A direct drive for a loom reed includes a linear motor carrying out a linear oscillating motion, or an arc segment motor carrying out a pivoting oscillating motion, or a circular coaxial motor carrying out a pivoting oscillating motion. The circular coaxial motor has a hollow shaft rotor arranged within a hollow shaft stator, and may further have an additional hollow shaft stator arranged within the rotor in a sandwich motor construction. The arc segment motor and the linear motor may similarly have a rotor member sandwiched between two stator members. Two motor units can be provided respectively above and below the weaving plane to drive the reed together. With these measures, the driving force is increased, yet the drive arrangement is confined to the available installation space.