Alex Weiser
Guest Columnist
Alex Weiser
Guest Columnist
Recent Stories
Postminimalist Daddy Rock
There was a time in classical music when the more complex and difficult to listen to a piece was, the better it was considered. It was in reaction to this world that Steve Reich’s style first developed. In the 1960s, when much other music was extremely complex, abstract and constantly changing, his music was pared down, very rhythmic and very repetitive. It is this style that has made Reich one of the most famous and influential living American composers today.
Weiser: Meditating on music
Over the past few days, at extracurricular bazaars and introductory meetings, I have received puzzled glances while trying to explaining the kind of music that I write and organize concerts for. This is nothing new. The music is contemporary but not rock or pop. It is classical but not like Mozart or Beethoven. Sometimes it is written for orchestras, string quartets, piano trios, but sometimes it is written for electric guitars, drum sets and saxophones. I have assured many people that there is a lot of “classical” music these days that would sound almost indistinguishable from some Indie-Rock and vice versa.