Hello. I'm new to the forums and new to classical music in general. I've always enjoyed classical, but I find myself listening to it more and more often, especially on Sirius now that I travel about 50% for work. I'm trying to find more of the types of compositions and styles that I enjoy and hope to tap your knowledge.
I've heard a number of contemporary pieces that I thought were great. John Adams, Reich, and Dehhney among others. From what I understand, these composers would be considered "postminimalists." Are there other postminimalists that you could recommend? Also, what other contemporary genres and composers are there?
Thanks in advance. I'm sure to be asking more questions!
Contemporary Genres
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diegobueno
- Winds Specialist
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I think you'd like Michael Torke. I particularly enjoy his Adjustable Wrench and Strawberry Fields (a one-act opera set in that section of Central Park)
He sells his own recordings at his website:
http://www.michaeltorke.com/
He sells his own recordings at his website:
http://www.michaeltorke.com/
Black lives matter.
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Joe Barron
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some guy
- Modern Music Specialist
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Steve Reich was an early minimalist.
As to whether Adams is/was a minimalist, perhaps I'd better not contribute to that controversy!!
But enough about them. This thread is all about you. I agree that Torke is probably someone you'd like right away. You might also enjoy Graham Fitkin, too.
Keep an ear out for Bang on a Can folks. They're not all minimalists by any means, but there's a fair number who are.
Minimalism as a term is popularly only understood as referring to a couple of types of minimalism: phase and straight repetition. The term was coined, probably, by Tom Johnson, but the first minimalist was either LaMonte Young or Tony Conrad, depending on which side you take in THAT controversy. LaMonte is more known for drone and concept minimalism than anything else. Indeed, of all the different types of minimalism, drone is possibly the one most practiced by composers, even though listeners only ever seem to know about repetition and maybe about phase music.
Anyhoo, other minimalists you might also find intriguing, when you're ready to branch out, are Eliane Radigue (electronic drone) and Bronius Kutavičius (acoustic Lithuanian short repeated phrases), but those are both wildly different from Torke or Fitkin. Indeed, the people who are often lumped together whenever minimalism comes up--Glass, Reich, and Riley--couldn't be more different. They were born within a year or two of each other in the thirties; they're white males; that's about it!
As to whether Adams is/was a minimalist, perhaps I'd better not contribute to that controversy!!
But enough about them. This thread is all about you. I agree that Torke is probably someone you'd like right away. You might also enjoy Graham Fitkin, too.
Keep an ear out for Bang on a Can folks. They're not all minimalists by any means, but there's a fair number who are.
Minimalism as a term is popularly only understood as referring to a couple of types of minimalism: phase and straight repetition. The term was coined, probably, by Tom Johnson, but the first minimalist was either LaMonte Young or Tony Conrad, depending on which side you take in THAT controversy. LaMonte is more known for drone and concept minimalism than anything else. Indeed, of all the different types of minimalism, drone is possibly the one most practiced by composers, even though listeners only ever seem to know about repetition and maybe about phase music.
Anyhoo, other minimalists you might also find intriguing, when you're ready to branch out, are Eliane Radigue (electronic drone) and Bronius Kutavičius (acoustic Lithuanian short repeated phrases), but those are both wildly different from Torke or Fitkin. Indeed, the people who are often lumped together whenever minimalism comes up--Glass, Reich, and Riley--couldn't be more different. They were born within a year or two of each other in the thirties; they're white males; that's about it!
"The public has got to stay in touch with the music of its time . . . for otherwise people will gradually come to mistrust music claimed to be the best."
--Viennese critic (1843)
Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not understood.
--Henry Miller
--Viennese critic (1843)
Confusion is a word we have invented for an order which is not understood.
--Henry Miller
As far as other contemporary genres, there's some overlap with world music, for example: Christos Hatsiz, Golijov, Berio.
Check out what Yo-yo Ma is doing with the Silk Road Ensemble.
Giovanni Sollima:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldPf3yqq3-8
(Part 2 should come up in the youtube sidebar).
There are many, many more.
Check out what Yo-yo Ma is doing with the Silk Road Ensemble.
Giovanni Sollima:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldPf3yqq3-8
(Part 2 should come up in the youtube sidebar).
There are many, many more.
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Lance
- Site Administrator
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Hi Mild Ed:
It's great to find you here! Hope you enjoy your visits and I trust they will be many. WELCOME to CMG!
It's great to find you here! Hope you enjoy your visits and I trust they will be many. WELCOME to CMG!
Lance G. Hill
Editor-in-Chief
______________________________________________________
When she started to play, Mr. Steinway came down and personally
rubbed his name off the piano. [Speaking about pianist &*$#@+#]
Editor-in-Chief
______________________________________________________
When she started to play, Mr. Steinway came down and personally
rubbed his name off the piano. [Speaking about pianist &*$#@+#]
Thanks for the information and the welcome. I'm afraid I'm not really in a position to contribute much to classical music discussions. My knowledge is cursory at best.
