Essential Minimalism
Two Prominent Critics Face Off
Friday, August 24, 2007
Lately a debate has heated up in the blogosphere over the minimalist canon. Is there more to the genre than the "big three" of Philip Glass, Steve Reich and John Adams? As music critics Steve Smith and Kyle Gann debate the matter on Soundcheck, check out their favorites and tell us what you think in our comments section!
Top Five of Kyle Gann
Music critic for the Village Voice from 1986 to 2005; professor of music theory, history, and composition at Bard College; author of Music Downtown: Writings from the Village Voice
La Monte Young: The Well-Tuned Piano (Gramavision)
Terry Riley: Shri Camel (CBS)
Charlemagne Palestine: Schlongo!!!daLUVdrone; Solo performer: Charlemagne Palestine, pipe organ (Cortical Foundation)
Tom Johnson: An Hour for Piano; recorded by both Tom Johnson and Frederic Rzewski
Eliane Radigue: Trilogie de la Mort; solo performer: Eliane Radigue, piano (Xi)
Top Four of Steve Smith
Classical music critic at the New York Times and music editor of Time Out New York.
Philip Glass: Music in Twelve Parts. Philip Glass Ensemble, conducted by Michael Riesman (Nonesuch)
Philip Glass: "Glassworks" Philip Glass Ensemble, conducted by Michael Riesman (Sony Classical)
John Adams: "The Chariman Dances"; other works. San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Edo de Waart (Nonesuch)
Philip Glass: "Akhnaten." Vocalists; Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies (Sony Classical Germany)
Additional Resources:
Steve Smith on Minimalism
Kyle Gann on Minimalism
Steve Reich @ 70 on WNYC (October 2006)
LaMonte Young on WNYC's New Sounds (1990)
Top Five of Kyle Gann
Music critic for the Village Voice from 1986 to 2005; professor of music theory, history, and composition at Bard College; author of Music Downtown: Writings from the Village Voice
La Monte Young: The Well-Tuned Piano (Gramavision)
Terry Riley: Shri Camel (CBS)
Charlemagne Palestine: Schlongo!!!daLUVdrone; Solo performer: Charlemagne Palestine, pipe organ (Cortical Foundation)
Tom Johnson: An Hour for Piano; recorded by both Tom Johnson and Frederic Rzewski
Eliane Radigue: Trilogie de la Mort; solo performer: Eliane Radigue, piano (Xi)
Top Four of Steve Smith
Classical music critic at the New York Times and music editor of Time Out New York.
Philip Glass: Music in Twelve Parts. Philip Glass Ensemble, conducted by Michael Riesman (Nonesuch)
Philip Glass: "Glassworks" Philip Glass Ensemble, conducted by Michael Riesman (Sony Classical)
John Adams: "The Chariman Dances"; other works. San Francisco Symphony, conducted by Edo de Waart (Nonesuch)
Philip Glass: "Akhnaten." Vocalists; Stuttgart State Opera Orchestra and Chorus, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies (Sony Classical Germany)
Additional Resources:
Steve Smith on Minimalism
Kyle Gann on Minimalism
Steve Reich @ 70 on WNYC (October 2006)
LaMonte Young on WNYC's New Sounds (1990)
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