When did the minimalist movement in music emerge?

The minimalist movement in music emerged in the late 1960s, making this the correct choice. This period was characterized by a reaction against the complexity and emotional intensity of previous musical styles, such as Serialism and the avant-garde movements. Minimalist composers, like Steve Reich, Philip Glass, and Terry Riley, focused on simplicity and repetition, using limited musical materials and a steady pulse to create their works. This resulted in a more accessible and often meditative style of music that gained popularity and distinctiveness during that late 1960s period.

The early 1950s marked the development of other modernist trends, while the mid-1970s and early 1980s saw further evolution of minimalist music and its influence on other genres but did not represent the initial emergence of the style itself. Thus, the late 1960s is recognized as the defining moment when minimalist music first began to gain prominence.