Musicologists & Classical Music Lovers: Contemporary Composers?

[Wahoo Redux]

So, I am well versed in Phillip Glass, a little Steve Reich, some John Adams, or course John Williams, Richard Danielpour here and there, I know about Jay Greenberg, and the marvelous emerging Dobrinka Tabakova.  Somewhere I have "Everything Else is Noise" laying around the house.

Who else should I know?  I am particularly interested in learning more about the "difficult" modernist/postmodernist atonal or non-melodic composers. 

W00T!!!

[mamselle]

Uhh...every now and again I get really modern and listen to some Bach...

I mostly live in the 13th c. otherwise....

Sorry!

M.

[Wahoo Redux]

Uhh...every now and again I get really modern and listen to some Bach...

I mostly live in the 13th c. otherwise....

Sorry!

M.

Oooooohhh!!!  Recommendations for Medieval music?

[downer]

What about George Crumb, who died this Feb, and didn't even get a mention in the RIP page.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Crumb

[mamselle]

The group Istampitta used to be good.

New York Early Music Ensemble did things like all of the dances from Arbeau's Orchesography.

The Oxford chorus does lovely stuff; this loop is nice for getting work done (not medieval, a bit later, but...)

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6n9EyT1R3l0

More in a week when this paper is done...

M. 

[Puget]

I've been enjoying Ludovico Einaudi, especially Seven Days Walking.  I wouldn't describe it as "difficult" though. It shares some of the repetitive, meditative qualities of Glass and Reich, but more melodic and calmer. Good for working, or reading, or just staring out the window or into the fire.

[Juvenal]

I've been enjoying Ludovico Einaudi, especially Seven Days Walking.  I wouldn't describe it as "difficult" though. It shares some of the repetitive, meditative qualities of Glass and Reich, but more melodic and calmer. Good for working, or reading, or just staring out the window or into the fire.

I can't say I dislike Einaudi, but he does not seem to have much depth.  As you say, best as something playing in the background.

His music was used to help peddle a fantastically expensive house in Canada a few years ago, the house built by an academic from the proceeds of a text he wrote--he did not get to enjoy the house for long.  It was partly designed to be a venue for musical events.  I believe the house was on the market for $25 million (Canadian). Forget what it sold for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_aQ6j3spRg&t=53s

[Anselm]

Gorecki?

[lightning]

Gorecki?

Yeah, start with the modern Polish composers.

start with Symphony of Sorrowful Songs by Gorecki. Then move on to Krystof Penderecki's Threnody.

So, I am well versed in Phillip Glass, a little Steve Reich, some John Adams, or course John Williams, Richard Danielpour here and there, I know about Jay Greenberg, and the marvelous emerging Dobrinka Tabakova.  Somewhere I have "Everything Else is Noise" laying around the house.

Who else should I know?  I am particularly interested in learning more about the "difficult" modernist/postmodernist atonal or non-melodic composers. 

W00T!!!

If you are sincerely interested in the "difficult modernist/postmodernist atonal or non-melodic composers" then you probably want to know about the representative music that the composers like Glass/Reich/Adams were reacting against. This would be music by folks like Anton Webern and Milton Babbitt (start with Philomel).

I suggest grabbing an old copy of the audio CDs of Norton's Anthology of Western Music, and picking out the last couple of CDs. You can probably get these in your university's library.

[Wahoo Redux]

Great stuff, folks!!!  Thanks.

Yeah, Gorecki's famous symphony based on the child's Holocaust poem makes me cry.

Keep those cards and letters coming!

[Juvenal]

Many hands make a work light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUeysGoPFTk

[evil_physics_witchcraft]

Many hands make a work light.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aUeysGoPFTk

Neat!

[mamselle]

Here a couple of Bach recorder/flute pieces from a suite for four:

III Sarabande:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HVHtbOCj1SM

IV Bouree Anglaise:

   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfxMJp2UMB8

M.

[quasihumanist]

Charles Wuorinen

[Juvenal]

There's the problem: Listenable, if not memorable; memorable, if not listenable.  Categories?  I can like Glass, Pärt (and do), but the selection of contemporaries can be--to these ears (and so what?)--loud, bellowing, grinding, grating.  And to what end?

Dissonance?  Well, that is as it is. I'm stuck in the relative past.  But I go with this sentiment--and so, that's as it is:

https://www.poemhunter.com/poem/it-must-give-pleasure/

Failing that--forget it.

Where's Dorothy Parton when you need her?