5 serious music works from the past 30 years that I might like.

[Beorn]

Some of my favorite contemporary composers include: Thomas Ades, Einojuhani Rautavaara, John Adams, Aulis Salinnen, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Magnus Lindberg, Kenneth Fuchs, Samuel Jones, Steven Stucky, John McCabe, Arnold Rosner, Ragnar Soderlind, Nicolas Bacri and Christopher Gunning, just to name a few. All of these composers write accessible and communicative music (Linberg's early works are avant-garde, though). I'll provide specific recommendations with pieces and recordings when I have more time.

Thank you for the list. It's greatly appreciated. I look forward to your recommendations.

[Opus106]

Night of the Weeping Crocodiles - Karl Henning (You've probably heard it before. )

[Beorn]

Night of the Weeping Crocodiles - Karl Henning (You've probably heard it before. )

No, that one sounds new. I wonder if he'll write a piece called "A Hookah and Some Hooch".

[Karl Henning]

Oh, he just might, you know . . . .

[Karl Henning]

Night of the Weeping Crocodiles - Karl Henning (You've probably heard it before. )

Thank you, sieur!

[North Star]

Lots of Kalevi Aho on Spotify (Symphonic Dances, Clarinet Concerto, Symphonies (Luosto, Insect Symphony) the Rituals album).

[kyjo]

Lots of Kalevi Aho on Spotify (Symphonic Dances, Clarinet Concerto, Symphonies (Luosto, Insect Symphony) the Rituals album).

Aho is definitely one of my favorite contemporary composers. Another contemporary composer whose music I greatly enjoy is John Pickard, who writes in a tonal, colorful style rather similar to Aho.

[Karl Henning]

. . . Another contemporary composer whose music I greatly enjoy is John Pickard . . . .

Too much to hope for, that his middle name might be Luke . . . .

[springrite]

Too much to hope for, that his middle name might be Luke . . . .

I don't know if "Luke" has the same kind of connotation across the pond?

[Beorn]

I'm going to be very busy between this thread and my jazz explorations. 

[kyjo]

I don't know if "Luke" has the same kind of connotation across the pond?

Probably not, because I don't understand Karl's post.

[modUltralaser]

Probably not, because I don't understand Karl's post.

Jean Luc Picard.

[Karl Henning]

Probably not, because I don't understand Karl's post.

Just a pop culture allusion.

[Daverz]

Symphony no. 1 is from 1989.

John Adams's Harmonielehre (1985) makes it into the cuttoff, as does Nixon in China.

I'm also a big Aho fan.

[Beorn]

Thanks. Added!

[kyjo]

OK, now for some specific recommendations:



Energetic and sometimes thrilling music that incorporates elements of minimalism and neo-romanticism into Ades' personal language.



Haunting music. Rautavaara is deeply influenced by spirituality and nature and many consider him a successor to Sibelius. If you like this disc (which contains two of his best works), you're sure to like all the other Rautavaara discs available.



John Adams is the most successful minimalist composer out there IMO. There is never an "autopilot" feel to his music that plagues the music of many other minimalist composers. Harmonielehre is Adams' masterpiece, a grand and haunting work. The Chairman Dances and Short Ride in a Fast Machine are catchy and infectiously energetic.



Sallinen's music is echt-Nordic; dark and atmospheric with moments of fierce power alternating with those of aural calm. It is quite accessible music, fear you not. He makes great use of the percussion section in his music. If you like this, don't fail to pick up his complete symphonies on CPO.



Captivating music from start to finish. Salonen's music has so much driving energy. He has a great feel for rhythm and color.



This disc was recommended earlier in this thread and I'll second its quality. Lindberg has quite an ear for texture and his music is instantly communicative. If you like Salonen's music, I'll guarantee you'll love Lindberg's.



It's hard not to love Fuchs' music. His music is echt-American, drawing on Copland but with some gorgeous impressionistic elements thrown in. It's completely accessible. The other three Naxos discs of his music are equally good.



This is incredible music. The symphony has dizzying complexity and power and is one of the best symphonies written in the past 30 years or so. Don't miss this one!



Better known as a pianist, McCabe has written some excellent music that has not been given nearly enough exposure. McCabe's music is always tonal and makes great use of lyricism and harmony. The influence of impressionism can be felt in the works on the Hyperion CD.



Rosner's music is never heard in American concert halls, and that's a travesty IMO. Lush, often melodically memorable music that shares kindred spirits with VW.



Wonderful neo-romantic music clearly descended from Sibelius. Soderlind pours a lot of emotion into his music, but, like Sibelius, keeps it on a tight rein.



Bacri's music is eclectic and imaginative and a joy to listen to. There is a neoclassical clarity to much of his music, but it is quite colorful. I am reminded of composers as diverse as Bartok, Martinu and Poulenc in his music, but he is an original voice, to be sure.



Pickard writes colorful, accessible music without "writing down" to his audiences. There is much visceral excitement in his music. If you like this, be sure to pick up a copy of the newly-released BIS disc including his Piano Concerto.

I'll also recommend the music of two composers who have recently died but whose music is still fairly recent:



There is simply no way around this set. From the opening bars of Symphony no. 1 on the first disc you will be hooked, I guarantee you. Dutilleux was a perfectionist and it shows in his music.



This ballet is one of Henze's most accessible scores. You will be in awe of this work's beauty and power.

Hope this helps you, MN Dave! Please let me know if you need any more help! I'll probably think of more recommendations later on......

[Beorn]

WOW! Thanks much for the lengthy list of recs. 

[kyjo]

Symphony no. 1 is from 1989.

John Adams's Harmonielehre (1985) makes it into the cuttoff, as does Nixon in China.

I'm also a big Aho fan.

*POUNDS THE TABLE!* I forgot about that one. Gerber's music has a lot of dark emotional power a la Shostakovich, but his musical language is all his own.

[kyjo]

WOW! Thanks much for the lengthy list of recs. 

My pleasure. Not to kill your wallet , but I have some more for you to consider:



If you are only going to hear one of Simpson's eleven symphonies, this should be the one. It is a towering masterpiece as far as I'm concerned. A work of tremendous visionary power.



Angsty music for sure, but Schnittke knows what he's doing. Imagine if Shostakovich had lived fifteen more years and you'll get an idea what this music sounds like. I'm not implying that Schnittke was a Shostakovich clone, though. After exploring the Cello Concertos, move on to Symphony no. 8 and the ballet Peer Gynt.



This moving work is completely tonal with little dissonance, written in a late-romantic style. What makes it a cut above so many other neo-romantic works is its affecting humanity and stirringly memorable themes. While the idea of a contemporary work written in a late-romantic style may turn off some people, I urge everyone to hear this work. It is a gloriously uplifting experience.



A good place to start with Lutoslawski IMO. The Symphonic Variations and Paganini Variations are early works that are very enjoyable, but it is the later PC and Symphony no. 4 that are the masterpieces here. Lutoslawski's textural and harmonic mastery will haunt you for days.



I would probably suggest this disc as the best introduction to Penderecki's sound-world. The VCs belong to his later, tonal period rather than his early, experimental period. Penderecki did not change his style to please his audiences, but because he felt that avant-gardism is a dead end and that a more accessible, communicate style was what his heart was calling him to compose in. Try his symphonies if you like the VCs.

[Beorn]

I have some Penderecki and I really like what I've heard.