Resources Or Books On Minimalist Compositional Techniques

Hi,

I'm interested in studying some techniques of minimalist composers. Does anyone know of any resources online or good books on this subject? I haven't had much luck digging anything up and would love to know if anyone out there has.

Thanks!

-Nate

On mac: ⌘-C ⌘-V

On windows: controlC controlV

Approach your piano and strike middle C repeatedly until a/ you come to your senses, or b/ no one wants to hear it anymore.

Please study minimalist composers, not books. I would recommend composers who excel at this who have expanded the language into 

l  o   n   g  e r  repetitive gestures like Michael Nyman and Arvo Part.

Mmmm, it isn't all about copy/paste...And, even still, Ken, a single note can be played many different ways, some instruments more than others - for great levels of expression and variety.

I would not discount 'formulaic' minimalism, whereby the formula necessitates the music, and while 'sounding repetitive', it is on a long journey, slowly changing before your ears...It is all well and good to seek out their techniques, but I would advise you to think about it for yourself.  Come up with your own 'minimalistic' ideas.  These can be based on any aspect of the music, which will disregard the others, while it is in it's process of unfolding. 

Good luck, and please share any resources you may find =)

Sorry, I was being flippant. But I absolutely DO discount formulaic or conceptual music ... IF ... it's main goal is to showcase the formula instead of the music. Music so written is interesting only once, because that's how long it takes to get the formula. Sometimes even less than once. I mean how long can you listen to Stockhausen's Helicopter Quartet before you say hold the Stockhausen, please pass me the Mozart? Continuously unfolding music, to me at least, is also interesting only the first time.

Here's an example of a single note repeated within the context of a song, probably not what unstruck is interested in, but it's French and the French are always charming.

After you hear it, ask yourself is it Minimalist.

Well, I don't hold motifs much different from a 'formula', both are developing ideas, in different ways.  Not to generalize on this, but retrogrades and inversions are not exciting.  How much thought does that take?  After how many billions of composers have exercized it?

And once you've heard the ideas, you only want to listen again to see if you missed any to analyze, in conventional music?  How long does that last?

While, I too generally listen to music critically, I have to have some music that I can just enjoy.  Mozart hasn't pleased me in ages, save a few. 

Now I have a greater appreciation for color, and if minimalism can produce interesting ideas, I think that's fine.  The helicopter quartet isn't that interesting to me.  Quartets have played on trains too, for music videos =P  Spacial differences aside, I think I would have preferred Xenakis compositionally, within the helicopters...I think he would have brought more out of it!  That is not to say that I listen to that much Xenakis.  *shrugs*

Just an outpour of thoughts/opinions.  Thanks for the sharing the link....Si.

Being interested in music the first time isn't entirely important. It's appreciating time and again the music that works, and that can be just as likely in Mozart or Stockhausen. It doesn't take long to familiarize yourself with the compositional process of Riley's "In C" or Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians", but I find I can always go back to those works if I need to relax and unwind.

On mac: ⌘-C ⌘-V
On windows: controlC controlV

I know at least the Phillip Glass writes much of his works, including the symphonies I looked at, by hand. And he has really good calligraphy, too. Minimalism predated computers, it wasn't born of them.

In response to the original question, I'd recommend looking at some college papers and whatnot on well-known minimalist compositions. I think that's the best bet right now in literary material for describing the processes at work in the music.

Also, study and practice some development. In minimalism, atonalism, baroque etc., development is what makes a piece memorable and stand apart. Figure out best how to go somewhere in your piece, and the style will work it's way in. I'd suggest even making a roadmap of your piece before diving straight in.

Lastly, you obviously need to listen to minimalist music. Glass, Adams, Riley, and Reich are the four kings, but try some others as well. Cage, Stockhausen, and Xenakis can all help with the ideas of minimalism, as they loved to experiment.

But don't simply limit yourself to classical here. Minimalism has found even greater impact in electronic music, so listen to Brian Eno and Aphex Twin for new ideas, and if you're feeling up to it, Avicii and Nicolas Jaar.

Ha ha! I have actually never been a fan of Mozart myself.

Have a listen to this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrnFF_WPg7A

or this

Arvo Pärt has a minimalistic approach to music I like much. I tried to use tintinnabuli in a couple of pieces, what a magnificent effect!