A drone is a continuously sustained note—or combination of notes—that may last for minutes or even hours.
One of Minimalism's earliest pioneers, La Monte Young, explored the possibilities of music in which very little seems to happen. Instead of melodies, harmonies, and rhythms constantly changing, Young invited listeners to concentrate on the sounds themselves.
For Young, the musical experience was not necessarily about what changed, but about what we discovered by listening.
Imagine listening to the same two notes, a perfect fifth, sustained for nearly three hours. No melody, no rhythmic development, no changing harmonies. Just two notes, seemingly suspended in time.
Is this really music? La Monte Young invites us to reconsider what music can be—and whether the simple act of sustained listening can itself become a musical experience.
Now, here's an excerpt from a drone that lasts an astonishing TWO HOURS AND FORTY-EIGHT MINUTES! Fortunately, you won't have to listen to the entire thing.