Briefly define minimalism and cite an example that we discussed in class.

What will be an ideal response?

Minimalism is a musical texture in which short, simple patterns are repeated for long periods of time, either without variation or with subtle changes that gradually alter the melodic, rhythmic, or timbral content.It first emerged in the 1960s and was associated with two trends.an increased interest in Asian and African music, in which repetition plays a very significant rolea reaction of some composers to mid-century modernism itself, especially the serialism Steve Reich (b. 1936)influential composer of minimalist music in the mid-1960s Example: Piano Phase (1967) (excerpt), explores the phase shifting of two pianoslining up in unison two recorded loops and letting them slowly shift out of phase with each other Other composers of minimalist music include:Philip Glass (b. 1937)John Adams (b. 1947)