Contemporary Classical

Norrdeth

Hello all I'm relatively new to the world of contemporary classical and what I've heard I've liked.
I'm mostly into the style of modern minimalism not really a fan of avant gard now.
Mostly Heard Tavener, Arvo Pärt and Górecki so if anyone else has some more recommendations I'd be very pleased!

Also if you'd like to discuss modern pieces here that'd be great.

jimbo 22

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Sandwich

I suppose there are a few worthwhile efforts in the world of contemporary classical music, but really it has been in decline for the last hundred years and has more or less become barren ground. Life's too short to indulge it. Go back a couple of hundred years and listen to the good stuff.

BBC 3 tries hard, in an earnest politically correct sort of way to support it, but one of these days (if I havnt already changed the channel again), I expect to see hear an opology for the contemporary music it has inflicted on the world and assure listeners that it will henceforth mend its ways and play music people actually enjoy.

Sinfonia

Can't go wrong with Steve Reich
Start by getting:
Music For 18 Musicians
Six Pianos/Six Marimbas
Drumming
Proverb
Nagoya Marimbas
Electric Counterpoint
Music For Mallet Instruments

and enjoy!

Hermy

If you're not already aware of it, Nova on Lyric FM Sunday nights 8pm - 10pm hosted by Bernard Clarke might inform your taste in contemporary classical music.

Aard

Hermy wrote: »

If you're not already aware of it, Nova on Lyric FM Sunday nights 8pm - 10pm hosted by Bernard Clarke might inform your taste in contemporary classical music.

While I love that show (I have the t-shirt goddamnit!) I think that for the novice it may be overwhelming.


OP: I encourage you to listen to John Adams. For a 'big piece', try Harmonielehre. For something more fun, try Short Ride in a Fast Machine.


A lot of Penderecki's later stuff isn't very avant-garde at all; try his later symphonies, they're wonderful.


You mentioned Pärt; the RTE Living Music Festival features him this year, maybe you'd like to get to the NCH and check out some of his stuff live. I wish I could attend this year; I was there for John Adams last year and got to see/hear Harmonielehre - amazing!


Good luck with finding music you like. There's a lot you can find online - libraries, I've found, have a paltry amount of information on contemporary classical music, and unless you're willing to shell out big bucks, I'd give buying reference books a miss too.

The Mad Hatter

Hm...based on your tastes, I'd say Steve Reich (instead of getting all that stuff SumGuy mentioned, you could just pick up Phases, which is a box set of most of his best stuff priced at E30 or, if that's too much, then Proverb and Music for Eighteen Musicians should be enough to start with), Vladimir Godar, who has a very good CD called Mater which you can get in Tower, and Philip Glass, who people either love or hate.

Norrdeth

Cheers mad hatter, I'll give the Reich stuff a looksee.
I've heard Cello counterpoint before and what a great peice.
Mabie i'll try to get a lend of his cds off people from college if i can haha.
I listened to that Nova show a while ago and it is a bit strange now, i'll have to listen again this Sunday mabie try to get my head around it.
Cheers for all the tips, i'm going to have fun trying to get through them all.

Hermy

Aard wrote: »

While I love that show (I have the t-shirt goddamnit!) I think that for the novice it may be overwhelming.

I suppose you're right but I have always relied upon the radio for informing my taste in music. I love immersing myself in the seemingly endless diversity of a show like Nova. There will be plenty of pieces that do nothing for me and then there will be something absolutely stunning by an artist I've never heard of before. Then come shopping time I have an idea what to avoid and what is a must-have. If only there weren't so many must-haves.:rolleyes:

Intothesea

Hi. How about some Erich Korngold?

cornbb

Start off with Steve Reich, Arvo Part, John Adams and Philip Glass. Then there's tons of more unusual/experimental stuff if you feel so inclined.