The document discusses the history and key figures of the minimalist art and music movements from the 1960s onward. It began as a rejection of abstract expressionism in New York art galleries and spread to other mediums like architecture, design, fashion and music. Key musical figures mentioned are La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass and John Adams, who helped pioneer the minimalist style of repetitive, trance-like compositions focusing on patterns with little variation. The movement aimed to portray extreme simplicity and literal meaning.

1. minimalism
a love-hate relationship
Blair Mosberg

2. what is minimalism?
An artistic movement intended
to portray extreme simplicity and
literal meaning.

3. history
o NYC, 1960s
o artists & sculptures rejected abstract expressionism
o small galleries to museum exhibitions
o reached movement status
o NY to CA
o crossed mediums

4. visual art

5. architecture + décor

6. architecture + décor

7. fashion

8. food

9. minimalist music
A style of composition that
focuses on the use of musical
patterns with little or no variation
in rhythm, dynamics, instruments,
tempo, or mood. Effect can be
almost trance-like.

10. how it started
o La Monte Young
o student of John Cage
o “Fluxus” movement
o Inspired by Buddhist meditation &
things psychedelic
o “minimalism” was his dream
house
o Theater of Eternal Music

11. terry reilly
o In C (1964)
o tape loops & alternative tuning
o concerts lasted all night
Commentary
o Church of Anthrax

12. steve reich
o began composing 1960s
o used tape loops, ambient
noises, and speech excerpts
o won Pulitzer Prize in 2009 for
Double Sextet
Drumming
Clapping Music

13. philip glass
o dissatisfied with trend of modern
music in America
o studied in Europe
o the Philip Glass Ensemble
o Einstein on the Beach
Satyagraha
Truman Sleeps
Truman Piano Score

14. john adams
o orchestral, chamber music, opera
o provokes controversy
o tapes and electronics
o On the Transmigration of Souls

15. conclusion
o you need a certain mindset
o is very severe
o initial shock/confusion
o take it for what it is
o appreciate the innovation

16. sources
h"p://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/384056/minimalism
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vZMvA0w6phU
h"p://www.dunvagen.com/bio.php
h"p://nymag.com/arts/classicaldance/classical/reviews/56138/
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy42bYyQNAg
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugtUdXt7Ww8
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=USRGNr17Jm4
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcFyl8amoEE&feature=BFp&list=WL2D4848FCF8E2E222
h"p://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6nrJ3ByzzE
h"p://www.factmag.com/2010/02/01/a‐brief‐history‐of‐minimalism/h"p://arthistory.about.com/od/
modernarthistory/a/minimalism‐10‐one.htm
h"p://www.arthistoryguide.com/Minimalism.aspx
h"p://www.scaruffi.com/avant/cpt6.html
h"p://archrecord.construc`on.com/features/boston/topten/record‐2.asp
h"p://www.bostonguide.com/boston_confiden`al/hancock.aspx