On Demand
Minimalism: Point and Counterpoint
In honor of Philip Glass's 70th birthday year, the music critics of the New York Times recently published their list of essential recordings of minimalist music. The list unleashed a heated debate on the Internet, with some bloggers attacking the list for its omissions and biases. Today, we debate the minimalist canon with Kyle Gann, composer and former Village Voice music critic; and Steve Smith, classical music critic at the New York Times and music editor of Time Out New York.
Weigh in: Who is your favorite minimalist composer? What's your favorite minimalist recording?
Kyle Gann's blog
Steve Smith's blog
Steve Smith and Kyle Gann's Top Five Lists
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Comments
I always was partial to "Koyannnisqatsi." That really established Glass as a distinctive film score composer.
I believe The word Minimalism was first used by Clement Greenberg. I believe he hated minimalism
Michael Fried has a famous attack on minimalism (although he did not call it that) in Art Forum called "Art and Objecthood" He hates minimalism because of its theatricality. It forces the viewer into their own body and gives us no portal or access point to its own purpose or meaning
Douglas Crimp later wrote how Minimalist work is about presentness or temporality.
In terms of music I experience "the moment" or "now" when listening to glass. Although sometimes I think it lacks a sense of humor.
I took a class at NYU on 20th century music and we covered minimalism - my professor wouldn't condescend to even discuss Glass or Reich, I could never understand why, their music has obviously made an important mark even though it may not all be classified as pure minimalism, and I do prefer it to a lot of what we listened to.
I had Tony Conrad for a professor in college, so of course I went and bought his cds. "Slapping Pythagoras" may be the best title for an album I've ever heard. I can't say that I liked the music, or even "understood" it, but I think that know why he was making it.
His video work, music, and personality all buck the trend and explore things that are ouside the realm of normal or popular or sometimes watchable (or listenable).
I've never liked Philip Glass, there's something about that makes me think that he thinks he's the only one in on the joke.
I don't remember which website it was, but a few years ago a list was printed of the best ambient music of all time. 1 was the ORB, 2 was Aphex Twin, and 3 was Tony Conrad.
He was very mad about this, but I'm not sure why.
Part of the problem with this (and many) discussion is that we're not making a distinction between two different uses of the term "minimalism." I draw a distinction between Big M Minimalsim and small m minimalism, where Big M Minimalism is the original conceptual/process oriented movement that started with Young and was coming to an end with Music for 18 Musicians. small m minimalism is the broader movement which encompases Minimalsim, post-minimalism, totalism, etc. Steve Smith et al are using the small m version, and Kyle is using the Big M version.
Don't forget Philip Glass's cameo on one of the first South Park Christmas episodes!
my particular generation of downtown musicians felt as early as 1980 that we were entering into a post minimal period...
in our current cultural phase it's interesting to note that minimalism prevails as though this "post"phase had never happened...
i attribute this to a kind of perpetual cultural amnesia that occurs with every new generation (5 years) of young artists coming to ny in addition to the more obvious institutional cultural hegemony that has always
been afforded the anointed biggies from the seventies
In this Cyberspace world ofthe 21st Century; ART lover in general & Music lover in particular must (or maybe has no other option)buy any "ism" & label it because there are simply zillions of musical territories out there & if you don't put an "ism" tag on it you'll be lost like Alice in the Wonderland. There is only one "ISM" in this world & that's DOLLARISM. The rest of it is just musical or UNmusical to the ears. Since this is a Ying/Yang world; is there any MAXIMALISM in the Wonderland that I should consider taging my music folders with? Please help! $.O.$! I'm sort of lost.
By the way Philip Glass KUNDUN soundtrack is a masterpiece.
Requiem for a Dream soundtrack by Clint Mansel is a masterpiece. It's MicroMalism!?
The Fountain soundtrack is a masterpiece. AtomMalism!?
You can create the Genre Terminologies & it's all about your unique way of relating to a piece of Art.
Enjoy this wonderful planet & the MUSIC while THEY last. U r FREE to use my coined Genre Terminologies used in this comment!!!!!!!!
Cheers.
Hamid.
www.videopix.co.uk
http://videopix.zenfolio.com
Does that make Robert Rich a minimalist? He makes slow, evolving music in an alternate tuning. :)
Riley's In C encapsulates a great deal of minimalism. The Well-Tuned Piano is definitely up there (La Monte Young), but what I actually like the most (the question is what is my favourite) is probably Reich's Variations for Winds, Strings and Keyboards. Yes, yes, I know - small m.
Glenn Branca's guitar symphonies - no. 6 particularly - would also have to figure for me.
I'd also beg to have considered the many wonderful non-American works, such as John White's Humming and Ahing machine (and other Machine works).
For those interested in La Monte Young's masterpiece, A well-tuned piano, I've just placed my copy on sale at ebay.
This thread is closed.
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