Favourite/most important piece composed during your lifetime?

[bhodges]

This is a very low-brow answer, and says a lot about my ignorance of late 20th century serious music...  but if we're talking about the work that has received the most playtime and has provided the most pleasure in my lifetime, then it's not even close for me...

Why not? It's a great score, from one of the 20th century's masters at film music.

-Bruce

[Florestan]

OTOMH, Karl Henning - Out in the Sun and Nuhro.

[DaveF]

Title says it all.

Yes, much more subtle (and more fun) than "How old are you?"

High up on both lists for me, from two composers not yet mentioned:

Stravinsky: Requiem Canticles
Birtwistle: Earth Dances

[Mandryka]

How is importance determined?

Yes, I hazarded a definition. The piece is important if it fundamentally altered how some people understood what music can be -- people who are exploring what it means to make new music which is broadly "classical"

I thought of mentioning Glass's Einstein on the Beach, but I think it's importance is really to do with the libretto and Robert Wilson's staging, the sound content is relatively conservative. But I should have included Reich's It's Gonna Rain I think. And I also should have mentioned something by Alvin Lucier possibly  -- Sferics maybe. Fluxus composers too.

[LKB]

Shostakovich's Symphony No. 13, which usually carries the unauthorized subtitle of Babi Yar.

[Lisztianwagner]

I rarely listen to so contemporary music, but it could be:

Penderecki: Symphony No. 3 (1995)

[Pohjolas Daughter]

I rarely listen to so contemporary music, but it could be:

Penderecki: Symphony No. 3 (1995)

Thank you for reminding me that I want to check out more of his music. 

My choice:  Hildegard von Bingen's O virga ac diadema

PD

[AaronSF]

One of my favorites is George Crumb's "Ancient Voices of Children," which really impressed me when I first heard it in 1970.  Also Corigliano's Symphony No. 1, "Of Rage and Remembrance," written in 1988 in response to the AIDS pandemic.  A searing work.

[Florestan]

My choice:  Hildegard von Bingen's O virga ac diadema

You were already born when she composed it? 

[Wanderer]

My choice:  Hildegard von Bingen's O virga ac diadema

Who are you, Galadriel? 😎

[Wanderer]

This is a very low-brow answer, and says a lot about my ignorance of late 20th century serious music...  but if we're talking about the work that has received the most playtime and has provided the most pleasure in my lifetime, then it's not even close for me...

This is not at all low-brow. An excellent choice!

And speaking of classical music of extraordinary quality written for films during our lifetimes, my choice would be either this (John Williams' music for Star Wars: 1977-1983) or Basil Poledouris' music for Conan the Barbarian (1982).

As for contemporary opera, my choice would be Birtwistle's The Minotaur (2008).

[Wanderer]

...and, because live concerts...

Speaking of memorable live concerts of contemporary music we have attended, the one that most lingers in my memory is the Austrian premiere of Tüür's Sow the wind... (2015), with the composer present. Most contemporary pieces I've heard in concert (quite a lot, apparently, the way they sneak them in programs nowadays!☠️) have proven to be more or less (to be kind) unworthwhile. Not this one.
That concert also included a very fine rendition of Mozart's "Jeunehomme" concerto with the late Lars Vogt and a very loud (and very fine in the quieter moments) Also sprach Zarathustra.
Wiener Symphoniker under Paavo Järvi, 22 April 2016.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

You were already born when she composed it? 

Who are you, Galadriel? 😎

I'm hoping that someone here (including you all) knew that I was joking?  Although I do love the idea of being Galadriel!     I'll run with that! 

PD

[Wanderer]

I'm hoping that someone here (including you all) knew that I was joking?  Although I do love the idea of being Galadriel!     I'll run with that! 

PD

I thought you found a loophole (e.g. because of a recent new edition of the piece). Or, you know, you actually being one of the Eldar. An excellent choice of music, regardless! 😎

[KevinP]

How is importance determined?

Up to you, obviously. If you feel your definition needs an explanation, provide one.

[aukhawk]

Yes, I hazarded a definition. The piece is important if it fundamentally altered how some people understood what music can be -- people who are exploring what it means to make new music which is broadly "classical"

I thought of mentioning Glass's Einstein on the Beach, but I think it's importance is really to do with the libretto and Robert Wilson's staging, the sound content is relatively conservative. But I should have included Reich's It's Gonna Rain I think. And I also should have mentioned something by Alvin Lucier possibly  -- Sferics maybe. Fluxus composers too.

In terms of seminal influence over subsequent musics including Reich and Glass and huge swathes since - Terry Riley's In C

[vandermolen]

Vaughan Williams: Symphony No.9

Shostakovich: Symphony No.11 'The Year 1905'

(+1 for Basil Poledouris 'Conan the Barbarian')

[Todd]

Up to you, obviously.

It was not obvious, hence the question.  Since there is no meaningful definition, the works or lists will simply reflect personal tastes, as per usual.

[Mandryka]

It was not obvious, hence the question.  Since there is no meaningful definition, the works or lists will simply reflect personal tastes, as per usual.

Not quite, the ones in my list do not reflect my taste in terms of "my favourite" or "music which I enjoy". It maybe reflects a view about aesthetics which I believe is convincing,  but that's quite a different matter.

[pjme]

One of my favorites is George Crumb's "Ancient Voices of Children," which really impressed me when I first heard it in 1970.

Yes, definitely another contender from the early 1970-ies.
A bit later I heard Crumb's "Star child" ( on the radio - possibly a radio broadcast of the first performance with Boulez???).
The trombone-soprano duet still is a knock out.
The cd recording on Bridge is afaik the only one.