Modern classical composers. Works by contemporary composers

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Many of us managed to get from the 20th century to the 21st without a time machine. As they say, we live at the turn of two centuries. Therefore, when talking about who modern composers are and what century they belong to, we must take this into account. More recently, the 20th century was considered modernity. But when the 21st came, the previous century automatically became the past.

Terminology

Before starting a conversation about the stated topic, you should decide on the necessary terminology. First, what is classical music as such? Secondly, who are contemporary composers? The interesting opinion of Stephen Fry will help to understand these issues. His books on the history of classical music are so delightful that it is sometimes impossible to tear oneself away from them. He defines the issues very clearly and very clearly.

Classical music. If we consider this term in the narrow sense of the word, it becomes clear that it refers to a fairly short period of classicism, which dominated from 1750 to 1830. In a broad sense, classical is any serious music that requires listening attention and some emotional effort.

Modern composers. It is generally accepted that classical music has stood the test of time. Accordingly, how can it be modern? A certain metamorphosis just happened when we moved into the 21st century, leaving the 20th in the past. So it turned out that modern classical composers belong to the 20th century. How then to be with classical music in the 21st century? It just means that it is used in the broad sense of the word - as serious music that makes you think and requires some emotional effort.

Great Russian composers of the 20th century. List

The list below is not arranged chronologically, but alphabetically. Of course, the greatest composers can be singled out from it, and especially outstanding ones can be pointed out. But since all these personalities are the brightest representatives of their century, they can be safely called so - the great modern composers of the 20th century. Listed are not just composers born at the turn of the 20th century. Their works during this period of time were already known, or their heyday of creativity fell on the 20th century.

• Pakhmutova Alexandra Nikolaevna.
• Prokofiev Sergei Sergeevich.
• Rakhmaninov Sergei Vasilyevich.
• Sviridov Georgy Vasilyevich.
• Skryabin Alexander Nikolaevich.
• Slonimsky Sergei Mikhailovich.
• Igor Fedorovich Stravinsky.



• Khachaturian Aram Ilyich.
• Shostakovich Dmitry Dmitrievich.
• Schnittke Alfred Garrievich.
• Shchedrin RodionKonstantinovich.

Foreign composers of the 20th century. List

• Alban Breg.
• Anton Webern.
• Arnold Schoenberg.
• Bela Bartok.
• Villa-Lobos Heitor.
• Witold Lutoslavsky.
• Gyorgy Ligeti.
• John Cage.
• George Gershwin.



• Leonard Bernstein.
• Luigi Nono.
• Mikalojus Ciurlionis.
• Nadia Boulanger.
• Olivier Messiaen.



• Paul Hindemith.
• Charles Ives.
• Edward Benjamin Britten.
• Edgard Varèse.
• Janis Xenakis.

Russian composers of the 21st century

It is impossible to assign some music creators to a particular century. After all, many works by contemporary composers were published and deserved attention both in the 20th century and in the 21st. This is especially true of living composers who managed to become famous for their highly artistic creations in the last century and continue to compose music in the present. We are talking about Rodion Konstantinovich Shchedrin, Sofia Asgatovna Gubaidulina and others.

However, there are also little-known Russian composers of the 21st century who created wonderful compositions, but their names did not have time to become popular.

• Batagov Anton.
• Bakshi Alexander.
• Yekimovsky Viktor.
• Pavel Karmanov.
• Korovitsyn Vladimir.
• Pavel Markelov.
• Martynov Vladimir.
• Pavlova Alla.
• Pekarsky Mark.
• Savalov Yury.
• Yuri Saveliev.
• Sergeeva Tatyana.

This list can be significantly expanded.

About contemporary composers

Pekarsky Mark (b. 1940). He became famous for his ensemble of percussion instruments. The atmosphere at his concerts is conducive to laughter, as the composer in the process of performing music (and during breaks) can successfully joke.

Martynov Vladimir (b. 1946) - minimalist composer. It combines religiosity and "advancement". The modern master of serious music is able to convey a lot with minimal means.

Ekimovsky Victor (b. 1947). Attention is drawn to his programmatic compositions with bright titles. These are "In the constellation of the Hounds of the Dogs" (music written for flutes and phonograms), "Siam Concerto" (intended for two pianos), "Sublimation" (for symphony orchestra), "27 Destructions" (for percussion instruments) and many others.

Sergeeva Tatyana (b. 1951). In her works one can feel the influence of A. Scriabin's music. Lots of flight, fluctuations, fire. The second piano concerto attracts the attention of the listeners with its dynamic development and sudden finale, which takes the listener to the Middle Ages, and then returns him back.

Pavlova Alla (b. 1952) - emigrant composer. Currently lives in America. Her music is melodic and at the same time sad and mournful. She wrote six symphonies in minor keys that are complete tragedies.

As you can see, the music of contemporary composers is diverse, surprising and attractive. Many of the creators love experiments, looking for new forms. These include Bakshi Alexander (b. 1952). Among his compositions, "Unanswered Call" stands out, written for violin, 6-7 mobile phones and string orchestra.

Pavel Markelov (b. 1967). One of his favorite directions is sacred music. He wrote symphonies for orchestra, vers libre sonatas for piano, 20 bell symphonies.

Children's contemporary composers

Prominent representatives are Yuri Savalov, Vladimir Korovitsyn, Yuri Savelyev.

Yuri Savalov was a talented composer, an excellent teacher and a wonderful arranger. Enthusiastically led the orchestra at the Children's Music School. He was also a good performer. Played keyboards and wind instruments. Each of his nine pieces for piano has a sub title: "Mother", "Confession", "Wind of Wanderings", "Inspiration", "Ball in the Prince's Castle", "Prelude", "March", "W altz", "Lullaby". They are all very interesting, diverse and beautiful.

Vladimir Korovitsyn was born in 1955. His work consists of music written in different genres: songs, romances, spiritual works written for the choir, chamber and symphony orchestra. For children, he wrote a collection of children's songs called"Rejoice in the Sun" and "Children's Album" for piano. The plays are an excellent addition to the students' repertoire. The titles of the pieces accurately reflect their character and mood: "Thumbelina", "Wooden Shoes", "Man with an Accordion Variations", "Emelya Rides on the Stove", "Sad Princess", "Girl's Round Dance".

Songs for children

Children's songs of modern composers are filled with optimism and cheerfulness. Despite the fact that some of them were created half a century ago, they remain not only relevant, but also quite modern. The most famous composers are V. Shainsky, I. Dunaevsky, D. Kabalevsky, G. Gladkov. We listen to their cheerful and fervent songs with great pleasure, sing them ourselves and together with the children.

Not everyone knows that it is G. Gladkov who owns the melodies from such popular films and cartoons as "Little Red Riding Hood", "About Fedot the Archer", "Children of Captain Grant", "By Pike", "Plasticine crow" and others.

Another legendary creator of contemporary songs for children is V. Shainsky. He has over three hundred of them. It is enough to listen to Blue Wagon, Piggy, Chung-Chang, Antoshka and many others to understand how talented this composer is.

So, modern composers are considered not only living or recently deceased composers of the 21st century, but also the masters of the 20th century. Both createdmulti-genre and diverse music that deserves attention from listeners and musicologists.