Modern music

Is there anyone here who likes modern music?

I feel alone...;)

Personally, I could do without any composer before the 1900s except for Bach (And of course the fact that the guys before the 1900s invented everything, but you know what I mean).

Exactly how I feel!! I especially despise romantic music. But really, I don't enjoy anything before the 20th century. I've had plenty of experience with all kinds of music, however. Mahler is just awful to me, and yet I recently played harmonium in arranged versions of his Kindertotenlieder and his Symphony #4... 2 hours of my life I'll never get back...not to mention the rehearsal time...!! ;)

My least favorite composers are, in no particular order: Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Mahler, and Dvorak. In my opinion, they are all long-winded and virtually uninteresting.

And for my favorite composers: John Adams, Stravinsky, Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Copland, Henri Dutilleux, Walter Piston, etc., etc., etc.

Nick, you're a rare breed! I have to be honest and say I truly love romanticism in music and the emotional experiences it brings to me when I listen. However, I am by no means stuck in the past. Where listening to the Romantics lights a fire in my heart, listening to 20th and 21st century composers lights a fire in my brain and in my pen.

Stravinsky is still, to me, unmatchable. I recently listend to Les Noces, for four pianos, a bunch of percussion, vocal soloists, and choir. It's amazing. Go listen to it. I'm with Nick on most of his list, and to it I would add Martinu, Corigliano, Liebermann, Poulenc, (David) Diamond, Barber, Steve Reich...

But I would NOT add John Cage, Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, Stockhausen, Boulez, and so on. I understand and respect full well the place/influence of these composers in the history of music, but listening to their music (which should be the start and finish of all musical appreciation) does absolutely nothing for me. So no thank you.

I too like modern music. Perhaps, other members now that I am a composer of modern and atonal music. My favorite composers are: Stravinsky, Bartok, Martinu, and Ligeti. I hate romantic music so much. I dont feel emotional or I dont get emotionally moved when listening. Perhaps strange but instead I get emotionally moved with L'Oiseau de Feu and Le Sacre du Printemps.

I like alot of Piazolla, (spelling?) And some Stravinsky. Rachmaninov is considered by alot to be modern, I like him alot too. Bartok is one of my favorites for modern as well ;)

I find it difficult to listen to pre-Contemporary music for long periods of time, simply because of the conventions they use. It must be a truly great work to hold my attention for a long time.

Among these older "great works": Mahler 8, Wagner operas

But my favorite composers are: Bartok, Goldenthal, Corigliano, Copland, Higdon, Lewis Nielson (as opposed to Carl), Thomas Ades, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, P

I'm not particularly fond of atonal music, but there is a lot of more modern music that strikes my fancy. Stravinsky, and Shostakovich come to mind immediately and most strongly.

I have to agree with Nick's shunning of Mahler. Although I will attest that I usually enjoy his bombastic moments. However, he's much too slow, and often painfully cheesy. I disagree with a lot of his other comments, but I do feel very confused with the frequent deification of Mahler.

I'm not particularly fond of atonal music, but there is a lot of more modern music that strikes my fancy. Stravinsky, and Shostakovich come to mind immediately and most strongly.

I have to agree with Nick's shunning of Mahler. Although I will attest that I usually enjoy his bombastic moments. However, he's much too slow, and often painfully cheesy. I disagree with a lot of his other comments, but I do feel very confused with the frequent deification of Mahler.

wel, I don't generally care for Mahler either, however, the "deification" as you put it is more than likely because of his tremendous genius at sustaining the enormous structures that are his symphonies. Very few other composers have ever attained that ability.

Actually, you should never "hate" any music. If you start off with the attitude that you "hate" something, then you will miss some very important lessons from those works. A piece may not appeal to you, which is fine, after all, we all have our own likes and dislikes. I generally do not find Richard Strauss appealing... but there are tremendous lessons to be learnt from his works. Likewise, Mozart generally does nothing for me, but there are a few works of his I can listen to over and over simply because of the pure genius inherant in the piece.

