contemporary classical music

I have a question

what is contemporary classical music really about?

what should one appreciate from it?

Sometimes it sounds interesting but not great.

im i wrong?

Depends what music are used to listening to, and what type of contemporary music you are trying to listen to. For example: If you're into Mozart, then you will probably have a nervous breakdown if forced to listen to Berg, however, something like Steve Reich, also modern, but nowhere near as dissonant, you will probably be able to appreciate.

A few links:

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/more-contemporary-music-7982.html?highlight=contemporary

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/100-greatest-modern-contemporary-composers-7818.html?highlight=contemporary

http://www.youngcomposers.com/forum/what-greatest-twentieth-century-symphonies-6295.html?highlight=contemporary

Have a read through those and check out some of the names you encounter, some you will like, some you almost certainly will not ;) Have a listen!

Welcome to YC by the way.

The only way to answer your question is to listen to it (or watch if mutimedia). The problem is where to start. When approaching classical classical music you have a small choice: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven and Brahms. There are others but you have to look for them and they're far less frequently heard.

Very few contemporary recordings are available unless you record from the radio and the number of composers getting their music heard at one level or another is huge. Scores are even more difficult to get; usually expensive. So it takes quite a time to survey even a small part of contemporary music.

So listen to the radio or borrow recordings if you can. Look out for composers after Webern. You'll hear some horrible noises and occasionally some nice ones. You'll occasionally be obliged to read performance or programme notes to find out what's going on - that's if you're interested. BBC Radio 3 is a good source as their contemporary programmes are usually preceded by an introduction and sometimes an interview with the composer(s).

:)

When I was younger, I couldn't really even begin to listen to stuff like Mozart. It was just light years from where I was emotionally. It sounded so museanic and bourgeoise, something really old and elitistic. And really two dimensional emotionally. Either you'd be like OH, HOW MERRY or like BOOHOO. :D

Contemporary music, on the other hand, sounded ambivalent, complex, interesting. It sounded right for me, as a person living in the 20th/21st century. The emotional content was so much more interesting and deep.

Now, I've listened to contemporary music a lot, and I've noticed I'm hearing a lot of stuff in it, that many peolpe seemingly can't find. I've had fun arguments with people who claim that there is no harmony in X's or Y's piece, when I hear not only harmony, but hierarchical harmony. I find beauty, integrity, innovation in contemporary music. It doesn't sound just "dissonant" to me -- it sounds rich, crisp, beautiful.

(And for the record, I've started to understand (and appreciate) also what the music of classical and romantic eras was all about. :))

I have a question

1. what is contemporary classical music really about?

2. what should one appreciate from it?

3. Sometimes it sounds interesting but not great.

4. im i wrong?

1. the exact same thing as older classical music.

2. the exact same thing as older classical music.

3. a matter of understanding and perception - the exact same thing as older classical music.

4. maybe sometimes, yes. but it's nothing that can't change.

aren't there pieces of music that you did not appreciate as a child, which now later on, you can appreciate at their full value?

I remember as a child loving Bach and hating Mozart and Debussy. Now as an adult, I STILL love Bach, however, I've grown in my appreciation of much Mozart, and have already performed the entirety of Debussy's piano music (which I guess is a sign that I enjoy his music?)

Music is music is music...

Whether it be common practice tonal harmony, or experimental alleatoric abstract, it's still all music, the composer's intent remains the same - to create something for the ear and heart and mind.

Whether you appreciate a particular style of music is a completely different issue, which is only yours to deal with.

Amen, my contemporary-composing brother! :P

Aren't we all contemporary? I mean, we are alive aren't we? :P

I have a question

what is contemporary classical music really about?

what should one appreciate from it?

Sometimes it sounds interesting but not great.

im i wrong?

Contemporary 'Art' music of the 20th century often raises this question I find. It is after all, not familiar sounding a majority of the time. At an early stage, you are either pounded with popular cultures idea of 'what is music'. And the minute anyone is to show you classical music, they always show you Mozart, Bach, Beethoven. But where does anyone have the time to show you Boulez, Cage, Schoenberg, Xenakis, Berio or Varese ?? Ok, admittedly if you start going up the educational ladder they begin to expose you to it. But most often it is brief, and often does not really give you the chance to really get to grips with it. Often resulting in the common remark of ' This is not real music '. Look at Cage's 4'33". People will often argue against that being music. Because they don't really understand it's purpose. It is often easier to except the likes of composers like Rimsky-Korsakov, or Orff as music, and of course your typicals like Mozart etc. As it is very harmonic and lends more closely to how we are generally taught to understand what music is. But as soon as it gets challenged people will shun it.

If you cannot see what it is you should appreciate about the music, this is what I would suggest helps :

1. Change how you listen. You may gain a different perspective.

or

2. Try finding out about the piece. The composers intentions. Sometimes knowing what the piece is about helps you appreciate it better. (interestingly enough, a local institution near me, is involved in researching what has been called "the intention/reception project". mainly dealing with electro-acoustic music, but very much applicable to contemporary classical too I think). :D:D

Sorry for the essay.. lol

I'd really love to turn this question around and ask: What's so scary/different about contemporary/modern music anyway? Most of it makes perfect sense rhythmically and harmonically. And where's the gap anyway? Bart

IMHO the whole history of western music can be seen as a process of going higher and higher in the overtone series, and conquering shorter and shorter rhythmical values.

The music gets more and more complex but it leaves the rest of us behind... :sadtears:

I like the idea of keeping it simple. Getting back to basics.

When I was younger, I couldn't really even begin to listen to stuff like Mozart. It was just light years from where I was emotionally. It sounded so museanic and bourgeoise, something really old and elitistic. And really two dimensional emotionally. Either you'd be like OH, HOW MERRY or like BOOHOO. :D

BS.