Which list comprises commonly cited Minimalist composers?

Which list comprises commonly cited Minimalist composers?

• A. Hindemith, Stravinsky, Strauss, Prokofiev
• B. Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Debussy
• C. Reich, Riley, Glass, Adams, Young
• D. Mozart, Haydn, Gluck, Cherubini

Answer: (C)

Minimalism centers on repeating, evolving patterns and a focus on texture and process over dramatic development. The group most commonly cited as foundational to this movement includes Reich, Riley, Glass, Adams, and Young. Steve Reich popularized the approach with rhythmic phasing and sustained patterns that slowly shift over time. Terry Riley helped pioneer the style with pattern-based works that emphasize repetition and gradual change. Philip Glass is closely associated with the minimalist sound through his steady pulses and arpeggiated figures that layer and evolve. John Adams expanded minimalist ideas into larger, orchestral and operatic forms, maintaining the characteristic repetition while exploring more expansive textures. La Monte Young pushed the sound world toward long durations and drone tones, shaping the sonic space of minimalism. The other lists pull from Classical and Romantic eras or from late-20th-century composers who aren’t typically framed as minimalist pioneers, so they don’t represent the same movement.

Minimalism centers on repeating, evolving patterns and a focus on texture and process over dramatic development. The group most commonly cited as foundational to this movement includes Reich, Riley, Glass, Adams, and Young. Steve Reich popularized the approach with rhythmic phasing and sustained patterns that slowly shift over time. Terry Riley helped pioneer the style with pattern-based works that emphasize repetition and gradual change. Philip Glass is closely associated with the minimalist sound through his steady pulses and arpeggiated figures that layer and evolve. John Adams expanded minimalist ideas into larger, orchestral and operatic forms, maintaining the characteristic repetition while exploring more expansive textures. La Monte Young pushed the sound world toward long durations and drone tones, shaping the sonic space of minimalism. The other lists pull from Classical and Romantic eras or from late-20th-century composers who aren’t typically framed as minimalist pioneers, so they don’t represent the same movement.