If the only reason you dislike pre-20th century music is because of the predictabliity of the harmonic constructs, then I say "give it time". You will probably eventually come back to appreciate them for what they are. Likewise, you risk at some point turning away from the "unpredictable" 20th/21st century music. I've known many people who have done this radical about-face, both composers and performers. There is nothing so fickle as musical taste.

You ain' alone. I prefer (and compose) modern music - not necessarily atonal though I tend to avoid serialism as being too constricting.

I believe the classicists and early romanticists are still played because they make money for the record magnates. As soon as Mozart stops bolstering the share prices, his "fame" will recede. The most popular works are those plugged by the classical radio stations who get their listeners to vote....etc...

I do have great admiration for Beethoven, however. His instrumentation shows extraordinary foresight, seen in context.

M

I like modern music. After listening to a lot of Brahms lately, I've discovered I like the atonal Schoenberg, Berg, Webern, etc. I didn't understand it at first, but have realized atonal music is extremely romantic, and sounds alot like a modern Brahms.

The only music I hate is my own.

I'm one of the people Qccowboy refers to.

It's funny... I used to prefer 20th century music more than anything else, but in the last five years or so I've completely turned my back on most of it, and looked back toward Brahms, Dvorak, and the Russian Romantics in particular. What bothers me about more recent music now is that, while it's good for some things, there's only so much that dissonance can say, and dissonances all sound pretty similar in the end. Maybe this shift in my tastes represents a longing for peace. Alternately, perhaps it's a sign that I'm tired of intellectual music. I have to think so much in my non-musical life that listening to too much modern music causes mental overload. So, instead, I want to hear something that appeals directly to my heart, without being as ridiculously trite as most popular music. In no other period did art music express so much overt emotion as in the Romantic era.

Remember all the composers you are mentioning were revolutionary for their time. They were all trying to create something new. None of the composers that we know their name now, from the history books were writing music in backwards style. They were always pushing forward the limits. And that is why they were so great and are remembered and listened today.

I know, atonal music can be disturbing and can be demanding at times. atonal music might not be the best option, but neither is romanticism to write in this era, in my opinion.

Speaking about my music, I always try to be as imaginative as possible and try to create something new. Yes, I use many elements that were created in the past, the from of classical era, the harmonies of romantic and impressionism, and much more. But what I do is to create something atop of that and not to continue in the same tradition. Although I couldn't compose something remarkably innovative and original yet.

Speaking about my music, I always try to be as imaginative as possible and try to create something new. Yes, I use many elements that were created in the past, the from of classical era, the harmonies of romantic and impressionism, and much more. But what I do is to create something atop of that and not to continue in the same tradition. Although I couldn't compose something remarkably innovative and original yet.

THAT is the kind of attitude and approach I like in a composer, using proven techniques and building upon it with their own creativity ;)

As soon as I start to believe my tastes and my opinions are formed forever, I become fossil. Tastes evolve.

Occowboy's seems to be the sensible voice! Perhaps more experienced than most, are you ?

I agree that tastes change. However, I doubt I'm ever going to leave the relm of some type of liking for modern music.

I particularly like Copland and Steve Reich.

I agree that tastes change. However, I doubt I'm ever going to leave the realm of some type of liking for modern music.

I particularly like Copland and Steve Reich.

except neither Copland nor Reich can really be considered "modern"!

"Remember all the composers you are mentioning were revolutionary for their time. They were all trying to create something new. None of the composers that we know their name now, from the history books were writing music in backwards style."

Except for the odd exception, e.g. Boccherini.

But all the great composers we remember (generalization) focused a lot upon the music of the past. I don't need to cite examples for this - it should be clear enough, although Brahms stands out as a particular example. You are right though, these greats always were pushing forwards with music, but not usually without a great deal of influence from the past.

Ok, the revolutionaries who start the new periods perhaps throw away a lot of what was useful before, and try to forge music anew, but there are always those who don't forget, and these tend to be the greater composers. E.g. Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert (at the end of his life, he turned back to Classicism from Early Romanticism), Mendelssohn, Brahms, Schoenberg, Prokofiev, Stravinsky etc. etc. etc.

