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)