Intro to Minimalism

A quick overview of the Classical Music section's upcoming series on minimalism.

Ever since my introduction to Steve Reich's "Violin Phase" back in undergraduate days, I have been intrigued by the experimental methods of Reich and other minimalist composers. Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and John Adams opened up a new way of appreciating sounds for me. Last fall I wrote an analysis paper on "Variations for Winds, Strings, and Keyboards," a composition by Steve Reich, that renewed my passion for the works of the minimalist style. A desire to share that knowledge gained in my experience with the music of Reich, Glass, and Adams has prompted me to present a series of articles on mimimalism, focusing on these three major composers associated with the style.