I'm one who sort of sits in the middie. I adore much of the wonderful, colourful music we were blessed with in the 20th century, but at the same time I am quite capable of being deeply moved by just a few bars of, say, Beethoven. In fact, thinking about it, it would probably be easier to outline what I dislike hearing in music.

I would certainly not rule out my leanings changing over time, though.

except neither Copland nor Reich can really be considered "modern"!

Just because they (well, one of them) were/was trained in a certain level of musical conservatism by Nadia Boulanger doesn't make them not modern. And Steve Reich can CERTAINLY be considered modern, especially when considering his experimental interview-pieces.

I have no problem with being creative or being experimental. The problem I have is when a piece does not have a definable melody and a direction. I also hate chaos. What I mean is a composition that sounds like randomness. That might me something that sounds like a person falling on a piano or someone blowing softly and then gradually harder until maybe the note changes. So, I hate people with a passion like Sorabji, Cage, Messiaen and Ives. I also dont find too much interest in people like Schoenberg, Hindemith, and Shostakovich. I do, however, love people like Copland, Barber, Prokofiev and Bernstein. I also like Britten and Kodaly ok too. I don't like that many things by the last two composers; however, I love the Cello and Piano Adagio by Kodaly, and the something about young person orchestra by Britten. Some of my favorite modern pieces (and some of my favorite all time pieces) are Adagio for Strings by Barber, the Essays for Orchestra by Barber, El Salon Mexico by Copland, Rodeo by Copland, the Fanfare for the Common Man by Copland, the Portrait of Abe Lincoln by Copland, Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev, Liuetenant Kije by Prokofiev, Chichester Psalms by Bernstein, West Side Story by Bernstein, Candide by Bernstein, and the Missa Brevis by Bernstein. I also like the Overture to Wozeck by Berg, but that is the only thing that I like by Berg and not even the rest of the opera.

I have no problem with being creative or being experimental. The problem I have is when a piece does not have a definable melody and a direction. I also hate chaos. What I mean is a composition that sounds like randomness. That might me something that sounds like a person falling on a piano or someone blowing softly and then gradually harder until maybe the note changes. So, I hate people with a passion like Sorabji, Cage, Messiaen and Ives. I also dont find too much interest in people like Schoenberg, Hindemith, and Shostakovich. I do, however, love people like Copland, Barber, Prokofiev and Bernstein. I also like Britten and Kodaly ok too. I don't like that many things by the last two composers; however, I love the Cello and Piano Adagio by Kodaly, and the something about young person orchestra by Britten. Some of my favorite modern pieces (and some of my favorite all time pieces) are Adagio for Strings by Barber, the Essays for Orchestra by Barber, El Salon Mexico by Copland, Rodeo by Copland, the Fanfare for the Common Man by Copland, the Portrait of Abe Lincoln by Copland, Romeo and Juliet by Prokofiev, Liuetenant Kije by Prokofiev, Chichester Psalms by Bernstein, West Side Story by Bernstein, Candide by Bernstein, and the Missa Brevis by Bernstein. I also like the Overture to Wozeck by Berg, but that is the only thing that I like by Berg and not even the rest of the opera.

What's wrong with Ives? He only ever wrote melodic, non-chaotic music.

Come to think of it, what's wrong with Hindemith? He's about as tonal as can be in the 20th century!

And Schostakowitch? Pretty tonal and lyrical stuff there too! The cello concerti! The piano concerti! The 5th symphony (not my favourite of his, but certainly a REALLY tonal and lyrical piece)!

One needs to devote too much time and attention to a piece of "Modern" music in order to familiarize oneself with it. It may be worth it in the end in some cases, but I would rather utilize the time hearing those hundreds of pieces written in the "pre-modern" era of Bach to Mahler, since time is in short supply!!

What about Janacek and Bartok ?

I like a lot of modern music. Copland is probably one of the greatest composers to ever live!

music is subject to taste...

and one man's meat is another man's poison.