Minimalism (ambient, single, fan, orchestra, 70s)

fool on the hill · 11-29-2007, 09:51 AM

I prefer Steve Reich to Glass any day. Glass' earlier work in the 70s was good, but ever since Satyagraha he hasn't really done anything interesting... Reich's earlier stuff is also better (Piano Phase, Drumming).

Some of John Adams stuff is good, like Phrygian Gates for piano & Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a real trip (pun intended). Shaker Loops for string orchestra is pretty cool too.

For some REAL minimalism, Charlemagne Palestine is amazing. His Strumming Music for piano is great but Schlingen-Blangen for pipe organ is mind-blowing-- a single chord held for 70 minutes-- the only thing that changes is the stops on the organ. You start hearing all the overtones & all sorts of aural illusions.

Some of Morton Feldman later works could be called "minimalistic" in a way (though not in the rhythmically repetitive way of Glass, Reich and Adams). His Piano and String Quartet unfolds slowly in a haunting way, a sort of atonal version of Brian Eno's ambient music.

I HIGHLY recommend Charlemagne Palestine's Schlingen-Blangen though-- it is truly a mind altering experience...

~ josh

11-29-2007, 09:51 AM	#6 (permalink)
fool on the hill Groupie Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Memphis, Tenn and occasionally Christchurch, New Zealand Posts: 44	Other "minimalists" I prefer Steve Reich to Glass any day. Glass' earlier work in the 70s was good, but ever since Satyagraha he hasn't really done anything interesting... Reich's earlier stuff is also better (Piano Phase, Drumming). Some of John Adams stuff is good, like Phrygian Gates for piano & Short Ride in a Fast Machine is a real trip (pun intended). Shaker Loops for string orchestra is pretty cool too. For some REAL minimalism, Charlemagne Palestine is amazing. His Strumming Music for piano is great but Schlingen-Blangen for pipe organ is mind-blowing-- a single chord held for 70 minutes-- the only thing that changes is the stops on the organ. You start hearing all the overtones & all sorts of aural illusions. Some of Morton Feldman later works could be called "minimalistic" in a way (though not in the rhythmically repetitive way of Glass, Reich and Adams). His Piano and String Quartet unfolds slowly in a haunting way, a sort of atonal version of Brian Eno's ambient music. I HIGHLY recommend Charlemagne Palestine's Schlingen-Blangen though-- it is truly a mind altering experience... ~ josh __________________ Grabbed my suitcase that said to me, "Dreams are free and so are we." [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]