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Posted on 2013 by MG

Music for 18 musicians

One of the few compositions by Steve Reich and all of minimal music that I truly like.

For me, the problem with minimalism is that it's based on an idea that never really developed. In other words, this music is essentially based on the superposition of patterns that, over time, can

  1. change melodically, for example by gradually replacing notes (Glass) or inverting notes and rests (Reich)
  2. change rhythmically, occasionally introducing a change in the figures
  3. change timbrally, gradually replacing the instrumental groups that perform the various patterns
  4. de-phase temporally by speeding up or slowing down the meter (sometimes using different metronomes right from the start)

I don't see any other gimmicks, and in my opinion, it all becomes extremely predictable. That doesn't mean the result can't be fascinating and engaging at times, but it can't continue like this forever.


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