Minimalism and Its Discontents

By Jeff Morris, eMusic Contributor

Minimalist music, as it came to be known, grew out of the New York downtown scene in the 60's. Its steady pulse and consonant structure offered a welcome repast from the somewhat alienating serial music which seemed to have run its course. But what influenced those cascading patterns, textured drones and shifting rhythmic landscapes? And where have others taken minimalism beyond its formalist constraints. This program will trace a dotted line from the influences to the… more »