Chapter 58: Icons in Sound: Tavener and Postmodern Orthodoxy
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. The musical style that strips compositions down to bare essentials, focusing on a few basic details,
is known as:
a. neo-Romanticism. c. serialism.
b. minimalism. d. post-modernism.
2. Since the 1970s, ________ has been a significant force in music.
a. minimalism c. classicalism
b. pre-minimalism d. tintinnabulation
3. Minimalism is influenced by:
a. the contemplative art of India.
b. the densely layered rhythms of some African cultures.
c. jazz, pop, and rock.
d. all of the answers shown here
4. Which composer introduced the concept of tiny motivic cells that repeat to a hypnotic pulse?
a. Steve Reich c. Terry Riley
b. John Tavener d. Philip Glass
5. Which minimalist composer has collaborated with “nonclassical” musicians such as Brian Eno,
Paul Simon, and David Byrne?
a. Steve Reich c. John Adams
b. Philip Glass d. John Tavener
6. John Tavener converted to ________ in the mid-1970s.
a. Greek Orthodoxy c. Buddhism
b. Islam d. Catholicism
7. John Tavener’s Song for Athene was performed at the funeral service for:
a. Martin Luther King c. Ronald Reagan
b. John F. Kennedy d. Princess Diana
8. Nonpulsed music inspired by religious beliefs is known as:
a. minimalism. c. Gregorian minimalism.
b. spiritual minimalism. d. musical spiritualism.
9. Composers identified with spiritual minimalism include:
a. Tavener, Gorecki, and Pärt. c. Tavener, Riley, and Glass.
b. Riley, Reich, and Glass. d. Gorecki, Pärt, and Reich.
10. The melodic formulas of Greek Orthodox chant include intervals smaller than half steps, known
as:
a. atonality. c. microtones.
b. minitones. d. non-tones.
11. What are the performing forces for Tavener’s Hymn to the Mother of God?
a. one six-voice choir c. six choirs
b. six vocalists d. two six-voice choirs
12. Continuous pitches held while other musical lines interweave are known as:
a. static notes. c. long tones.
b. drones. d. harmony.
TRUE/FALSE
1. The constantly changing melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns are the salient feature of
minimalism.
2. Minimalism became a significant force in music starting in the 1940s.
3. Minimalists have turned away from the highly intellectual style of early modernists.
4. In some minimalist music, the regularly repeated pulse is designed to break the listener’s
perception of time.
5. Rock, pop, and jazz have influenced musical minimalism.
6. Music from non-Western cultures has had little influence on minimalism.
7. John Tavener is an American-born minimalist composer.
8. Religion and spirituality have little influence on John Tavener’s music.
9. European composers primarily developed spiritual minimalism.
10. The Eastern Christian Church incorporates scales and modes of local Greek and Byzantine
traditions.
11. Medieval and Renaissance polyphony influence Tavener’s choral writing.
ESSAY
1. Describe the musical characteristics of minimalism.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
PTS: 1 DIF: 2 REF: Essentials: pp. 327–328
TOP: Minimalism MSC: Applied
2. Discuss the concepts and specific traits of Orthodox ritual John Tavener uses to convey a spiritual
intensity in his work A Hymn to the Mother of God.
ANS:
Answers will vary.
PTS: 1 DIF: 3 REF: Essentials: pp. 328–330
TOP: Tavener MSC: Applied