[Game] Guess the 21st C. Composer

[Greta]

Another game in the vein of James's clip games.

Links are below to < 1min. clips, listen a bit, and take a guess (however wild!) at who the 21st century composer is for each, replying in this thread with answers or guesses.

All the works were composed at least in 2000 or after. (Ended up being a bit difficult, I should've included the 90s as well...)

A couple of these are probably terribly easy, others, maybe not, just take a stab. 

Again, the suggestion to not read any other guesses until you have made your own!

Clip 1 (45 sec.), Clip 2 (49 sec.), Clip 3 (57 sec.),
Clip 4 (53 sec.), Clip 5 (51 sec.) & Clip 6 (57 sec.)

Clips: http://www.speedyshare.com/516832629.html

Fire away..

[Mark G. Simon]

There seems to be a technical glitch. I wasn't able to listen to them.

[Symphonien]

3 is Esa-Pekka Salonen's Insomnia. (Just picked up that CD Wing on Wing a week ago coincidentally! Great music!)

Other than that, I really have no idea.

[Greta]

There seems to be a technical glitch. I wasn't able to listen to them.

I tried listening to them straight and as downloads with IE and Firefox, has anybody else had a problem?

Is it a problem in the music player or browser, Mark?

[Mark G. Simon]

I've got them now. I don't know what the problem was before. My browser was certain your address didn't exist.

I don't know a single one of the pieces or composers here, but they all sound great. What a fabulous time for music the present day is.

No. 2 sounds like an updated version of the selection James presented from Sibelius' 7th in one of his 20th century quizes.

[Greta]

Yes, there really is a lot of great music being written right now. 

Mark, very perceptive comment about Clip 2, I do agree. Definitely there is an affinity there, which I find really interesting.

Since with such recent works, many of us may have not heard them before, any thoughts on influences, nationality, etc are welcome. 

[greg]

my only guess is- 2- Ades Violin Concerto, but it was too long ago that i heard it.

[not edward]

2 sounds like something by John Adams (& the Sibelius comment would fit with that) but I don't recall the piece in question.

I don't have any categorical identifications, sorry.

[Greta]

Okay...

#1 is by a German composer.

#2, yes is by Adams, any guesses at the work?

#3, Symphonien's guess is right.

#4, a composer from the same country as #3.

#5, is from the same country as #2.

#6 is British, had one right guess PM so far.

[btpaul674]

is the Adams piece his A Guide to Strange Places?

all I can remember from that piece is being very brassy in some areas.

If it isn't that then perhaps something from Doctor Atomic... an opera which I have not heard.

[springrite]

4+5 = Saariaho and Lindberg

[Symphonien]

Ok, here are some guesses...

1. Wolfgang Rihm - Quartettstudie
2. I think Paul's two guesses seem the most likely.
3. Guessed already.
4. Kaija Saariaho - Nymphea Reflection
5. A beautiful piece, but I really have no idea... I'm not familiar with contemporary American composers beyond the older generation of Reich/Glass/Adams and Carter, and this does not sound like any of them. So I'll throw some random names around - Higdon? Gandolfi?
6. Guessed it via PM: Turnage - Trumpet Concerto

[Greta]

Symphonien, very good job.

1 is right.
2 is the award winning work John Adams wrote about the events of 9-11.
3 was right.
4 is right.
5 is Higdon - it's from her Concerto for Orchestra.
6 Yep, it's the Turnage.

Thanks for playing all!

[Symphonien]

Symphonien, very good job.

1 is right.
2 is the award winning work John Adams wrote about the events of 9-11.
3 was right.
4 is right.
5 is Higdon - it's from her Concerto for Orchestra.
6 Yep, it's the Turnage.

Thanks for playing all!

Wow, looks like I didn't do too badly then. Although those were educated guesses based on looking at what works the composer had written 2001 onwards... So the Adams was On the Transmigration of Souls then? Didn't expect that one!

And it appears like I will have to check out Higdon some time. Nice choices!

[greg]

2 is the award winning work John Adams wrote about the events of 9-11.

i should've gotten that one......