Small Is Beautiful.

At least it is in music. 

Steve Reich, who recently turned 70, is one of the most influential composers that you've probably never heard of.  A new Yorker (go team!), he pioneered the minimalist movement in classical music.  Minimalism is many things, but what stands out about Reich's music is the way he'll take one small musical idea and unfold it, repeat it and explore it.  Ideas from earlier works are introduced again in new works.  The arrangments tend to be simple, with only a handful of instruments and are highly rhythmic.  This is his personal website.

His innovative style has not only effected other modern classical composers like John Adams and Phillip Glass, but also shows up in the work of popular musicians like Brian Eno.

NPR has this free one hour download of Three Movements for Orchestra, and Tehillim, his classic setting of Hebrew psalms, performed by the L.A. Philharmonic at the Disney Concert Hall.

Both the works and the performances are challenging, innovative and invigorating.  So listen, enjoy and be opened to new possibilities musically.