minimalistic approach

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Member Since: Sep 17, 2006

hi guys! read a few of the posts and comments..and i was realy hoping that you guys could help me with this..

recently i came across with this term ''minimalistic approach'' as far as i know..it is used in many different context..and music is one of them..

can anyone tell me what is it..where is created from..who created it first and when is was it created?

if possible..provide a good song piece that has this ''minimalistic approach''

thanks for reading..and God bless!

a real newbie here btw

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Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Sep 17, 2006 07:55 pm

Well the term in music stands for pretty much what it sounds like. A minimum of instruments or movements. It is created by the sparse use of instrumentation. Some people consider the twinkly ambient type music with little or no movement to be minumalistic as well.

I can honestly say who created it first, maybe the first simple flute solo piece, or Harpsichord or anything back in the 17th century for that matter.

As for a recent artist who was known at time as a minumalist, look for John Cage. He once wrote a piece for piano only. The catch was that it required the piano strings to be littered with silverware. It was a 10 minute piece of just him tinkering on the piano and the silverware jangling about as he played bits of stuff on the paino.

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004

Sep 18, 2006 10:52 am

one GREAT band i consider to be somewhat minimalist is Morphine, the singer plays a two string bass with a glass slide, there's a sax player and a drummer and that's it....huge power on some of the songs....i think the term is pretty grey, so it really comes down to opinion.

RIP Mark Sandman

Czar of Midi
Administrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002

Sep 18, 2006 05:52 pm

Ah yes, good call WYD. Morphine is an aboslutely great display of the minimalist music.

Member
Since: Sep 17, 2006

Sep 19, 2006 05:45 am

wow..you guys are really great!!
thanks so much!!

But i have other answers saying that minimalist could also mean a repetitive playing melody/rhythm from an instrument in a music piece..

so does this counts in as well?

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004

Sep 19, 2006 12:11 pm

[quote] But i have other answers saying that minimalist could also mean a repetitive playing melody/rhythm from an instrument in a music piece..

so does this counts in as well?[/quote]

'Art' is always up for interpretation . My song "Alone"(posted here) could be thought of as minimalist within this context .

I always thought that the band Bauhaus had a 'minimalist' approach... even when the mix had effects on a guitar/keys or whatnot, it is done so very dry, and sparce-sounding . Morphine is a much better example, though... I don't think that cat even has all of the strings on his bass . heh

Hold 'Em Czar
Member
Since: Dec 30, 2004

Sep 19, 2006 02:38 pm

Quote:
Morphine, the singer plays a two string bass with a glass slide

speakin' of 'dryness' would y'all say Lenonard Cohen is a minimalist? i've always liked the 'frankness' of his style, but it's hard for me to listen to for extended periods of time (umm say more than three songs in a row) and his arrangments often have synths, drums, backup vocals, guitar, bass, i think the 'nakedness' of his style clasifies him as a minimalist... NIN's "Hurt" is a good minimalist song, now what about Tori Amos? i don't think i'd consider her a minimalist, her songs are quite 'grand' to me (no pun intended). i don't think there's a real hard answer to this, it's in the eye of the beholder and my beholder is about to tweak. HA! Bloodhound Gang's "you're pretty when i'm drunk" is one too! and early Vangelis (pre '95).


and what about maximalists? there's a word i don't think i've ever heard.

Pinnipedal Czar (: 3=
Member
Since: Apr 11, 2004

Sep 19, 2006 03:13 pm

Ahhh... must'a missed that sentence .

'Maximalist' ? haha

No way that's a real word ! hmmm...

"Chris showed a maximalistic approach to the making of music ."

I guess it could be a real word, but what would it mean... playing really loud ?, complex arrangements ?, lots'a fx ?, all of the above ???

we prefer "percussionist"
Member
Since: Jul 21, 2004

Sep 20, 2006 01:57 am

In "art-music" circles (i.e. "classical"), minimalismwas a 20th century movement based on constructing music using the fewest compositional techniques possible - basically see how much you can do with the smallest amount of information. Steve Reich was/is considered one of the most prominent composers to use this style. As an example, his piece "Clapping Music" is written for two players clapping a one measure phrase. Player One claps the same measure continually, while Player Two shifts the phrase by one eigth note every 6-8 measures (I forget which, it's been a while!). After 6 permutations (the piece is in 6/8 time), they end up together again. One rhythmic phrase, one compositional device, one "instrument", two players - it don't get much minimal-er than that!

P.S., there's a video of this piece and others at www.stevereich.com

Cone Poker
Member
Since: Apr 07, 2002

Sep 20, 2006 04:43 am

I consider stuff like Bauhuas and joy division minimalistic, as well as some Einsturzende Neubauten (listen to "sand"). I think it's about using very few instruments, and pretty much just getting by with the bare nessecities of a song. Not too many elebaroate solos or stuff like that.

No Commercial Appeal.
Member
Since: Jan 09, 2003

Sep 20, 2006 07:36 pm

if you want a mainstream example, look at the white stripes first few albums. Three instruments (voice, guitar, drums), simple 3 or 4 note songs, recorded in one or two takes. Their videos are also minimalist. Their on-stage clothing too. their last album was a little more "maximalist" though

Member
Since: Sep 17, 2006

Sep 21, 2006 05:23 am

alright..thanks alot guys
God bless you all =)

> > > minimalistic approach

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