Yes, we live in an age that defies classification. The Internet has changed the game. And before I was thinking in terms of sound because music only IS sound - compositional techniques, form, style, these are all secondary to the sound. Two pieces may be written with radically different techniques, yet ultimately live in the same basic soundworld and make the same basic impression on a listener. I side with the philosophies of Takemitsu and Cage when it comes to sound.
These days there is no such thing as a "contemporary style", there is only the individual composer's style anymore. Which I think is what @bafdias said. If anything, polystylism is the new style.
@DCioccoloni what do you even mean by the "contemporary style" as distinct from the "modern style"? And don't say you meant the same thing as "post-modern", please because then we're back to square one...let's try to use descriptive words with clearer content. Anyway, IMO the comment which sparked this debate is ironic, as this piece doesn't really sound that far from the avant-garde of the 60's/70's. Certainly doesn't strike me as "the sound of today".
@parkourGumby It doesn't strike you as the "sound" of today possibly because you're thinking in terms of "sound" rather than style and compositional techniques, in other words form, which is what actually defines genre (rather than simply the types of sounds created). In the 18th century writing sonatas and symphonies was considered polystilism, the reason why people find it hard to find a sense of unity in todays music is because we don't have the privilege of viewing it from a distance yet.
Now this is a truly contemporary composition! :D It annoys me how most supposedly "contemporary" composers still sound a lot like modernists (not that I have anything against modernism, but it's like having "contemporary" composers still sounding romantic or baroque).
@vassiliscompo Of course not, actually if you really want to get down to it how "contemporary" a composition is is in part defined by how unlike any preceding compositions (including other "contemporary" compositions) it is, so of course there can't be just one style.
"Contemporary" means it was created more or less in the time we live in. Bach was, when he lived, a "contemporary" composer. Probably you're mixing both concepts of time and style, which is understandable as, in general, a certain style of composition is consider the norm/standard of each epoch. But, for me, there is no "contemporary style" like a "baroque" or "romantic" or other styles. A contemporary composition can be of any style the composer chooses. Like this piece a lot also
@bafdias No I wasn't "probably" confusing concepts of time and style, I was using the word "contemporary" as a stand-in for "post-modern", because most people are more familiar with the stylistic application of the word "contemporary" and if you start using terms like post-modern most people just reply "huh?".
Your personal opinion on there being no distinctions between baroque or romantic styles is both spurious and insipid but as you prefaced it with a sly "for me" I will not address it.
@DCioccoloni You're rushing into conclusions as you rushed into classifying this as "real" contemporary (or "post-modern"). I said you were "mixing", not confusing. I didn't express in any way the opinion that "baroque" is the same as "romantic". Just gave these two examples of styles as opposed to "modern", "contemporary, "post-modern" and such classifications. Please read it carefully next time.
@bafdias Ok I mistook your comment w/ regards to baroque/romantic aspect, but I don't get why you think that there is no large umbrella under which you can define today's post-modern style. Do you really think we live in an age that defies classification? Each generation has held the arrogant belief that they lived in time when distinctions broke down and definitions became irrelevant. Then the next generation comes along and describes a whole set of traits that unify the style of that period.
@DCioccoloni I don't know why you don't get the fact that I don't consider there is a big umbrella for whatever term you want to use to classify today's style of music. We just don't agree. For me, contemporary music is the one made in our time. It can be in any genre/style. Maybe there is a common style for today's composers but I dough you can clearly name one. Your initial statement is vague in the sense you said this piece is in a contemporary style but fail to name or describe it.
@bafdias "classify"? Don't you mean "judge"? Quite a substantial error in semantics for someone who was taking me to task just for using"contemporary" with a stylistic, rather than temporal, connotation.But anyway, I was not judging either, I just don't like to insult people's intelligence by talking to them as one does to a child. If I find an opinion spurious I don't say it's correct just to make the person happy since I think a mature individual can deal with such a minute level of criticism.
@DCioccoloni Yes, I meant "judge" but couldn't thought about the word at the time. I'm Portuguese. I don't understand your excuse to judge mine or others opinions. Why did you find my opinion spurious and insipid? Just because you didn't agree with them? Did I judged your remarks by saying they seemed arrogant or pretentious? No. I didn't. I just don't agree with you. Let's leave it that way.
@DCioccoloni I've actually noticed a comeback of modernism in many contemporary composers' work... this said, the comparison doesn't sound too good to me... and you never know what is "truly contemporary" until it's past!!
