Minimalism: a Russian Version
The Russian branch of minimalism was formed in the milieu of Moscow conceptualists in the mid-1970s as an alternative to the o cial Soviet art. Though the American idea of minimalism took roots in Russian music, the American model as such did not become widespread. On the other hand, some of the conceptual aspects of American minimalism have a key signi cance for Russian minimalists.The composers - Alexander Rabinovich- Barakovsky, Vladimir Martïnov, Pavel Karmanov, Anton Batagov, to an extent also Sergey Zagny and Vladimir Nikolayev - have epitomized various forms and types of Russian minimalism, re ecting their highly personal creative images. In their works minimalism appears as a movement of composers- intellectuals creating music for intellectuals. Their main priorities can be de ned as follows: conceptual approach, openness towards di erent cultures and traditions, new syncretism encompassing interactivity and ritualism in their variously con gured combinations.The oeuvre of two generations of composers proves that the so-called minimalism in Russian music has its peculiarities distinguishing it from its American prototype.