GCSE Music: Minimalism

Where did minimalism originate?

America 1960-70s

Why was minimalism created?

It was a reaction to the 'rebirth' of serialism in western music after Schoenberg's death in 1952

What did the serial approach not allow minimalist composers to do?

Express themselves in the way they wanted.

Steve Reich

> Most important minimalist composer.
> Allows listener to be aware of gradual changes in his music.
> Experimented with tape loops.
> 'Phase shifting' technique.
> Most famous piece: Clapping music.

Philip Glass

> Only minimalist composer involved in theatre and opera.
> Simple music using alternating notes and repeated broken chords.
> Most famous piece: Violin Concerto.

Terry Riley

> Friend of La Monte Young.
> Experimented with tape loops of various sounds using delay and instrumental sounds.
> Solo performer who experimented with the echo device and lots of repeated material.
> Most famous piece: In C - whole piece was based off of the note C.

Key features of Minimalism

> Short, simple repeated patterns called loops.
> These loops change a gradually over time.
> No real tune.
> Harmonies are made by layering patterns one on top of the other.

What is metamorphosis?

Tiny changes are made over time to one note/ one part of the rhythm.

How does music technology play a large part in minimalism?

> Old-fashioned tape recorders were used to repeat loops.
> Composers cut the tape and stuck it back together to achieve this.
> Similar to sampling.
> Different loops were put together using multitrack recordings - they were recorded one on top of another to create a layered sound.

Another word for loop is...

...ostinato

What is addition of notes?

Notes can be gradually added and the rhythm can be altered accordingly, or by adding rests

What is phase shifting?

A rest can be added which moves the rest of the music out of sync. They gradually move back in sync.

What is layering?

Loops of different lengths played at the same time.