Modern Classical Music: A guide

This presentation is intended for people with little or no exposure to modern classical music. It is best seen in full screen and heard on stereo speakers, not on a phone or a laptop. Clickable time stamps for individual compositions and a glossary of terms are given below.

Clickable Time Stamps:
00:00 Introduction (György Ligeti), 01:44 John Cage, 04:12 Karlheinz Stockhausen, 06:27 Pierre Boulez, 08:45 Pauline Oliveros, 10:35 Philip Glass, 12:53 Witold Lutoslawski, 14:39 Kaija Saariaho, 16:12 Gyorgy Ligeti, 18:15 Iannis Xenakis, 20:14 Brian Ferneyhough, 22:44 Edgard Varèse, 24:45 Wolfgang Rihm, 27:06 Olga Neuwirth, 29:05 Louis Andriessen, 30:55 Alfred Schnittke, 33:07 Julia Wolfe, 35:10 Esa-Pekka Salonen, 37:03 Krzysztof Penderecki, 39:35 Sofia Gubaidulina, 41:33 Steve Reich, 43:51 Terry Riley, 45:57 Luigi Nono, 47:53 John Tavener, 49:54 Arvo Pärt, 51:51 Harrison Birtwistle, 53:57 Epilogue (John Cage)

Glossary of terms:

[pedterson]

This is great! Modern classical music is a lot like contemporary visual arts in that both want for some context/explanation before an outsider can really appreciate it. Would love to see more of these videos in the future.

[londoninflames]

i'm new to all this sort of thing and this whole video made my brain fizz with excitement. thanks for making it and i will be checking out these composers further.

[sullivanworks]

An admirable catalogue, there is so much to include (and, unfortunately) exclude - but to all viewers, the very great Italian composer, Luciano Berio and Japan's Toru Takemitsu, must also be heard and studied.

[Musicant]

So overall I've learned that this genre as a whole is a bit too atonal for me. I've always been a great fan of Stravinsky and found myself more attracted to the works that seemed similar to his. I'll speak of my favorites below:

Lutoslawski and Saariaho: Enjoyed these, much more Stravinskian.

Andriessen's Workers Union: Really cool rhythms here! reminds me of the sorts of things I'd find in modern progressive metal.

Penderecki: pure horror, anxiety, torment in this one!

Reich: Beautiful voice and eerie melody and harmony on this one, really nice!

Thank you for the comprehensive and informative video!

- Anthony from Blue Point Grille

[srpilha]

This is a wonderful selection, well done!

[kantonlevine]

This music is the real classical and each one of these artists are what real modern classical is. Music before the 19th Century is not more real, its just older. Each one of these musicians are the future of classical and never forget that there is no difference between the way classical before the 1900s was put in the equivalent of pop movies in their time just like many of these musicians are in modern pop movies

[edwardmirza]

Anything for a guide to contemporary opera? :0

[brancefinger]

This succeeds in showing that not all modern classical music is completely unlistenable.