Building a minimalist piece
I can build a minimalist composition creating cells that compliment and connect well to each other.
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- Year 5
Building a minimalist piece
I can build a minimalist composition creating cells that compliment and connect well to each other.
Copyrighted materials: to view and download resources from this lesson, you’ll need to be in the UK and
Lesson details
Key learning points
- We can create melodic cells that compliment each other with a similar melodic shape but different rhythms.
- Using notes of a longer duration creates a slower feeling rhythm.
- Using notes of a shorter duration creates a faster feeling rhythm.
- As composers, we can select instruments for their timbre when deciding the instrumentation for a new piece of music.
Keywords
Cell - simple musical patterns that can be rhythmic or melodic (an ostinato in minimalism)
Melodic shape - up and down movement of pitches in music
Duration - the length of a sound or silence
Instrumentation - the combination of musical instruments used in a piece of music
Common misconception
Cells in minimalist music are all new ideas and are not connected.
Even music that can feel 'random' is often born from a single idea. For an effective minimalist piece, use cells that relate in rhythm or melody.
Equipment
A variety of pitched and unpitched percussion based on composition needs. Pitched percussion needs the notes C, D, E, F, G.
Licence
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