Unlike Brian Eno earlier in this list, Steve Reich is never settled on being in just one place rather, his music is always heading, deliberately and gradually, in some direction forward. The end result is a work written by someone not in love with minimalism, but rather with craft, form, and gradual transition. Music for 18 Musicians spans 14 sections with a non-stop pulse, characterized by eccentric, non-functional jazz harmonies spread across marimbas, singers, pianos, strings, and a pulsating bass clarinet. In 2003, David Bowie himself listed it among his favorite works, calling it “Balinese Gamelan music cross-dressing as minimalism.” Even Donald Trump amazingly referenced Steve Reich in one of his biographies, calling him a “ great example of an innovator.” One of the greatest compositions ever penned, Reich’s Music for 18 Musicians transcends genre, with influences from classical, jazz, trance, and Eastern multicultural music. Music for 18 Musicians – Steve Reich (1976) When many composers believe complexity is the solution for originality, Glass reminds us that simplicity wins when placed into the hands of a skilled craftsman.ġ. The singer takes us through a journey completing this opera, yet is only singing just one scale the entire time. The movement exhibiting Glass’ minimalist tendencies is the final movement, Evening Song. Satyagraha, a contemporary opera, is somewhat based on the life of Gandhi, perhaps more in principle than in story the work is ultimately a declaration promoting peaceful resistance to injustice. However, our pick is for Satyagraha, a work that embodies Philip Glass at the intersection of his greatest minimalism and deepest immersion in Eastern cultures. There are so many seminal works by Philip Glass that it seems almost unfair to have to pick just one piece.Įinstein On the Beach and Glassworks, for example, are simply among the most iconic works in the minimalist genre, and could easily belong in any spot on a list like this. HONORABLE MENTION: Kneeling Dance – Kevin Volans (1993) To include as many composers as possible, each listed composer will be recognized just once on this list. The genre’s mainstays make the list – Adams, Reich, Glass, and Riley – as well as some other composers you may have yet to discover. Some of these works are very popular in the canon of classical music, while others deserve greater recognition by audiences. We rank these based on artistic impact, influence, and artistic innovation. The following encompasses our picks for the 10 greatest minimalist works. So, what are the very best works in the minimalist genre? However, deciphering the best minimalist music can be a daunting task so much great work has been created in this genre. What makes minimalism so fascinating is its artistic reach both audiences in and out of classical music have deemed composers in this genre among the canon of contemporary classical music greatness. Perhaps the most popular genre of classical music within the last century, minimalist music is defined by repetitive melodies, simple harmonies, and accessible rhythms.
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