David Lang’s Postminimalist Musical Theater

The article explores issues of the American musical theater nineteenth century, fruitfully developing on basis postminimalism. Among brightest representatives this style is composer David Lang (1957), a member group “Bang Can”. His theatrical projects last two decades demonstrate new phase in development postminimalist theater, foundation which was laid by his older contemporaries, Philip Glass, Steve Reich, and John Adams. Using example stage works — “The Difficulty Crossing Field” (2002), “Prisoner State” (2019), “Anatomy Theater” (2016) author identifies main features Lang’s traces close relationship with operas predecessors. They are brought closer appeal to postmodern dramaturgy (fragmentation, discreteness, commentarity), social problems, desire for genre uniqueness each performance, repetitive methods organizing facture. In work, relies postminimalism technique, manifests itself at different levels dramatic, verbal (repetition syllables, words, phrases libretto) musical. A characteristic feature opuses synthesis academic opera traditions non-academic genres directions (Musical, jazz, rap), allows us draw analogies art crossovers. Musical some cases acts as work (non-academic vocals, dances, speech episodes). chamber it assumes small composition participants, placement vocalists orchestra members stage, laconic timing plays. All these factors allow make an assumption about formation next evolution postminimalism, can be characterized postpostminimalism.