The minimalism and its compositional techniques

Authors

  • Dimitri Cervo Federal University of Santa Maria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/2317-6377.2005.55548

Keywords:

Minimalism, processes of repetition, compositional techniques, minimalist composers, composition

Abstract

Study about Minimalism in music, focusing on the stylistic and aesthetical features, compositional techniques and repetition processes developed by Riley, Reich and Glass in the 1960s and early 1970s, in works such as In C, PianoPhase, Clapping Music, TwoPages and Music in Fifths. It includes a brief historical background of Minimalism.

Author Biography

  • Dimitri Cervo , Federal University of Santa Maria

    Dimitri Cervo is a composer and pianist, holding a PhD in Music from UFRGS (1999). He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Music Program at the Federal University of Santa Maria. In 1995, he received the first prize at the Works for Orchestra Competition during the XV Londrina Festival, and in 2000, his Pequena Suíte Brasileira received both the jury and audience awards at the V Aliénor Composition Competition (South Carolina, USA). In 1997, in Seattle (USA), he signed a contract with Sunhawk Publishing, becoming one of the pioneers in the publication of sheet music in digital format on the Internet. He is the author of works such as Toronubá and Pattapiana, which have been performed numerous times in various Brazilian states and abroad, under the direction of conductors such as Roberto Duarte, Lutero Rodrigues, Ricardo Rocha, Cláudio Ribeiro, and Mark Cedel. In 2003 and 2004, seven of his works were recorded on CDs by various groups and artists.

References

BOULEZ, Pierre. Apontamentos de Aprendiz. Stella Moutinho trad. São Paulo: Perspectivas, 1995.

CERVO, Dimitri. “Post-Minimalism: A Valid Terminology?” Ictus, 01 (1999): 37 - 52.

DUCKWORTH, William. Talking Music. New York: Schirmer Books, 1995.

EPSTEIN, Paul. “Pattern Structure and Process in Steve Reich’s Piano Phase.” The Musical Quarterly, 72 (1986): 492-502.

JOHNSON, Steven. “Minimalism: Aesthetic, Style, or Technique?” Musical Quarterly, 78 (1994): 742-73.

MERTENS, Win. American Minimal Music. New York: Alexandre Broude Inc., 1983.

MORGAN, Robert. Twentieth- Century Music. New York: Norton, 1991.

NYMAN, Michael. Experimental Music: Cage and Beyond. New York: Schirmer Books, 1974.

REICH, Steve. Writings about Music. Halifax: Nova Scotia College of Art and Design, 1974.

___________. “Notes on It’s Gonna Rain, Come Out, Piano Phase and Clapping Music.” In: Steve Reich - Early Works (CD Nonesuch, 979169-2), 1987.

SCHWARZ, Robert. Minimalists. London: Phaidon, 1996.

WARBURTON, Dan. “A Working Terminology for Minimal Music.” Integral, 2 (1988): 135-159.

Published

2005-01-01

Issue

Section

Articles in Portuguese/Spanish

How to Cite

“The Minimalism and Its Compositional Techniques”. 2005. Per Musi, no. 11 (January): 44-59. https://doi.org/10.35699/2317-6377.2005.55548.