Minimalism Flashcards
where and when did minimalism originate?
in the USA in the 1960s
how is minimalist music generated?
from a couple of simple ideas that are repeated
name a key composer of minimalist music
Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams
what is minimalism based on?
ostinati or loops
define ostinati
repeating patterns of notes/rhythms
define loops
when technology is used to make phrases repeat
what happens in minimalist music?
ostinati are layered one on top of the other to create a complex polyphonic texture
changes in the melodic and rhythmic patterns are..
subtle.
changes in the melodic and rhythmic patterns can be made by… (name 3 ways)
metamorphosis, phase shifting, note addition, rhythmic augmentation, and/or rhythmic diminution
describe phase shifting
the same part is played by two different players but one player adds a rest that forces the melodies out of sync with each other. the parts will eventually come to unison again
what does phase shifting do
it creates an echoed effect and new rhythms
describe metamorphosis
when you repeat a phrase, changing it one note at a time until you reach a completely new phrase
describe note addition
when you add one note to the ostinato each time it repeats
describe rhythmic augmentation
lengthening all the notes in a phrase in an equal proportion
give an example of rhythmic augmentation
making all the notes twice as long
