Just as I was getting ready to leave a loft concert, an inquisitive young man, perhaps 20 years old, approached me. Apparently someone had told him I was a critic, and he figured I might be able to understand the music he had just heard. ‘Why are so many people playing minimal music these days? What is it all about?’ I thought for a moment about what I ought to say and settled for a brief generalization. ‘It has a lot to do with repetition.’ It was not a complete answer, of course, but I thought I’d settle for it for the time being and see how he responded.

Through a nearby window one could hear a truck passing by. At the other side of the room one of he musicians was talking to a friend who had come to the concert. In front of me, the young man was looking into my eyes, intent on the subject of minimalism and trying to work it all out.

He talked a little about how he didn’t think repetition was very interesting and about how he didn’t think anyone could be seriously concerned with that, and decided to try me again. ‘So what is it really about?’ I thought for a moment about what I ought to say this time, and settled for another generalization. ‘It has a lot to do with tiny variations.’ It was not a complete answer, of course, but I thought I’d settle for it for the time being and see how he responded.

Through the nearby window one could hear another truck passing by. At the other side of the room one of the musicians was disconnecting his electronic equipment. In front of me, the young man was staring at the floor, intent on the subject of minimalism and trying to work it all out.

He talked a little about how he didn’t think tiny variations were very interesting and about how he didn’t think anyone could be seriously concerned with that, and tried me again. ‘So what is it really about?’ I thought for a moment about what I ought to say this time, and settled for another generalization. ‘It has something to do with hyper-clarity.’ It was not a complete answer, of course, but I thought I’d settle for it for the time being and see how he responded.

Through the nearby window one could hear a car passing by. At the other side of the room one of the musicians was beginning to pack his electronic equipment into cases. In front of me, the young man was staring at a loudspeaker, intent on the subject of minimalism and trying to work it all out.

He talked a little about how he didn’t think hyper-clarity was very interesting and about how he didn’t think anyone could be seriously concerned with that, and tried me again. ‘So what is it really about?’ I thought for a moment about what I ought to say to him this time, and settled for another generalization. ‘It has something to do with encouraging more subtle perceptions.’ It was not a complete answer, of course, but I thought I’d settle for it for the time being and see how he responded.

Through the nearby window one could hear a car passing by. At the other side of the room one of the musicians was packing his electronic equipment into cases. In front of me, the young man was staring at the floor, intent on the subject of minimalism and trying to work it all out.

He talked a little about how he didn’t think encouraging more subtle perceptions was very interesting and about how he didn’t think anyone could be seriously concerned with that, and tried me again. ‘So what is it really about?’ I thought for a moment about what I ought to say this time, and settled for another generalization. ‘It has something to do with making music less dramatic.’ It was not a complete answer, of course, but I thought I’d settle for it for the time being and see how he responded.

Through the nearby window one could hear another car passing by. At the other side of the room one of the musicians was packing his electronic equipment into cases. In front of me, the young man was looking me in the eye, intent on the subject of minimalism and trying to work it all out.

He talked a little about how he didn’t think nondramatic qualities were very interesting and about how he didn’t think anyone could be seriously concerned with that, and tried me again. ‘So what is it really about?’ I thought for a moment about what I ought to say this time, and settled for another generalization. ‘It stems partly from certain Asian and African attitudes.’ It was not a complete answer, of course, but I thought I’d settle for it for the time being and see how he responded.

Through the nearby window one could hear a group of teenagers talking and laughing. At the other side of the room one of the musicians was buckling straps around the cases that contained his electronic equipment. In front of me the young man was staring at a loudspeaker, intent on the subject of minimalism and trying to work it all out.

He talked a little about how he didn’t see that Asian and African attitudes were very relevant and about how he didn’t think anyone could be seriously concerned about such things, and tried me again. ‘So what is it really about?’ I thought for a moment about what I ought to say this time, and tried another approach. ‘Well, like any kind of music, it isn’t really about ideas, and it can’t really be explained in words. It can only be demonstrated. And even then, every demonstration is going to be a little different, and no one demonstration will ever be definitive.’ It was not a complete answer, but it seemed to make more sense than the others.

Through the nearby window one could hear another truck passing by. At the other side of the room one of the musicians was carrying his loaded electronic equipment toward the exit.