ACT Reading Practice Test 35
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HUMANITIES: Michael Nyman: Minimalist Composer
Many people take classical music to be the realm of the symphony orchestra or smaller ensembles of orchestral instruments. Even more restrictive is the mainstream definition of “classical,” which only
Line 5 includes the music of generations past that has seemingly been pushed aside by such contemporary forms of music as jazz, rock, and rap. In spite of its waning limelight, however, classical music occupies an enduring niche in Western culture, always the
10 subject of experimentation on the part of composers and performers. Of the various schools of composition that emerged in the 20th century, Minimalism remains one of the most influential. English composer Michael
15 Nyman has emerged as one of the great writers, conductors, and performers of experimental and often minimalist pieces of music. In fact, it was he who coined the term “Minimalism,” in a review of another composer’s work. Nyman’s compositions vary greatly
20 in mood and orchestration, but generally reflect the characteristic tenets of minimalist fare; composerauthor David Cope defines these as silence, conceptual forms, brevity, continuity, and strong patterns. A 1976 commission led Nyman to form what
25 he once called “the loudest unamplified street band” possible. Eventually coined the Michael Nyman Band, his group comprised several saxophonists and some players of ancient string and woodwind instruments of various medieval-sounding names. When Nyman set
30 to developing material for his band, he implemented piano segments for himself, a rich string section, and eventually, amplification of all the instruments. In this setting, the composer honed his style of deliberate melodies, malleable rhythms, and precise ensemble
35 playing. Nyman’s popularity grew within classical circles. He would often profit from it, accepting commissions from celebrated orchestras, choreographers, vocalists, and string groups. These works, though, would not reach his largest audience.
40 Nyman will be remembered by the masses for his stunning film scores. His most famous achievement was the music for The Piano (1993), winner of the Cannes Film Festival’s prestigious Palme d’Or award for best picture. In the U.S., the film was nominated for
45 six Academy Awards, and won three. However, a nomination was not even granted to Nyman’s soundtrack for the Best Score award. Despite this oversight, the soundtrack remains among the bestselling film music recordings of all time. Its grace is achieved through
50 skillful use of the piano to replace the female lead’s voice, which is absent throughout the film. Similarly emotive is Nyman’s composition for Gattaca (1997), a film that tells the tale of a world obsessed with highly sophisticated bioengineering, which creates a society
55 woefully stratified according to genetic purity. Nyman layers repetitive melodies played on string instruments to create an atmosphere of soaring highs tempered with sorrow, but these melodies overcome hopeless melancholy to finish on an uplifting note. The austere
60 blues and greens of the film’s cinematography blend with Nyman’s round melodies to impose a trance on the audience, infusing a cold future reality with vivid romance. Following Nyman’s snub by the Academy, the
65 composer admitted the critics tend to look down their noses at his work. He concedes that giving a soldout performance at a major concert hall does little to impress them. According to Nyman, there will always be some stuffed shirts anxious to cry foul at
70 the new and different. Though rarely awarded for his many accomplishments, Nyman certainly remains an important figure in the innovation of classical music and represents a substantial reason for its persistent popularity.
One of the main arguments the author is trying to make in the passage is that:
until recently, classical music had been fading in popularity among Western societies.
Michael Nyman has produced much important music, but remains underappreciated.
modern classical music is changing the way in which artists interpret the world.
The Piano gained widespread popularity because of Michael Nyman’s impressive soundtrack.
Considering the information given in the first two paragraphs (lines 1–23), which of the following is the most accurate description of modern classical music?
It lacks the intellectual richness of classical music from earlier periods.
It has not progressed since the emergence of Minimalism.
It shares audiences with other forms of music, but has not stopped evolving.
It has become more of an artistic medium than it had been historically.
As it is used in the passage, “fare” (line 21) most nearly means:
a fee paid to attend a minimalist concert.
Michael Nyman’s ability to write minimalist music.
the collection of minimalist music.
a feeling evoked by minimalist music.
Which of the following statements from the passage is an acknowledgment by the author that the Michael Nyman Band enjoys limited popularity?
“English composer Michael Nyman has emerged as one of the great writers, conductors, and performers of experimental and often minimalist pieces of music” (lines 14–17).
“Nyman’s compositions vary greatly in mood and orchestration” (lines 19–20).
“These works, though, would not reach his largest audience” (lines 38–39).
“Despite this oversight, the music remains among the bestselling film music recordings of all time” (lines 47–49).
The author claims Michael Nyman used the music for Gattaca “to impose a trance on the audience” (lines 61–62) because:
it reverberates with layers of emotional string melodies.
it features sorrowful melodies instead of uplifting ones.
it reflects the harsh reality of the world portrayed in the film.
it dulls the raw emotion caused by the futuristic crisis in the film.
When the author says that Michael Nyman is “rarely rewarded” (line 70), he most likely means that Nyman:
lacks the musical merit to deserve critical acclaim.
produces obscure music that fails to appeal to a modern audience.
gives many long recitals throughout the year.
deserves praise, but does not receive enough of it.
The author implies by the phrase “snub by the Academy” (line 64) that Michael Nyman:
did not deserve to win an Academy Award nomination.
prepared a superficial composition for The Piano.
considers the score for The Piano his crowning achievement.
deserved an Academy Award nomination, but was denied one.
According to the passage, by considering classical music only a historical form of music, many people lose the sense that:
playing unamplified, traditional instruments remains an enriching enterprise.
classical music has never disappeared, but rather has evolved with the times.
Michael Nyman is a valuable contributor to Western music.
classical music is the highest form of recorded music.
The second paragraph (lines 12–23) states that, at the time of Michael Nyman’s emergence as a composer, Minimalism was:
in a period of stylistic turmoil.
an ancient practice in classical music.
a young musical style.
invented by Michael Nyman.
When the author says that “austere blues and greens of the film’s cinematography blend with Nyman’s round melodies” (lines 59–61), he most likely means that the film:
presents a conflicting viewpoint to the audience.
tempers its severe elements with appeals to human emotion.
juxtaposes ugliness with whimsy.
is really a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the progress of science.