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    History of Classical Music

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    • Introduction to Classical Music
      • 1.1A General Overview
      • 1.2Roots of Western Music
      • 1.3Understanding Musical Styles
    • The Medieval Period (500-1400)
      • 2.1Introduction to the Medieval Era
      • 2.2Gregorian Chant
      • 2.3The Birth of Polyphony
    • The Renaissance Period (1400-1600)
      • 3.1Renaissance Music
      • 3.2Development of Vocal Music
      • 3.3Birth of Instrumental Music
    • The Baroque Era (1600-1750)
      • 4.1Introduction to the Baroque Era
      • 4.2Famous Baroque Composers
      • 4.3Bach and Handel
      • 4.4The Beginnings of Opera
    • The Classical Period (1750-1820)
      • 5.1The Era of Classicism
      • 5.2Instrumental Music
      • 5.3Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven
    • The Romantic Period (1820-1900)
      • 6.1Introduction to Romantic Era
      • 6.2Execution of ‘Programme Music’
      • 6.3The Virtuoso Solo Performer
      • 6.4The Great Romantics
    • The 20th Century (1900-2000)
      • 7.1Experimental Directions in the Early 20th Century
      • 7.2Neoclassicism and Serialism
      • 7.3Minimalism
    • Modernism in Music
      • 8.1The Age of Modernism
      • 8.2Influence of Impressionism
      • 8.3Expressionism
    • Postmodernism in Music
      • 9.1Introduction to Postmodernism
      • 9.2The Postmodern Technique
      • 9.3The Role of Technology
    • Women in Music
      • 10.1Forgotten Female Composers: The Renaissance Period
      • 10.2Women Composers: The Romantic Period
      • 10.3Women in 20th Century Music
    • Contemporary Music
      • 11.1Defining Contemporary Classical Music
      • 11.2Advances in Technology and its Role
      • 11.3Noteworthy Contemporary Music Composers
    • The Intersection of Classical Music & Pop Culture
      • 12.1Classical Music in Films
      • 12.2Classical Music in Video Games
      • 12.3Classical Music in Advertisements
    • Recap and Conclusion
      • 13.1Recap of the Historical Journey
      • 13.2Current Status and Future of Classical Music

    The 20th Century (1900-2000)

    The Birth and Evolution of Minimalism in Classical Music

    American composer

    American composer.

    Minimalism, a significant movement in 20th-century classical music, emerged in the late 1960s as a reaction against the complexity of serialism and the randomness of chance music. This unit will explore the birth and evolution of Minimalism, its characteristics, its influence on other genres of music, and its key composers.

    The Birth and Evolution of Minimalism

    Minimalism originated in the United States, primarily in New York and San Francisco, as a radical shift from the dominant musical trends of the time. It was a response to the perceived elitism and intellectualism of serialism and other modernist movements. Minimalist composers sought to create music that was accessible, emotionally direct, and rooted in tonality.

    The movement evolved over time, with early Minimalism characterized by static, repetitive structures and later Minimalism incorporating more complex textures and harmonic progressions. Despite these changes, the core principles of simplicity and repetition remained central to the Minimalist aesthetic.

    Characteristics of Minimalist Music

    Minimalist music is characterized by several key features:

    • Repetition: Minimalist compositions often feature short, repeated musical phrases. These phrases may be subtly varied or transformed over time, creating a sense of gradual evolution.

    • Static Harmony: Unlike traditional Western music, which is driven by harmonic progression, Minimalist music often features static or slowly changing harmonies.

    • Metrical Regularity: Minimalist music often features a steady pulse or regular rhythmic patterns. This is in contrast to the complex, irregular rhythms of much 20th-century music.

    Influence of Minimalism on Other Genres

    Minimalism has had a significant influence on a wide range of other musical genres. In popular music, the repetitive structures and static harmonies of Minimalism can be heard in the work of artists such as Brian Eno and Kraftwerk. In film music, composers such as Philip Glass and Michael Nyman have used Minimalist techniques to create evocative soundscapes.

    Key Composers

    Several composers have played a key role in the development of Minimalism:

    • Philip Glass: Known for his operas and film scores, Glass is one of the most prominent Minimalist composers. His music is characterized by repetitive structures, simple harmonies, and a focus on tonality.

    • Steve Reich: Reich's music often features intricate rhythmic patterns and phase shifting, a technique in which the same musical phrase is played on two instruments, with one slightly out of sync.

    • Terry Riley: Riley's work, notably his groundbreaking composition "In C," helped to establish the principles of Minimalism. His music often features improvisation and a focus on the sonic texture.

    In conclusion, Minimalism has been a transformative force in 20th-century classical music, challenging traditional notions of complexity and progression, and influencing a wide range of other musical genres. Its key composers have created a rich and diverse body of work, exploring the possibilities of simplicity and repetition in music.

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    Next up: The Age of Modernism