Dear Dr. John and Vocalisters
Minimalism as a compositional style works if you allow the excessive diversity of ideas that are expressed through variation, an opportunity to work. The outward appearance of this music seems dull and boring because the same material or very little material is used over and over again. But by using less it is possible to create more through variation.
I would probable never have been attracted to this music were it not that my daughter has premiered three of Phillip Glass' works (The Fall of the House of Usher, Hydrogen Jukebox, and The White Raven). I became aware that few orchestra musicians can play this music correctly because they underestimate its difficulties. It is not uncommon for the conductor to reduce the number of rehearsals because the musicians play the same thing over and over again. But each group of repeats of the material is a variation. One conductor thought he was aware of all of these variation only to discover that Glass had to spend an hour coaching him on only the first few pages.
Consequently, the music is so complex that it is difficult for the mind to absorb. The attention shuts down and the music appears boring. It is really the opposite of boring.
Glass picked up these concepts in the music of India and his work with Ravi Shanker, and through his devotion to Buddhism.
Minimalism is not to everyone's liking but I have friends who cannot stand anything by Wagner for the same reasons.
Such an interesting art, this Music.
Regards -- Lloyd W. Hanson, DMA Professor of Voice, Vocal Pedagogy School of Performing Arts Northern Arizona University Flagstaff, AZ 86011
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