Michael Nyman

About Michael Nyman

Composer and pianist Michael Nyman is not only lauded for his own modular, repetition-based approach to music, he introduced the term "minimal music" -- a precursor to "minimalism" -- through his work as a critic in the 1960s. More broadly known for his film scores, he began a partnership with director Peter Greenaway in the late '70s that went on to include such arthouse releases as 1989's The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover and 1991's Prospero's Books. It was his BAFTA-nominated score for Jane Campion's 1993 film The Piano that became his best-known work. In 2008, he was awarded the CBE. While still premiering compositions and scoring for the screen, his long-running ensemble the Michael Nyman Band launched a 40th anniversary tour in 2018. ~ Marcy Donelson