John Adams and Minimalism
10. What distinguishes John Adams’s work from that of the earlier Minimalists?
While earlier Minimalists such as Steve Reich and Philip Glass often concentrated on repeating patterns and gradual musical processes, John Adams brought a greater sense of drama, emotional expression, and harmonic variety to the style.
His music frequently builds toward powerful climaxes, features striking contrasts in mood and orchestral color, and draws upon the traditions of classical and Romantic music.
In short, Adams retained the rhythmic energy and repetition of Minimalism while expanding its expressive possibilities.
John Adams discusses why he is not a Minimalist composer…