Classical Recommendations

I want to expand on classical music,more so contemporary classical to be honest.I'm a fan Stravinsky,Webern and Penderecki and other such acts.I was hoping we could compile a list of essential contemporary/classical albums/pieces because I feel I've probably missed alot of important composers and it would give me a greater knowledge.I'm quite happy for anyone to include any form of classical even Romantic but I'm more interested in contemporary.


Edited by mrcozdude - September 13 2009 at 03:58

Thanks I'm checking it out now.

York Höller, Bernd Alois Zimmermann and Mauricio Kagel could be of interest to you.
Of Höller try his opera "Der Meister und Margarita", based on the novel by Bulgakov. Friede and I saw a performance of that opera in Cologne and were impressed.
Of Zimmermann try "Musique pour les soupers du Roi Ubu".
Of Kagel try "Zehn Märsche, um den Sieg zu verfehlen" ("Ten marches to fall short of victory"), a very funny piece of music. Kagel generally is quite funny; few composers have as absurd a humor as he.



Edited by BaldJean - September 13 2009 at 15:24

Thanks

George Crumb - Black Angels

Definitely listen to his Symphony of Psalms 

Pretty much anything by Alfred Schnittke.

most composers listed so far are of the early 20th century period; they are not contemporaries. my list is a bit newer,  and Höller is even still alive. Zimmermann died 1970, Kagel 2006
other contemporary composers:
Iannis Xenakis (died 2001). tryx "Eridanos" for 8 brass instruments and string orchestra for starters.
Karlheinz Stockhausen (died 2007). start with the work he became famous with, "Gesang der Jünglinge im Feuerofen" ("Chant of the Youths in the Furnace", often abbreviated to "Chant of the Youths" only, also called "Song of the Youths").
Conlon Nancarrow (died 1997): his work is a bit odd because most of it can only be played by machines. he wrote many compositions for player piano, stuff no piano player could ever master.
György Ligeti (died 2006): he became famous when Stanley Kubrick used his composition "Lux Aeterna", a composition for 16 solo singers, for a scene which was located on the moon in the movie "2001"


Edited by BaldJean - September 15 2009 at 03:03

Spotify is really not very good for finding these artists as their all under performers names not composers.Last.fm is going to hate me.

Arthur Honegger