Minimalism Flashcards
What is Minimalism?
It’s a Western art style that developed during the 1960s/70s
What is minimalistic music comprised of?
Constantly repeated patterns called loops. The loops are short and simple, but the end result can get quite complicated, especially the rhythm.
How are the harmonies made in minimalistic music?
By layering patterns one on top of the other.
(Minimalism) What is additive melody?
One note is added on each repetition of the pattern. Another similar idea is to replace one note with a rest, or one rest with a note on each repetition.
(Minimalism) What’s metamorphosis?
The notes of the pattern change over time- tiny changes to a note/one bit of the rhythm are made in each repetition. Often, the changes go full circle, so the pattern ends up the same, or nearly the same, as it was at the start.
(Minimalism) What is phase shifting?
Two or more performers start with the same pattern, but one has an extra note/rest, making theirs a different length. They move gradually out of sync and then gradually back in.
(Minimalism) What is layering?
Loops of different lengths, e.g. a four beat and five beat loop, are played at the same time. This creates a similar effect to phase-shifting; the patterns move apart then come back together.
For composers when minimalistic music had just started to be made (the 1960s), how was music technology a lot less sophisticated; how did they then record?
The repeated loops were played using old fashioned tape recorders. Composers made loops by carefully cutting a tape so it just had the bits of the music they wanted, then sticking the cut ends back together. The loop was played by running it out of the tape player and onto something smooth like a bottle or mic stand, so it could just keep going round and round. They also used loops of words and other noises, slightly like modern sampling.
When minimalism first came to be, composers made loops by carefully cutting a tape so it just had the bits of the music they wanted, then sticking the cut ends back together. Name two minimalist composers who used this technique for looping.
Steve Reich and Terry Riley.
How does West African music’s rhythm influence minimalistic music?
West African music is based mainly on the rhythm, with the master drummer leading changes in the patterns. This influences minimalistic music in that the rhythm is more important than the tune. West African music also uses complex cross-rhythms, which influences the polyrhythmic aspect of minimalistic music.
