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Recommendations for Mid-20th Century and later classical composers

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DonR

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I am looking to broaden my interests in recently composed music and would like some recommendations for mid to late 20th Century composers. I am familiar with Philip Glass, Einaudi and the film score writers like John Williams, Hans Zimmer and Ennio Morricone. Anything you think is interesting I would welcome.
 
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waynel

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How about some Penderecki?


Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lambert Orkis, Krzysztof Penderecki, Bela Bartok, London Symphony Orchestra - Krzysztof Penderecki: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 2 "Metamorphosen" (1992-95) / Béla Bartók: Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 2, Sz 76 (1922) - Ann

Anne-Sophie Mutter, Lambert Orkis, Krzysztof Penderecki, Bela Bartok, London Symphony Orchestra - Krzysztof Penderecki: Concerto for Violin & Orchestra No. 2 "Metamorphosen" (1992-95) / Béla Bartók: Sonata for Violin & Piano No. 2, Sz 76 (1922) - Anne-Sophie Mutter / London Symphony Orchestra /...
www.amazon.com
 
BillH

BillH

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I’m not a pure classical music person but some things i like are
Steve Reich
You might look at the composers played by Kronos quartet or eighth blackbird
Added edit - npr has a tiny desk concert of eighth blackbird that is nice
I love Charles Mingus epitaph
 
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waynel

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Also, if you like Phillip Glass, listen to some John Adams.
 
LTig

LTig

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There is a lot of "classical" music from the whole 20th century which is not 12 tone or atonal at all:

Early 20th:
  • Alberto Ginastera (Popol Vuh)
  • Walter Braunfels (Die Vögel)
  • Franz Schreker
  • Aaron Copland (Fanfare)
  • Leos Janacek
  • Hans Gal
  • Heino Eller
  • Eduard Erdmann
  • Alfred Schnittke
  • Ferde Grofé (Grand Canyon Suite)
  • Paul Hindemith (Mathis der Maler)
  • Gustav Holst (The Planets)
  • Artur Honegger
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold (Die tote Stadt)
  • Hans Otte
Late 20th:
  • Max Richter
  • Michael Torke
  • Gavin Bryars
  • Mieczyslaw Weinberg (The Passenger)
  • Arvo Pärt (all of it)
  • Jon Adams
  • John Luther Adams (Become ocean)
  • Philip Glass (lots of)
  • Alan Hohvaness
  • Jon Lord :eek:
  • Nikolai Miaskovsky
  • Ennio Morricone
  • Ariel Ramirez (Misa Criolla)
  • Fazil Say
 
OP
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DonR

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Thank you all so much. Looks like my weekend will be busy. :) I have tried a few of your suggestions already and they all look extremely promising.
 
Presently42

Presently42

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Shockingly, no-one has mentioned Benjamin Britten of War Requiem fame. I had the greatest pleasure to sing this moving work with the local symphonic orchestra. By the last performance, the final movement had me in such an emotive state, that I couldn't even see the notes on the page.

Anyway, he's one of the greats of modern classical music. Have a look at his operas too!
 
Sokel

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Didn't see him above,so Zbigniew Preisner.
Both composer but also an interesting alternative viewer of classical.

 
threni

threni

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Modern but not too "spiky"...

Bela Bartok (Perhaps start with the PIano Concertos or Bluebeard's Castle)
Toru Takemitsu (Toward the Sea)
Elliott Carter (Minotaur, 90+, Luimen)
Igor Stravinsky (Rite Of Spring, Symphony of Psalms, or... well... Threni)
Frank Zappa (Outrage at Valdez, Ruth is Sleeping, Get Whitey)
Arnold Schoenberg (Gurrelieder, Three Little Pieces Op. 11)
Karlheinz Stockhausen (Donnerstag aus Licht)
Pierre Boulez (Sur Incises)
Hans Zimmer ("Going For Gold" theme)
Olivier Messiaen (Quartet for the End of Time, L'Ascension)
 
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ClassicalDJ

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Shostakovich is always a great 20th Century orchestral option - not as tonally adventurous as other contemporaries, but if you're at all a fan of the symphony from Beethoven through Mahler, then you should definitely check him out.
 
S

SteveC

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LTig said:
There is a lot of "classical" music from the whole 20th century which is not 12 tone or atonal at all:

Early 20th:
  • Alberto Ginastera (Popol Vuh)
  • Walter Braunfels (Die Vögel)
  • Franz Schreker
  • Aaron Copland (Fanfare)
  • Leos Janacek
  • Hans Gal
  • Heino Eller
  • Eduard Erdmann
  • Alfred Schnittke
  • Ferde Grofé (Grand Canyon Suite)
  • Paul Hindemith (Mathis der Maler)
  • Gustav Holst (The Planets)
  • Artur Honegger
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold (Die tote Stadt)
  • Hans Otte
Late 20th:
  • Max Richter
  • Michael Torke
  • Gavin Bryars
  • Mieczyslaw Weinberg (The Passenger)
  • Arvo Pärt (all of it)
  • Jon Adams
  • John Luther Adams (Become ocean)
  • Philip Glass (lots of)
  • Alan Hohvaness
  • Jon Lord :eek:
  • Nikolai Miaskovsky
  • Ennio Morricone
  • Ariel Ramirez (Misa Criolla)
  • Fazil Say
Click to expand...
I'd add Samuel Barber to this list.
 
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