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"Now that things are so simple, there's so much to do." —MORTON FELDMAN

Key Points

  • The more recent compositional styles of minimalism and New Romanticism seek to appeal to audiences that have been alienated by highly intellectual and structural approaches to contemporary music.
  • Minimalist music is based on repetitive melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic patterns with few or slowly changing variations. The music can sound hypnotic (as in new age music) or motor-driven and frenzied. The most important exponents are Steve Reich and Philip Glass.
  • Spiritual minimalism is a recent trend characterized by a simple, nonpulsed music that springs from deep religious convictions. Estonian composer Arvo Pärt's choral music (including Cantate Domino canticum novum) represents this style.
  • American composer John Adams takes an eclectic approach that combines elements of minimalism with traits of New Romanticism (using a lush harmonic language), forging a post-minimalist style.
  • New Romanticism favors the harmonic language of the late Romantic era; the music is often coupled with a highly virtuosic style and novel instrumental combinations. Libby Larsen's song cycle Sonnets from the Portuguese, set to the poetry of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, exemplifies this approach.

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