Beautiful.
johnstrieder 1 month ago
Sorry to give the impression of speaking for @bafdias, just my own 2 cents.
parkourGumby 5 months ago
Yes, we live in an age that defies classification. The Internet has changed the game. And before I was thinking in terms of sound because music only IS sound - compositional techniques, form, style, these are all secondary to the sound. Two pieces may be written with radically different techniques, yet ultimately live in the same basic soundworld and make the same basic impression on a listener. I side with the philosophies of Takemitsu and Cage when it comes to sound.
parkourGumby 5 months ago
These days there is no such thing as a "contemporary style", there is only the individual composer's style anymore. Which I think is what @bafdias said. If anything, polystylism is the new style.
parkourGumby 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni what do you even mean by the "contemporary style" as distinct from the "modern style"? And don't say you meant the same thing as "post-modern", please because then we're back to square one...let's try to use descriptive words with clearer content. Anyway, IMO the comment which sparked this debate is ironic, as this piece doesn't really sound that far from the avant-garde of the 60's/70's. Certainly doesn't strike me as "the sound of today".
parkourGumby 5 months ago
@parkourGumby It doesn't strike you as the "sound" of today possibly because you're thinking in terms of "sound" rather than style and compositional techniques, in other words form, which is what actually defines genre (rather than simply the types of sounds created). In the 18th century writing sonatas and symphonies was considered polystilism, the reason why people find it hard to find a sense of unity in todays music is because we don't have the privilege of viewing it from a distance yet.
DCioccoloni 5 months ago
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I agree, this is great.
gergsar 6 months ago
Now this is a truly contemporary composition! :D It annoys me how most supposedly "contemporary" composers still sound a lot like modernists (not that I have anything against modernism, but it's like having "contemporary" composers still sounding romantic or baroque).
DCioccoloni 6 months ago
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vassiliscompo 5 months ago
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@DCioccoloni yes, but how does "contemporary" sound?... Is there just one way?...
vassiliscompo 5 months ago
@vassiliscompo Of course not, actually if you really want to get down to it how "contemporary" a composition is is in part defined by how unlike any preceding compositions (including other "contemporary" compositions) it is, so of course there can't be just one style.
DCioccoloni 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni So, you think that Tenney's piece is unlike any other piece in the history?....
vassiliscompo 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni
"Contemporary" means it was created more or less in the time we live in. Bach was, when he lived, a "contemporary" composer. Probably you're mixing both concepts of time and style, which is understandable as, in general, a certain style of composition is consider the norm/standard of each epoch. But, for me, there is no "contemporary style" like a "baroque" or "romantic" or other styles. A contemporary composition can be of any style the composer chooses. Like this piece a lot also
bafdias 5 months ago
@bafdias No I wasn't "probably" confusing concepts of time and style, I was using the word "contemporary" as a stand-in for "post-modern", because most people are more familiar with the stylistic application of the word "contemporary" and if you start using terms like post-modern most people just reply "huh?".
Your personal opinion on there being no distinctions between baroque or romantic styles is both spurious and insipid but as you prefaced it with a sly "for me" I will not address it.
DCioccoloni 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni You're rushing into conclusions as you rushed into classifying this as "real" contemporary (or "post-modern"). I said you were "mixing", not confusing. I didn't express in any way the opinion that "baroque" is the same as "romantic". Just gave these two examples of styles as opposed to "modern", "contemporary, "post-modern" and such classifications. Please read it carefully next time.
bafdias 5 months ago
@bafdias Ok I mistook your comment w/ regards to baroque/romantic aspect, but I don't get why you think that there is no large umbrella under which you can define today's post-modern style. Do you really think we live in an age that defies classification? Each generation has held the arrogant belief that they lived in time when distinctions broke down and definitions became irrelevant. Then the next generation comes along and describes a whole set of traits that unify the style of that period.
DCioccoloni 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni I don't know why you don't get the fact that I don't consider there is a big umbrella for whatever term you want to use to classify today's style of music. We just don't agree. For me, contemporary music is the one made in our time. It can be in any genre/style. Maybe there is a common style for today's composers but I dough you can clearly name one. Your initial statement is vague in the sense you said this piece is in a contemporary style but fail to name or describe it.
bafdias 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni I didn't classify your opinion, just said I didn't agree and expressed mine. Keep it that way please.
bafdias 5 months ago
@bafdias "classify"? Don't you mean "judge"? Quite a substantial error in semantics for someone who was taking me to task just for using"contemporary" with a stylistic, rather than temporal, connotation.But anyway, I was not judging either, I just don't like to insult people's intelligence by talking to them as one does to a child. If I find an opinion spurious I don't say it's correct just to make the person happy since I think a mature individual can deal with such a minute level of criticism.
DCioccoloni 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni Yes, I meant "judge" but couldn't thought about the word at the time. I'm Portuguese. I don't understand your excuse to judge mine or others opinions. Why did you find my opinion spurious and insipid? Just because you didn't agree with them? Did I judged your remarks by saying they seemed arrogant or pretentious? No. I didn't. I just don't agree with you. Let's leave it that way.
bafdias 5 months ago
@DCioccoloni I've actually noticed a comeback of modernism in many contemporary composers' work... this said, the comparison doesn't sound too good to me... and you never know what is "truly contemporary" until it's past!!
Thrash0Jazz0Assassin 5 months ago
@ARobinsonization Yes, it's beautiful both in conception and sound!
MaxRidgway 6 months ago