Music minimalism terminology

Ostinato:

A repeating pattern

Melodic cell:

A fragmentary melodic idea

Broken Chord:

Notes of the chord that are played one after another

Tonic:

The first degree of the scale

Diatonic:

Using notes from one scale or key only

Slow harmonic change

Chords change very slowly

Note addition

Where notes are gradually added to a short melodic idea

Note subtraction

Where notes are gradually taken away from the original melodic idea

Augmentation

Making a rhythm larger – e.g. crotchet to minim

Diminution

Making a rhythm smaller – e.g crotchet to quaver

Metamorphosis

The gradual change of an idea (rhythm or melody)

Phase shifting

Where a pattern is repeated at a slightly different time in another instrument

Layering

Where parts begin or end one after another to create a thicker or thinner texture

Cross rhythm

Conflicting rhythm patterns played together

Famous American composers who started minimalism:

Terry Riley