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Course Description

Summary

An advanced seminar in analyzing the diverse streams of musical minimalism. We’ll look at minimalism’s conceptual roots in the 1960s, and trace influences from the visual arts, as well as early works of Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Fluxus, Cage, and the Scratch Orchestra. The seminar will combine on‐the‐score and aural analysis and contrast open score, aurally taught, and strictly notated works. The class will unpack some of the core techniques of minimalism and post‐minimalism: additive rhythms, polyrhythms, canons, and the extended tonalities of works by Reich, Glass, Adams, and Lang. In the end, we’ll consider electronica, from Aphex Twin to Battles, as a mutual influence and analogue. Previous work with notation and theory required.  Students are encouraged to take this course together with Serialism for a 4-credit suite.