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 (31–40)

Electric CounterpointSteve Reich

Steve Reich – Electric Counterpoint (full)

Electric CounterpointSteve Reich

Steve Reich, a master of contemporary music, has a catalog full of masterpieces.

People who aren’t familiar with minimal music often say it all sounds the same, but once you get hooked, it’s hard to get out.

That’s how addictive Reich’s music is, and there’s a kind of ecstasy you can only experience through his work.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

String Quartet No. 3Michael Nyman

Michael Nyman String Quartet No. 3 (1990)

String Quartet No. 3Michael Nyman

What a stylishly sorrowful melody it is.

Composed by Michael Nyman to commemorate the Romanian Revolution, the piece draws its inspiration from Romanian folk melodies, yet its approach is entirely different from Bartók’s.

If Bartók is a gypsy wagon racing through a whirlwind, Nyman evokes the headlong rush of London’s intricately interwoven Tube.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Dark WaveJohn Luther Adams

John Luther Adams _ Dark Waves for orchestra and electronic sounds

Dark WaveJohn Luther Adams

The person I introduced earlier is John Adams, and this one is also John Adams.

Since they’re both Americans and it can be confusing, I refer to the former as John Adams and the latter as John Luther Adams.

If they were family members with the same name, we might add something like Sr./Jr.

or I/II, but when they’re different people, it feels rude, as if we’re ranking them.

This John draws inspiration from the great outdoors and composes large-scale works.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Adagio for Strings for String EnsembleSamuel Barber

Samuel Barber – Adagio for Strings

Adagio for Strings for String EnsembleSamuel Barber

The title may sound very simple, but the music itself overflows with profound emotion.

From the very beginning (the einsatz), it not only captures your heart, but also allows you to converse—through the music—with someone who isn’t here.

Is that person yourself, or a stranger? I’ve heard the piece was inspired by a poem by the poet Virgil.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Stravinsky, Symphony of PsalmsRiccard Muti

Igor Stravinsky, Symphony of Psalms – Muti

Stravinsky, Symphony of PsalmsRiccard Muti

A masterpiece among Stravinsky’s religious works—welcomed with bewilderment for praising God in one moment and singing of amorous matters in the next.

The lyrics are taken from the Psalms of the Old Testament.

Though the melodies may sound unfamiliar, they originally stem from Russian choral music strongly influenced by Byzantine chant.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem