Best Compositions In the Past 20 years? (previously limited to 21st century)

[some guy]

I don't like to let travel make me into a cultural relativist and I look for truths.

You may find that one of those truths is that culture is a relative thing.

[knight66]

Can I reccommend some music by the Finnish composer Aulis Sallinen to folk here?

Ondine issue a disc that includes his 'Songs of Life and Death' 1995. They are very much in the tradition of Moussorgsky, without sounding like his music. They are moving and stirring. On this disc they are performed by the Helsinki Philharmonic and Jorma Hynninen.

That disc has the 25 year old Iron Age Suite.....written to accompany a TV series, it stands up well without the visuals, assessable and spiky music.

Mike

[snyprrr]

Lutoslawski Sym No.4

[karlhenning]

You may find that one of those truths is that culture is a relative thing.

Shhh! Sean is asleep. Why wake him?

[greg]

Shhh! Sean is asleep. Why wake him?

Nah, I think it only comes out of hibernation every 4 or so months at a time, so we should be good.

[Sean]

Actually I'm busy sorting a doctorate at Edinburgh university in minimalism etc for next month , when I'll have even less motivation for messing around here. GMG is okay though. I'd like to see a bit more criticism, rather than you Americans being polite to each other all the time about your different tastes, but you're still better company than most.

[DavidW]

Actually I'm busy sorting a doctorate at Edinburgh university in minimalism etc for next month , when I'll have even less motivation for messing around here. GMG is okay though. I'd like to see a bit more criticism, rather than you Americans being polite to each other all the time about your different tastes, but you're still better company than most.

I don't understand british slang, what do you mean by sorting?

[Sean]

Making preparations, getting things sorted out. Best wishes.

[DavidW]

Oh I see, good luck!

[Franco]

The most interesting new compositions I've heard are by Osvaldo Golijov:

Ainadamar

Oceana

Yiddishbbuk

Ayre

[knight66]

I second this choice; I enjoy all of these items, except the Oceana, the pieces accompanying it on the disc are I think a great deal more interesting.

Mike

[monafam]

Thanks again for all of the suggestions!  I am planning on going through this thread and seeing what looks good to add to my collection.

A toast to the greatest thread I've ever started!      I usually have this knack of killing threads with my mere presence -- coming in after the final word has been spoken; having my thread be addressed substantially by the first responder, leaving additional comment unnecessary; etc. etc.   It's just nice to see all of the comments.   This might show how sad I really am, huh?   

(This is not a request to keep this alive, although additional suggestions are always welcome.)

[snyprrr]

bump

[Mirror Image]

Still, all these pieces seem to reflect the death of the 20th century, rather than something new?

I nominate Feldman's For Samuel Beckett. Have we really gotten passed "the ultimate chamber composition"? I still can sense the ennui 20 years later.

Certainly, no "Rites of Spring" has reared it's head. And it's a shame that Carter... well, what am I expecting? Philip Glass is probably still the most recognized composer out there.

"oh, you like classical music? Yea, I really dig Philip Glass."

Get used to it. It's not going to get any better from here on out. Minimalism is... nevermind... ...oy!

Actually, in all fairness, I don't mind Minimalism as long as there's an emotional content that grabs me. Repetitive structures don't bother me as long as there's enough variety in the music itself like for example Reich's Music for 18 Musicians, Part's Tabula Rasa, or Adams' Harmonielehre. All of these compositions were highly appealing to me and still are works that I revisit.

[Cato]

Actually, in all fairness, I don't mind Minimalism as long as there's an emotional content that grabs me.

The score for the movie The Illusionist by Philip Glass I found most fitting for the drama, even though I am no fan of Minimalism.

[bhodges]

After seeing a mind-blowing performance last week of  in vain (2000) by Georg Friedrich Haas (b. 1953), I'll nominate it. It's about 75 minutes long, and at two points the lights slowly dim, plunging both the performers and the audience into complete darkness.

Alex Ross has a fine write-up of a performance in Troy, NY, last fall here.

--Bruce

[Sef]

Although first performed in 1990, György Ligeti's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra was later revised and the new version was premiered on 8 October 1992 in Cologne. Does that count? Masterpiece, particularly the second movement.

[PaulSC]

After seeing a mind-blowing performance last week of  in vain (2000) by Georg Friedrich Haas (b. 1953), I'll nominate it. It's about 75 minutes long, and at two points the lights slowly dim, plunging both the performers and the audience into complete darkness.

Alex Ross has a fine write-up of a performance in Troy, NY, last fall here.

--Bruce

Good call!

http://www.youtube.com/v/9PtJH63D0YY

[bhodges]

Although first performed in 1990, György Ligeti's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra was later revised and the new version was premiered on 8 October 1992 in Cologne. Does that count? Masterpiece, particularly the second movement.

I vote "masterpiece," for sure. 

And PaulSC, thanks a bunch for locating that YouTube video--I didn't realize it was posted, and have wanted to hear the thing again. It was a knockout, seeing it live.

--Bruce

[PaulSC]

My own favorite work from this period may be Harrison Birtwistle's song-cycle Pulse Shadows (1996).

@Bruce -- my pleasure, I was surprised to find the Haas complete online.