I've always been more of a punk and independent rock fan. I'm beginning to conclude that rock has reached the end of its possible permutations, hence the unabating obsession with "retro" styles. That may be true for other genres as well, but there's so much out there to explore. I turned first to experimental electronica and then to classical (primarily via Symphony on Sirius, but our local station WCPE is actually much better).
As I listen to these stations, I sometimes find myself wanting a little more Stravinsky and a little less Vivaldi, which is to say a little more smashin' and a little less prancin' (no disrespect to Vivaldi, of course). When I caught some snippets of contemporary classical compositions, I realized that the electronica I liked was closely related. That's prompted further exploration.
I've always enjoyed the "greats," namely Bach and Mozart, but I never really got to know them, so I'm also working my way backwards. I'm absolutely crazy about Palestrina, and the Chanticleer recording I have is one of the best things to have entered my ears. So late Renaissance music is also on my list to learn more about along with sacred choral music in general. You can see I've got many questions and now I have brains to pick!
I've always been more of a punk and independent rock fan. I'm beginning to conclude that rock has reached the end of its possible permutations, hence the unabating obsession with "retro" styles. That may be true for other genres as well, but there's so much out there to explore. I turned first to experimental electronica and then to classical (primarily via Symphony on Sirius, but our local station WCPE is actually much better).
As I listen to these stations, I sometimes find myself wanting a little more Stravinsky and a little less Vivaldi, which is to say a little more smashin' and a little less prancin' (no disrespect to Vivaldi, of course). When I caught some snippets of contemporary classical compositions, I realized that the electronica I liked was closely related. That's prompted further exploration.
I've always enjoyed the "greats," namely Bach and Mozart, but I never really got to know them, so I'm also working my way backwards. I'm absolutely crazy about Palestrina, and the Chanticleer recording I have is one of the best things to have entered my ears. So late Renaissance music is also on my list to learn more about along with sacred choral music in general. You can see I've got many questions and now I have brains to pick!
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Lance
- Site Administrator
- Posts: 20726
- Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2005 1:27 am
- Location: Binghamton, New York
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Mild Ed:
It sounds like you are making great discoveries in music for your own, fine edification. That's what music all about. I am very happy to hear you are going backwards in terms of making your discoveries. Nothing with wrong, of course, with you interests in the more contemporary vein, or rock music, which, as you say, looks like it's coming to end, or if nothing else, has run its course. The greats of classical music of the yesteryears seem to keep finding new people to enjoy this timeless music, which goes on centuries after it was written. There must be something to it!
Anyway, you sound like a well informed guy and you write with special verve and interest.
It sounds like you are making great discoveries in music for your own, fine edification. That's what music all about. I am very happy to hear you are going backwards in terms of making your discoveries. Nothing with wrong, of course, with you interests in the more contemporary vein, or rock music, which, as you say, looks like it's coming to end, or if nothing else, has run its course. The greats of classical music of the yesteryears seem to keep finding new people to enjoy this timeless music, which goes on centuries after it was written. There must be something to it!
Anyway, you sound like a well informed guy and you write with special verve and interest.
Lance G. Hill
Editor-in-Chief
______________________________________________________
When she started to play, Mr. Steinway came down and personally
rubbed his name off the piano. [Speaking about pianist &*$#@+#]
Editor-in-Chief
______________________________________________________
When she started to play, Mr. Steinway came down and personally
rubbed his name off the piano. [Speaking about pianist &*$#@+#]
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SONNET CLV
- Posts: 627
- Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 11:28 am
- Location: Paradise, Montana
minimalists
Valentin Silvestrov comes to mind. You might try his early '80s Symphony No. 5.
A fellow name of Arvo Pärt has written some intriguing, reflective choral music. Nearly anything you pick up by him in that genre will give you an idea of his style (though avoid his earliest stuff, like the Cello Concerto and the First Symphony, if you're seeking minimalism). But I would recommend you listen to his orchestral string piece "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" at the very least.
By the way, do you know Glenn Branca's "symphonies"?
Someday, hopefully, you'll get around to great minimalism -- the second movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, for example. Enjoy.
--SONNET CLV--
A fellow name of Arvo Pärt has written some intriguing, reflective choral music. Nearly anything you pick up by him in that genre will give you an idea of his style (though avoid his earliest stuff, like the Cello Concerto and the First Symphony, if you're seeking minimalism). But I would recommend you listen to his orchestral string piece "Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten" at the very least.
By the way, do you know Glenn Branca's "symphonies"?
Someday, hopefully, you'll get around to great minimalism -- the second movement of Beethoven's Seventh Symphony, for example. Enjoy.
--SONNET CLV--
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Chalkperson
- Disposable Income Specialist
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