Reading practice 53

HUMANITIES: Michael Nyman: Minimalist Composer

Many people take classical music to be the realm of the symphony orchestra or smaller ensembles of orchestral instruments. Even more restrictive is the mainstream definition of "classical," which only includes the music of generations past that has seemingly been pushed aside by such contemporary forms of music as jazz, rock, and rap. In spite of its waning limelight, however, classical music occupies an enduring niche in Western culture, always the subject of experimentation on the part of composers and performers₂ Of the various schools of composition that emerged in the 20th century, Minimalism remains one of the most influential. English composer Michael Nyman has emerged as one of the great writers, conductors, and performers of experimental and often minimalist pieces of music. In fact, it was he who coined the term "Minimalism," in a review of another composer's work. Nyman's compositions vary greatly in mood and orchestration, but generally reflect the characteristic tenets of minimalist fare; composer-author David Cope defines these as silence, conceptual forms, brevity, continuity, and strong patterns.

A 1976 commission led Nyman to form what he once called "the loudest unamplified street band" possible. Eventually coined the Michael Nyman Band, is₃ group comprised several saxophonists and some players of ancient string and woodwind instruments of various medieval-sounding names. When Nyman set to developing material for his band, he implemented piano segments for himself, a rich string section, and eventually, amplification of all the instruments. In this setting, the composer honed his style of deliberate melodies, malleable rhythms, and precise ensemble playing. Nyman's popularity grew within classical circles. He would often profit from it, accepting commissions from celebrated orchestras, choreographers, vocalists, and string groups. These works, would not reach his largest audience₅ though, Nyman will be remembered by the masses for his stunning film scores. His most famous achievement was the music for The Piano (1993), winner of the Cannes Film Festival's prestigious Palme d'Or award for best picture. In the U.S., the film was nominated for six Academy Awards and won three. However, a nomination was not even granted to Nyman's soundtrack for the Best Score award₇ Despite this oversight, the soundtrack remains among the bestselling film music recordings of all time₄ Its grace is achieved through skillful use of the piano to replace the female lead's voice, which is absent throughout the film. Similarly emotive is Nyman's composition for Gattaca (1997), a film that tells the tale of a world obsessed with highly sophisticated bioengineering, which creates a society woefully stratified according to genetic purity. Nyman layers repetitive melodies played on string instruments to create an atmosphere of soaring highs tempered with sorrow, but these melodies overcome hopeless melancholy to finish on an uplifting note₅ The austere blues and greens of the film's cinematography blend with Nyman's round melodies to impose a trance on the audience, infusing a cold future reality with vivid romance₁₀

Following Nyman's snub by the Academy, the composer admitted the critics tend to look down their noses at his work₆ He concedes that giving a sold-out performance at a major concert hall does little to impress them. According to Nyman, there will always be some stuffed shirts anxious to cry foul at the new and different. Though rarely rewarded for his many accomplishments, Nyman certainly remains an important figure in the innovation of classical music and represents a substantial reason for its persistent popularity₈₁