Minimalism

Minimalism in Music

Minimalism is a style that originated in the USA in the late 1960s. The term ‘minimalism’ tends to refer to music that uses very simple ideas - notes, rhythms, processes and basic shapes and patterns.

Characteristics

  • Repetition and Gradual Process: Minimalist compositions often involve the gradual development of simple musical ideas. This could be as simple as repeating a short rhythmic pattern or as complex as a slowly evolving harmonic progression.
  • Static Harmony: Unlike much of traditional Western classical music, where harmonic progression drives the music forward, minimalist pieces often linger on one chord or tonic for extended periods.
  • Phasing: This is a technique where two identical musical phrases start in sync but gradually move out of sync through slight alterations in tempo, creating intricate rhythmic patterns.
  • Limited Musical Material: A distinctive feature of minimalism is the small amount of musical material used. This can vary from a single melodic motif to a few simple chords.

Key Composers and Works

  • Steve Reich: Known for his repetitive rhythmic patterns and his ground-breaking use of tape loops and phasing, such as in ‘It’s Gonna Rain’.
  • Terry Riley: Often seen as the first minimalist composer with his work ‘In C’, which has performers repeating short phrases in different ways for a long duration.
  • Philip Glass: Famous for composing with additive process, where a short phrase is lengthened by the addition of notes or beats.
  • John Adams: A late minimalist, he blended minimalism with other musical influences in works like ‘Short Ride in a Fast Machine’.

Influence of Minimalism

  • Pop and Rock: Since the 1960s, the repetitive beats and loops of minimalism have heavily influenced electronic music, ambient music, and some rock.
  • Soundtracks: Minimalism’s focus on mood and texture makes it popular in film and television soundtracks.
  • Postminimalism: This style, emerging in the late 1970s and 80s, uses minimalist techniques but with greater harmonic and formal complexity.

You should pay particular attention to the characteristics and composers as these are often the focal points of examination questions. Understanding the key techniques will allow you to identify minimalism in a range of music excerpts.