GCSE (AQA) listening resources AOS 4 - Minimalism

by Tim and Liz @HuntSchoolMusic

Minimalism is a form of music that is created by using a small number of ideas. Its key characteristics are repetition, a fixed pulse, slow moving consonant harmony and short melodic phrases or cells. One of the techniques commonly found in minimalism is phase shifting which leads to this music begin described as ‘process music’ because of its use of logical patterns.  Minimalism originated in 1960s New York as part of the experimental music scene. The style deliberately moves away from the dominance of melody and harmony in the traditional sense, and focusses on rhythm, texture and timbre. Famous names: Reich, Glass, Riley, and La Monte Young.

@HuntSchoolMusic teaching slides for this topic:

@HuntSchoolMusic wider listening for this topic:

See https://huntschoolmusic.com/ks4.html for other materials.