The National Gallery of Australia, which houses several of America’s finest minimalist artworks, was the perfect place to experience some of the most iconic (mostly American) musical works of the late 20th century.

The performers were the Dudok Quartet from Amsterdam, Pavel Ralev (guitar), Florian Peelman (viola) and Roland Peelman, CIMF’s Artistic Director, on piano.

The event started with Steve Reich’s Clapping Music, a composition of intricate layers of rhythms. Roland and Florian Peelman (father and son) performed it with great accuracy.

After shaking his hands to remove the remnants of all that clapping, Roland then stepped to the piano to perform Spin Bird, by Australian composer Kate Moore. This circular, unwinding music, like other minimalist piano pieces, unwound through keys until it slowed to a halt.

Pavel Ralev, American Modern, Canberra International Music Festival, 2024. Photo © Peter Hislop

The London-based Bulgarian classical guitarist Pavel Ralev then performed Reich’s Electric Counterpoint, its plucks and echoes sending the audience into a mesmeric state of bliss. In and out, back and forward like human breath, the music formed into a loop falling in on itself. Short snatches of melody floated through its repetitive...