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

Dark WaveJohn Luther Adams

John Luther Adams _ Dark Waves for orchestra and electronic sounds

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.

English Country TunesMichael Finnissy

M Finnissy’s English Country Tunes – Green Meadows – Part 1/2 Audio + Sheet Music

8 Concert Etudes, Op. 40 No. 5: ScherzoNikolay Kapustin

Kapustin: Eight Concert Etudes, Op. 40 – No. 5 "Raillery"

Porz GoretYann Tiersen

Yann Tiersen – Porz Goret (Official Video)

Yann Tiersen, the composer who became widely known for scoring the film Amélie—released in 2001 and a smash hit not only in his native France but also in Japan—has a talent that defies any single category, spanning everything from contemporary and minimal music to the avant-garde.

This time, I’d like to introduce Porz Goret, included on his 2016 solo piano album EUSA.

While grounded in a classical sound, it carries a nostalgic, pastoral melody that opens up vivid, cinematic imagery for the listener.

The music video, featuring Tiersen playing piano on Ouessant Island—the namesake of the album—has easily surpassed 10 million views on YouTube.

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Violin Concerto: “Maninyas,” Movement IIIRoss Edwards

Ross Edwards “Maninyas” Violin Concerto movt 3

It’s a violin concerto that’s modern yet has an approachable side.

In recent years Australia has been producing a steady stream of fine composers, and the elusive sense of phrasing they seem to share makes me wonder what influences have been blended to create it.

Webern – 5 Movements for String Quartett Op5Alban Berg Quratett

Webern – 5 Movements for String Quartett Op5

Alongside the string-orchestra version, this is one of Webern’s more frequently performed works.

Its stimulating and lucid style makes it an ideal introduction to the Second Viennese School and to Webern himself.

After this, his style evolved into a highly specialized minimalism, which would go on to have a profound influence on post–World War II contemporary music.

String Quartet No. 3Alexander Goehr

Alexander Goehr – String Quartet no. 3

Without Gayer’s presence, Britain would have been far behind in the field of classical (contemporary) music.

The fact that he unearthed music history and studied the interpretation of a single note from the classics to the present is an asset to us.

After all, no one else wants to bother with such a tedious task.

We cannot in good conscience sleep with our feet pointed toward England.