Post-Modernism - Minimalism

Post-Modernism is a term that refers to events after the so-called Modern period. The term
suggests that we are now using what we learned in the “modern” period, but mixing it with
ideas from the more distant past.

A major movement within Post-Modernism is Minimalism

 Minimalism mixes some Eastern philosophical principles involving chant and meditation
with simple tonal materials. Basic definition of Minimalism: sustained or repetitive use of
simple (often tonal) materials.
 The movement began with LaMonte Young (b.1935); he used simple textures and
consonant materials; often called trance music.
 Terry Riley (b.1935) is credited with first minimalist work In C (1964). The piece has
repeated high C’s on piano maintaining simple pulse. Score has 53 short motives to be
played by a group any size; players play all 53 figures, repeating as many times and as
frequently as desired. Performance ends when all players are done with all 53 figures.
Because figures change in content, there is subtle but constantly shifting texture all the
time.
 Steve Reich (b. 1936) prefers to call his music “Structural” not minimal. His music is
influenced by his study of African drumming.
 Some of his early works use phasing, where a tape loop is set up: the tape records first
sounds made by performer; then plays them back while performer continues to play.
More layers are added, and gradually live sounds get ahead of play-back. Effect can
be hypnotic: trance-like. Violin Phase (1967) is example.
 In Mid-70’s Reich expanded his viewpoint and his ensemble: Music for 18 Musicians is
a little like In C, but there is much more variation in patterns.
 Philip Glass (b. 1937) extended minimalist procedures to music theater. Glass is classically
trained not only with Nadia Boulanger, but also Ravi Shankar (sitarist).
 In the 60’s, many of his minimalist pieces were for winds and electric keyboards.
Example Rubric
 Glass Wrote an opera Einstein on the Beach (1975): libretto is mostly visual: a series of
stage images using slow, repetitious movements in large-scale cycles. Text was
spoken and repetitive. One example uses a violin sequence of simple material that is
repeated with slight alterations, removals or additions of pitches. Effect is to
constantly re-examine the material from slightly different angles. Structure is ABAC
ABAC (also repetitive)
 John Adams (b. 1947) has a different approach to minimalism in allowing more flow of
tonal centers but uses simple harmonies within those centers to establish cadential
reference. Adams has written several operas using minimalist procedures, including Nixon
In China (1987), Death of Klinghoffer (1991), Doctor Atomic (2005) and others. Another
shorter work using similar techniques is Short Ride on a Fast Machine.
Non-Pulsed Minimalism: related idea: still has sense of ebb and flow of sound but lacks regular
pulse and primarily tonal materials. Sound is very dense polyphony; very contrapuntal, but
so densely packed that you can't perceive individual lines.
 Example: Gyorgy Ligeti (1923-2006) (Hungarian) Atmospheres (1961)