"Essentially my contribution was to introduce repetition into Western music as the main ingredient without any melody over it, without anything just repeated patterns, musical patterns"

Terry Riley's quote speaks to his contribution to the advancement of Western music. He introduced repeating as the main active ingredient, without any melody or other components. This was an advanced idea, as it was a departure from the standard Western music of the time. By introducing repeating, Riley was able to produce a new kind of music that was based upon patterns and rhythms. This brand-new design of music was more accessible to a broader audience, as it was easier to discover and comprehend. It likewise allowed for more experimentation and creativity, as musicians could develop their own distinct patterns and rhythms. Riley's contribution to Western music was a significant step forward, and it has had a long lasting influence on the advancement of music in the West.