Music of a wonderful world

Masterpieces of contemporary (art) music. Recommended popular pieces.

music writerKOH-1
Started working as a music writer as a side job while employed at a record shop, and for over 18 years I’ve contributed to music magazines, disc guide books, mooks, and web media. As a writer my main field is Western music, but as a listener for over 35 years, I always try to keep my curiosity alive with the motto “I like what I like.” I have experience playing in bands, where I was a bassist who handled songwriting and composition. Instruments I’ve played include bass, guitar, and piano. I began studying English in my mid-40s and continue to do so today.

When people hear the term “contemporary music,” I suspect the vast majority don’t even know such a genre exists.

Even if they know a little about it, many probably feel it has a high barrier to entry and seems difficult to grasp.

The influence of contemporary music is deeply rooted across many fields—not only in classical music, but also in minimal music, avant-pop, free jazz, and noise avant-garde.

With celebrated works of contemporary music as the axis, I’ve selected tracks spanning a wide range of genres.

Masterpieces of contemporary (art) music: Recommended popular pieces (71–80)

Viriditas from the series “Nine Rivers”James Dillon

In this series, the instruments and ensemble vary from piece to piece.

Through James Dillon’s fieldwork, he absorbs materials from many musical domains and sprinkles them abundantly throughout his works.

He is also known for creating pieces that are impossible to reproduce and is unafraid of extreme complexity.

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Arnold Schoenberg – Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9Omega Ensemble

Chamber Symphony N3, III mv. by Airat Ichmouratov

Arnold Schoenberg - Chamber Symphony No. 1, Op. 9Omega Ensemble

It is known as the first work in which Schoenberg grew confident in his own distinctive style.

Although it is a short piece of about 20 minutes, it is an excellent example of clear narrative structure and marks the beginnings of atonal music, while remaining relatively accessible even to beginners—making it an ideal entry point into contemporary music.

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Webern: PassacagliaJukka-Pekka Saraste

Anton Webern – Passacaglia | Jukka-Pekka Saraste | WDR Sinfonieorchester

Webern: PassacagliaJukka-Pekka Saraste

After producing a considerable number of pieces without opus numbers, the composer, finally declaring an Opus 1, unveiled a truly first major work: a groundbreaking attempt that, while employing musical elements of the late Romantic era and the passacaglia technique from the Renaissance–Baroque period, sought to open a gateway to atonal music.

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Stravinsky: The FirebirdValery Gergiev

Stravinsky The Firebird Gergiev · Vienna Philarmonic · Salzburg Festival 2000

Stravinsky: The FirebirdValery Gergiev

Although it bears strong influences from Tchaikovsky and Rimsky-Korsakov, this work is widely appreciated—even by those who dislike Stravinsky—for its approachable character and masterful use of large-scale orchestral techniques.

Several versions exist, but the rich sonority of the original edition scored for quadruple winds boasts exceptional appeal.

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In conclusion

After listening to the pieces featured in this article, I’m sure very few of you came away thinking, “So this is contemporary music.” Precisely because the deeper you dig, the more specialized knowledge it seems to demand, I think it’s fine to start by simply enjoying the pieces, getting to know the composers, and then gradually digging deeper.

Forget the complicated stuff for now—first, experience it with your ears and your heart!