Getting started with minimalism

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

I am really unfamiliar with minimalism, but I am interested in exploring it some more. I recently heard a couple of interesting minimalist works transcribed for organ at a recent recital--one by Michael Nyman, and one by Philip Glass. I am curious about both composers' works, especially piano and organ music, as well as Glass' operas. I'd appreciate some recommendations of recordings, books, articles, etc. Thanks.

[Lethevich]

I am reluctant to post, as this disc is a) not organ/piano and b) by neither of those composers, which feels miles away from your request, but there was some room for movement in title, I hope... If not, ignore As someone who can enjoy minimalism but not live with it regularly, I still find the following disc absolutely essential - both due to the good performances, but most importantly the pieces contained on it:



These are Reich at his more inspired, without going into insane pedantic territory (four organs). The octet is probably the most "musical" minimalist piece I've encountered, and many people seem to consider it his best work. MFALE develops in a much more interesting way than similar pieces by Glass, which are comparatively static.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Great, thanks. Please feel to recommend anything in this genre.

[Maciek]

I rather dislike minimalism but two pieces I couldn't really go without are Nyman's (short!) opera The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat, and Reich's Different Trains. Well, perhaps I could bear parting with the Reich (quite easily, in fact ) but the Nyman is a must, IMO. The Glass SQs are his only pieces I am capable of listening to - and, in fact, usually enjoy very much.

And, of course, there are those less obvious brands of minimalism (which I prefer), like Feldman, or Gorecki, or Kilar (and Sikorski! but I don't think there are any commercial recordings). You can look in the Gorecki and Kilar threads for recommendations. But since you probably want to avoid going all over the forum, here are my top choices: Gorecki's Harpsichord Concerto, SQs and 2nd Symphony, and Kilar's Orawa. I don't know Feldman well enough to make an informed recommendation. There should be some Sikorski lying about in the Broadcast Corner.

[gomro]

I am really unfamiliar with minimalism, but I am interested in exploring it some more. I recently heard a couple of interesting minimalist works transcribed for organ at a recent recital--one by Michael Nyman, and one by Philip Glass. I am curious about both composers' works, especially piano and organ music, as well as Glass' operas. I'd appreciate some recommendations of recordings, books, articles, etc. Thanks.

One of my favorite Nyman discs is an Argo release with the long pieces The Piano Concerto (which evolved out of his soundtrack for The Piano) and MGV, which was written for the inaugural trip of the TGV, a highspeed train. Good luck finding one, but the music is excellent. The chamber opera The Man Who Mistook His Wife For A Hat is also a must-own disc.

Glass is, imo, too prolific, and so much of his music seems recycled. But pieces that remain fresh for me are the soundtracks to Koyaanisqatsi , Mishima and Anima Mundi, the string quartets, the early Einstein on the Beach, and the 2nd Symphony.

[bhodges]

Although I don't know enough Glass or Nyman to recommend much, I can enthusiastically second Lethe's Reich mention above, an excellent disc with three very different examples of his work.  Other pieces you might try: Different Trains (for string quartet and tape) or Daniel Variations, for chamber ensemble and vocalists, depending on what genres you like.

You might want to audition some Feldman (as Maciek mentioned) such as Triadic Memories for piano solo, or The Viola in My Life (mentioned on another thread).  Although I haven't heard it yet, this new recording (below) has gotten many good reviews.

--Bruce

[jochanaan]

Hojotoho, milady! You'd probably also like John Adams; perhaps less obsessively minimalist than Messrs. Glass and Reich, but using many of the same methods.  A good place to start with him is a brief orchestral tone poem, A Short Ride in a Fast Machine.  A generous friend has gotten me tickets to a local production of Adams' opera Nixon in China, to which I'm greatly looking forward.

BTW, don't limit yourself to the soundtrack album for Koyaanisqatsi; the movie is a thoroughly engrossing one, completely different from anything else in cinema (except for two "sequels," Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi, also by Glass and director Godfrey Reggio).

[gomro]

Hojotoho, milady! You'd probably also like John Adams; perhaps less obsessively minimalist than Messrs. Glass and Reich, but using many of the same methods.  A good place to start with him is a brief orchestral tone poem, A Short Ride in a Fast Machine.  A generous friend has gotten me tickets to a local production of Adams' opera Nixon in China, to which I'm greatly looking forward.

BTW, don't limit yourself to the soundtrack album for Koyaanisqatsi; the movie is a thoroughly engrossing one, completely different from anything else in cinema (except for two "sequels," Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi, also by Glass and director Godfrey Reggio).

Yah, if you can find the movie -- I'm not sure it's been released on DVD, due to some legal matters -- it's an experience.  I like Adams quite a bit; does anyone know anything about the opera Dr.Atomic, his latest magnum opus?

[Brian]

For what it's worth, my introductions to minimalism were the Third Symphonies of Glass and Gorecki, and I instantly fell in love with both (especially the slow movement of the Glass - hypnotic!).

[Josquin des Prez]

Even though i despise minimalism and all it's associates, at least in it's purest form (i have no troubles when the technique is employed in a broader context, as in the works of Schnittke), i do enjoy certain works by Morton Feldman, if sporadically.

[Greta]

I would definitely recommend Glass, who you're already interested in, the Violin Concerto is a special favorite of his work. He has done many excellent film scores too. You'd probably like a lot of John Adams, the piano music I think would be up your alley - try Phygrian Gates, China Gates, and Hallelujah Junction. Michael Torke is good to hear a pop/jazz influenced sort of minimalism.

One more traditionally minimalist work that I got into right off was Reich's Music for 18 Musicians (Nonesuch), highly recommended. I also like very much Reich, and his Three Movements for Orchestra, and any of the "counterpoint" titled works.

Another minimalist to check out is Louis Andriessen - try his De Staat from the 70s. Great stuff. Arvo Part is another I have been getting into lately, very dreamy, beautiful sort of minimalism...there is a good DG iTunes release Minimalist Jukebox which introduced me to both that I would recommend. And also Vol. 2 which features Reich's Three Movements and other works.

Someone asked about Doctor Atomic, there is a video of it floating around from the Amsterdam production - well worth seeing! It's very good, kind of longish, but has great musical moments...Adams has made a "Doctor Atomic Symphony" which is impressive, but the music doesn't hang together as well in a big conglomerate form and without the voices. I really hope he extracts some stand-alone choruses and performs them, especially the Bhagavad Vita!

[jochanaan]

Yah, if you can find the movie -- I'm not sure it's been released on DVD, due to some legal matters -- it's an experience...

I have the DVD; I forget exactly where I got it.  It doesn't seem to be that hard to find, however, a lot of the information online is seriously out of date; the site www.koyaanisqatsi.org mentions a 2002 release date as being in the future...!

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Thanks for the recommendations. Do any of you have the Minimalist Piano Collection on Brilliant Classics? Any fans of Glass' Satyagraha?

[Maciek]

I don't have that, but your mention of Brilliant reminded me of another favorite, and this time it's "hardcore" minimalism (and yet, strangely enough, I really do like it 0:)): the Brilliant box of Simeon ten Holt's piano music. It's a box because none of the pieces would fit on one disc! Heretic as this may sound: Great background listening!



OOP, but I'm sure it's not that hard to find.

[gomro]

Thanks for the recommendations. Do any of you have the Minimalist Piano Collection on Brilliant Classics? Any fans of Glass' Satyagraha?

I heard Satyagraha a long time ago, and I remember enjoying it, especially the final section. But that's about all I've got!