‘Electric Counterpoint’ 1987 - Reich FACT SHEET GCSE Music: AoS2 Music in the 20th Century
Minimalism During the 20th Century composers wanted to push music in new and int.eresting directions. The idea of making music which does not contain many musical ideas and minima resources is where the term ‘Minimalism’ comes from Features of Minimalism:
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Drones Ostinato Phasing Layering Note Addition Note Subtraction Rhythmic Displacement Cells Loops Resultant Melody
The use of minimal ideas in Art:
Other Minimalist Composers: Terry Riley John Adams Phillip Glass
Parts and Layers 7 Recorded Guitars 2 Recorded Bass Guitars 1 Live Guitar (played by Pat Metheny) Like much Minimalistic music Electric Counterpoint is built up in layers. The guitars enter in the following order: 1 - Guitar 1 2- LIVE GUITAR 3 - Guitar 2 4 - Guitar 3 5 - Guitar 4 6 - Bass Guitars 1 and 2 7 - Guitar 5 8 - Guitar 6 9 - Guitar 7
Key Although we can say the piece is in E Minor it is actually MODAL (there are no D#s that we would expect to hear in E Minor)