Opinions on modern music

[Althea]

I am new to this forum and would like to know people's opinions on contemporary/avant garde music, and if possible where I can find more information. Please help me! Thank you.

[hitsware]

>I am new to this forum and would like to know people's opinions on contemporary/avant garde music,

?? contemorary / avant garde ...

Could you elaborate on your definitions ?

To me 'contemorary' is 'popular' like 'top 40'
'avante garde' is like beatnik stuff ....
Sorta 'undiscovered' .......
and if possible where I can find more information. Please help me! Thank you.

[/quote]

[Pamadu]

Welcome to MIMF Althea.....that is First.
Second is....You should have made this Post in the Next Section,as it states "Classical Music......covering Modern(Contempory/AvanteGarde)....etc."
Third is.....If You are "Serious" about your Question,and I am sure that if Captain Corno was here,he would agree with me....You ask about "Genre' covered in the Modernistic Period,too "Loosely & Broadly" etc. and your wording is similar to a New Member who asked about Opera (Dark Opera with Piano/Violin & Sopranos).It is "Absurd" to ask such a Question as this without "narrowing it down" (my apologies if I am wrong & No Offence is intended). I am always willing to share my knowledge.....when You come back and tell us what you really want to know....We can take it from there. Cheers Pamadu/Paul. Commodore.

[Frederik Magle]

(moved this thread to "classical")

Welcome to MIMF, Althea!! I've moved this to the "classical" section where I believe it belongs, unless your definition of "contemporary" is the same as hitsware.

Contemporary/avant garde music is a VERY broad field. Basically it simply means music composed in "our" time. Generally, it should mostly apply to the "classical" field rather than the "top40" but that may be debated.

The expression "avant garde" means "ahead of it's time", and has been rather inflated in my opinion. Just about anything can be called avant garde (and has been) but only very little is avant garde. Mostly the real avant garde music is not called so... at least not in it's own time.

Please tell us more about what it is you would like to find out, narrow it down a little for us so we can better help. What is your interest in the field? General curiosity or something more specific?

[Althea]

Thank you all for responding. I guess what I mean is the music generally composed in the mid 1900's to recent times and is often performed in symphonies I have attended. Usually when such pieces are performed, the audience, mainly me and the people I am with, don't quite, um, appreciate it as much as we should. I am wondering why they continue to include these works in almost every program and if it hurts the orchestra financially or the amount of attendees. I hope this makes more sense?

[hitsware]

>don't quite, um, appreciate it as much as we should. I am wondering why they continue to include these works in almost every program and if it hurts the orchestra financially or the amount of attendees.

I don't know too much about classical music, but I will venture a response. 'New' pieces (in pop music as well) have a problem with acceptance. People go to a show with a sort of preconception of what they are going to hear. (whether it be Bach's such and such or the latest by Britney Spears) Anything new may throw their plan out of whack. BUT ! If no new music is played, how can music advance? There would be no reason for people to produce new music if no one will perform it. I'm sure the people that produce concerts consider this in their 'bottom line' Perhaps as a 'contribution to the arts'?

[Pamadu]

Hi Althea.....Thanks for explaining to me in your PM that this is a "College Project" etc....Certainly,Hitsware has offered a Good explaination in his Last Post,to the Last part of your Question...."Why do they still play it etc....." The First Part is very involved.....The Modern/Avant-Garde movement had great problems in the early 1900's......If You have a Copy of The "Oxford Companion of Music"....go to the sections on "Modernism & AvantGarde & Twentieth Century Music" and it explains it all there...I would only be repeating a lot here and also what I teach my Pupils....Althea...It is 1-30am Wednesday Morning here,in Australia..14th April....Later in the Morning....I will send to your Email "Study Notes" used here at the University on that Subject....after I have a Sleep
You will see that Pre World War 1 & 2 had one Idea....and Post World War 2....it has gone in a different Direction.
Leave it with me....and will get paperwork over to you........Cheers Pamadu/Paul.
EDIT.!!!!!!! But I am sure You will get others offering their comments here as well as My Notes....I am "Far from the Expert" but had same Question when I was Training.
"The ONLY way to Learn is to ASK Questions"....All at MIMF will try to Help.

[Althea]

Again, thank you, I will try to get hold of the book from the library, hope they have it. Still researching...

[Althea]

And wow--I don't think I could answer at 1:30 am and make sense, unless I absolutely had to!

[Pamadu]

Althea....Remember to look for the "Oxford Companion of Music" (Big Thick Book or 2 Volumes), NOT the "Oxford Dictionary of Music"....also at the Big Town Library,they will Have "Groves Music"....That is the Musicians Bible.....Also Type into "GOOGLE" the subject names I gave you and different combinations...You will see Things come up there.....Avant-Garde also covers Painting/Writing etc. etc. as well as Music.....Really as Frederik has said,The Arts/Music in OUR time the 20/21st Century.(1900's to the Now).....Come this weekend....I will have more Time,and will get on to it then. Hope You have found something...BUT it is a very "Complex" Subject...Cheers Pamadu/Paul.
EDIT.!!!!!!
There is a Link to "Groves Enclyclopedia ONLINE" but it is NOT like "Brittanica Online"....You have to be a Subscriber.

[Jamie]

I will also help my boss on this for you over the next few days.in fact,we have just done this at University. mind blowing topic
Regards Jamie
edit.......the Oxford Book is the one to go for

[Jamie]

You will have to let us ALL know how the 'speech' went, and the whole project. hope what Pamadu and Me sent was of some Help.???? Regards. Jamie

[Althea]

Sorry I've taken so long. Thank you all for the help, it really made the speech a lot easier! I ended up with a B+ because the teacher said it was too opinionated but I think it went well besides that. And, I found something that I'm really interested in and a good place to discuss music!

Althea

[madoherty]

I am a composer of what I regard as avant garde, contemporary art music.
www.michaeladoherty.com

[corno]

welcome aboard...
feel free to share your knowledge about the topic at hand...