Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist is an American contemporary classical music ensemble founded in 1977 at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. The group originally formed as a collective of musicians passionate about new music and has evolved into a uniquely instrumented chamber ensemble featuring percussion, woodwinds, and piano. Known for performing and commissioning works from minimalist and avant-garde composers like Terry Riley, Frederic Rzewski, and John Cage, Zeitgeist combines precise contemporary compositions with strong improvisational elements. Their long-standing commitment to new music has made them a vital part of the experimental music scene since the late 1970s.

It’s important to note that there is also a separate band called Zeitgeist formed in Austin, Texas in the 1980s, which had to change their name to The Reivers due to name conflicts with groups like the Minnesota ensemble. The Austin band was a folk-rock group led by John Croslin and Kim Longacre and is distinct from the contemporary classical Zeitgeist ensemble based in Minnesota.