Which list contains composers commonly associated with Minimalist music?

Which list contains composers commonly associated with Minimalist music?

• A. Hindemith, Stravinsky, Strauss, Prokofiev
• B. Debussy, Ravel, Satie, Françaix
• C. Beethoven, Chopin, Liszt, Brahms
• D. Reich, Riley, Glass, Adams, Young

Answer: (D)

Minimalist music centers on repetition, a steady pulse, and gradual, often transformative change built from simple motifs. The names Reich, Riley, Glass, Adams—and the later addition—are the core figures most closely associated with that approach, shaping its sound through looping figures, phasing techniques, and long-form works that evolve from minimal materials. Reich’s pieces experiment with repeating patterns and tape loops that shift over time; Riley’s In C uses a flexible sequence of short motifs that performers layer and repeat; Glass develops persistent, hypnotic figures that unfold into sprawling textures; Adams expands minimalist ideas into large-scale orchestral and vocal works with a broader emotional range. The other groups align with Romantic or Impressionist styles, which emphasize different expressive languages and structures rather than the sustained repetition and gradual process that define minimalism.

Minimalist music centers on repetition, a steady pulse, and gradual, often transformative change built from simple motifs. The names Reich, Riley, Glass, Adams—and the later addition—are the core figures most closely associated with that approach, shaping its sound through looping figures, phasing techniques, and long-form works that evolve from minimal materials. Reich’s pieces experiment with repeating patterns and tape loops that shift over time; Riley’s In C uses a flexible sequence of short motifs that performers layer and repeat; Glass develops persistent, hypnotic figures that unfold into sprawling textures; Adams expands minimalist ideas into large-scale orchestral and vocal works with a broader emotional range. The other groups align with Romantic or Impressionist styles, which emphasize different expressive languages and structures rather than the sustained repetition and gradual process that define minimalism.