Late 20th to Present terms

Chance/Aleatory

When the composer uses chance, like tossing coins, to decide the musical material

John Cage, Music of Changes

Prepared Piano

A piano with everyday objects installed in, like screws, to change the timbre

John Cage, Sonatas and interludes

Indeterminacy

An approach to composition, pioneered by Cage, where composers leave certain aspects of the music unspecified to be decided by the performer

Cage, 4’33”

Total (Integral) Serialism

Applying serialism to every musical parameter, including pitch, rhythm and dynamics

Stockhausen, Formel

musique concrète

(French, “concrete music,” 1940s) music composed by manipulating and assembling recorded sounds without music notation

Reich, It’s Gonna Rain

Electroacoustic Music

Music that combines electronic sounds and acoustic instruments

Glass, Einstein on the Beach

Minimalism

A leading music style of the late 20th century, where materials are minimal and procedures are simplified. Often has a constant pulse and includes repetitions of simple patterns and melodies

Reich, Come Out

Postminimalism

Musical style that uses techniques of minimalism in combination with traditional methods, generally including more expressive content

Shaw, Partita for 8 singers

Postmodernism

Late 20th century trend that bridged high and popular art. Postmodernist composers use styles and qualities of past and present work.

Shaw, Partita for 8 singers

Site-specific Artwork

Artwork created for a particular location

Lucier, I Am Sitting in a Room