American conductor Richard Bernas talks to Steve Reich, Philip Glass, Terry Riley, Bob Wilson, Louis Andriessen, Michael Nyman, Meredith Monk, David Lang, Nico Muhly, John Rockwell, Paula Cooper, among others, as he undertakes a critical survey of five decades of Minimalism in music. He traces its origins in both the San Francisco and New York underground cultures of the early 1960s, exploring the relationship between music and the visual arts, but also theatre and dance. He also assesses how Minimalism, arguably the newest style proper to emerge in Classical music, evolved into a mature and powerful force during the 1970s and 80s, eventually becoming part of the cultural mainstream of today's America. Crossing the Atlantic, he examines its influence in the wider field of European composers, such as Michael Nyman and Louis Andriessen - who've created their own brands of Minimalism.

Presenter: Richard Bernas
Producer: Juan Carlos Jaramillo. Show less