Currie Group

• Steve Reich (b. 1936): Sextet:
• 1 Reich: Sextet: I. Crotchet = 192 11:35
• 2 Reich: Sextet: II. Crotchet = 96 04:16
• 3 Reich: Sextet: III. Crotchet = 64 02:21
• 4 Reich: Sextet: IV. Crotchet = 96 03:27
• 5 Reich: Sextet: V. Crotchet = 192 06:12
• Double Sextet:
• 6 Reich: Double Sextet: I. Fast 08:57
• 7 Reich: Double Sextet: II. Slow 06:58
• 8 Reich: Double Sextet: III. Fast 07:02
• Six Marimbas:
• 9 Reich: Six Marimbas 22:02
• Dance Patterns:
• 10 Reich: Dance Patterns 06:25
• Total Runtime 01:19:15

Info for Steve Reich: The Sextets

The recording marks the first time Reich’s sextet works have been brought together on a single album, released to celebrate the composer’s 90th birthday in 2026, and coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Colin Currie Group.

“No words can truly and fully encapsulate the uplifting emotional magic of these great works. Let us cherish and celebrate them as the great man reaches another milestone in his unparalleled lifespan of influence and inspiration.” – Colin Currie

This landmark release brings together four of Reich’s works for chamber ensemble, each featuring sextets in different constellations: Sextet, Double Sextet, Six Marimbas and Dance Patterns. Currie conducts Double Sextet and performs within the Colin Currie Group on the remainder of the album, which was recorded at Kings Place in London in August 2025.

The Colin Currie Group continues to give outstanding performances and make great recordings of more and more of my music. ‘The Sextets’ presents four pieces that are all for different combinations of instruments that create different kinds of music - compare Six Marimbas to Double Sextet for instance. What is common here is an absolutely top level of performance." - Steve Reich

Colin Currie Group

Colin Currie
Hailed as being “at the summit of percussion performance today” (Gramophone), Colin Currie is a solo and chamber artist who champions new music at the highest level. Currie is the soloist of choice for many of today’s foremost composers and conductors, and has appeared with leading orchestras such as the New York Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, Philharmonia Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Currie’s commitment to commissioning and creating new music was recognised by the Royal Philharmonic Society in 2015, when he was presented with the Instrumentalist Award. Currie has premiered works by composers such as Steve Reich, Louis Andriessen, HK Gruber, Sir James MacMillan, Mark Anthony Turnage, Jennifer Higdon, Guillaume Connesson, Brett Dean, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Helen Grime, Kalevi Aho, Julia Wolfe, Andy Akiho, Andrew Norman, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Elliott Carter, Bruno Mantovani, Gavin Higgins, Nicole Lizée, Danny Elfman and most recently Vasa, a recital work by Dani Howard.

Colin Currie Group
In 2025/26, the Colin Currie Group will make their Spanish debut at Madrid’s Condeduque Cultural Center, before embarking on an exciting series of concerts to celebrate Steve Reich’s 90th birthday across 2026, the details of which will be announced soon. The Group will also debut an exciting new programme at Kings Place, celebrating the music of Steve Martland, who was a mentor and friend of Currie. The programme features revivals of Martland’s band music, bringing onboard some original members of the Steve Martland Band.

The Colin Currie Group has performed at major halls and festivals worldwide including London’s Southbank Centre, Shanghai MISA Festival, Esplanade Concert Hall, Singapore, Paris Cité de la Musique, Fondation Louis Vuitton, Cologne Philharmonie, Rotterdam De Doelen, Helsinki Festival, Macau Festival, Saffron Hall, Barbican Centre, Bold Tendencies and the Società del Quartetto di Milano. They made their concertante debut at the 2019 Edinburgh International Festival performing Gubaidulina Glorious Percussion under the baton of Thomas Dausgaard with BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra.

Booklet for Steve Reich: The Sextets