director: Godfrey Reggio
music: Philip Glass
The mesmerizing score by Philip Glass for Koyaanisqatsi begins with sustained notes on brass, building up to a climax where a synthesizer plays the ostinato bass line of the piece. “When Godfrey Reggio first contacted me, I didn’t know much about the film. As soon as I saw what he was doing, I was interested. I had a lot of experience working with theater, dance, and opera. Making them into film—it wasn’t so difficult for me to do.”
director: Darren Aronofsky
music: Clint Mansell
With surreal sound effects, British composer Clint Mansell challenges viewers not to hear what the film's central character actually hears, but rather what the character thinks they hear. Although the music is primarily electronic, it is also performed by the Kronos Quartet, a string quartet with a minimalist approach. The main theme 'Lux Aeterna' becomes one of the most reused pieces of music from the early millennium. It is used, for example, in a new orchestral version with choir for the trailer of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (2002).
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director: James Gray
music: Max Richter
British-born German composer Max Richter, known primarily for his post-minimalist music, was approached by director James Gray for the science fiction movie Ad Astra. He used plasma wave data from NASA’s Voyager Interstellar Mission of the late 1970s, and incorporated it into a custom-made instrument as an element in his composition. “Ad Astra involves the marriage of music and science. My compositions also lean heavily on my love of mathematics.”
director: Peter Greenaway
music: Wim Mertens
In 1987, Belgian minimalist composer Wim Mertens was chosen by the British cult director Peter Greenaway. His cyclical piano pieces perfectly match the environment of the character Stourley Cracklite against the backdrop of the Italian capital. Also the famous tune Close Cover by Mertens was integrated into the film.
director: Jonathan Glazer
music: Mica Levi
British composer Mica Levi, known as Micachu with their band Micachu and the Shapes, composed the score for Under the Skin, a film by Jonathan Glazer starring Scarlett Johansson. The pitch of the music is altered at various intervals to make 'listeners feel uncomfortable.' The minimalist approach received high praise and won Levi a European Film Award for Best Composer.
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regie: Jane Campion
The Piano tells the story of Ada, a mute woman who expresses herself through sign language and playing the piano. A film about someone using music to communicate with the world naturally demands a powerful soundtrack. This is provided by the English minimalist composer Michael Nyman. While the piano's right hand highlights the beautiful melody in his theme, the pianist is also tasked with playing swirling sixteenth notes that create a minimalist texture, and thus, a profound sense of unease.
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Philip Glass, master of minimalist music, turns 90 in 2027 but continues to compose with passion. Cellist Camille Thomas has explored his works and shares her choices and arrangements during this concert-lecture.
