Many of us managed to get from the 20th century to the 21st without a time machine. As they say, we live at the junction of two centuries. Therefore, when conducting a conversation about who modern composers are and to what century they should be attributed, this should be taken into account. More recently, the 20th century was considered modern. But when the 21st arrived, the previous century automatically became the past.
Terminology
Before you start a conversation about a stated topic, you should determine the necessary terminology. First, what is classical music per se? Secondly, who are modern composers? An 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 break away from them. He very clearly and very clearly gives definitions to the questions posed.
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 reigned from 1750 to 1830. In the broad sense, classical is called any serious music, which implies the presence of attention for listening and some emotional efforts.
Modern composers. It is believed that classical music has stood the test of time. Accordingly, how can it be modern? A certain metamorphosis just happened when we moved to the 21st century, leaving the 20th in the past. So it turned out that modern classical composers date back to the 20th century. What then to do with classical music in the 21st century? Here, 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 in chronological order, but in alphabetical order. Of course, the greatest composers can be singled out from it , but 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. Not just composers born at the turn of the 20th century are listed. Their works in this period of time were already known, or their heyday of creativity fell on the 20th century.
- Pakhmutova Alexandra Nikolaevna.
- Prokofiev Sergey Sergeevich.
- Rachmaninov Sergey Vasilievich.
- Sviridov George Vasilievich.
- Scriabin Alexander Nikolaevich.
- Slonimsky Sergey Mikhailovich.
- Stravinsky Igor Fedorovich.
- Khachaturian Aram Ilyich.
- Shostakovich Dmitry Dmitrievich.
- Schnittke Alfred Garrievich.
- Shchedrin Rodion Konstantinovich.
Foreign composers of the 20th century. List
- Alban Breg.
- Anton Webern.
- Arnold Schoenberg.
- Bela Bartok.
- Villa Lobos Eitor.
- Vitold Lutoslavsky.
- Gyorgy Ligeti.
- John Cage
- George Gershwin.
- Leonard Bernstein.
- Luigi Nono
- Mikalojs Čiurlionis.
- Nadia Boulanger.
- Olivier Messian.
- Paul Hindemith.
- Charles Ives.
- Edward Benjamin Britten
- Edgar Varez.
- Janis Xenakis.
Russian composers of the 21st century
It is impossible to attribute some of the creators of music to a certain century. Indeed, many works by contemporary composers were published and deserved attention both in the 20th century and in 21. This is especially true for 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 beautiful compositions, but their names did not manage to become popular.
- Batagov Anton.
- Bakshi Alexander.
- Ekimovsky Victor.
- Karmanov Pavel.
- Korovitsyn Vladimir.
- Markelov Pavel.
- Martynov Vladimir.
- Pavlova Alla.
- Bakery Mark.
- Savalov Yuri.
- Saveliev Yuri.
- Sergeeva Tatyana.
This list can be greatly expanded.
About contemporary composers
Pekarsky Mark (b. 1940). He became famous for his ensemble of percussion instruments. The atmosphere at his concerts makes him laugh, as the composer can joke successfully during the performance of music (and during breaks).
Martynov Vladimir (born 1946) is a 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). His programmatic compositions with vivid names are noteworthy. This is "In the constellation of the Hounds of the Dogs" (music written for flutes and soundtracks), "Siamese Concert" (intended for two pianos), "Sublimation" (for the symphony orchestra), "27 destruction" (for percussion instruments) and many others.
Sergeeva Tatyana (b. 1951). In her works, the influence of music by A. Skryabin is felt. A lot of flight, hesitation, fire. The second piano concerto attracts the attention of listeners with its dynamic development and sudden ending, which takes the listener to the Middle Ages and then returns him back.
Pavlova Alla (b. 1952) - emigrant composer. Currently living in America. Her music is melodic and at the same time sad and sad. She wrote six symphonies in minor keys, which are whole tragedies.
As you can see, the music of modern composers is diverse, amazing and attractive. Many of the creators love experiments, looking for new forms. These include Bakshi Alexander (b. 1952). Among his works, “Unanswered bell”, written for violin, 6-7 mobile phones and a string orchestra, stands out especially.
Markelov Pavel (b. 1967). One of his favorite areas is sacred music. He wrote symphonies for the orchestra, sonatas-verlibres for the piano, 20 bell symphonies.
Children's modern composers
Bright representatives are Yuri Savalov, Vladimir Korovitsyn, Yuri Saveliev.
Yuri Savalov was a talented composer, an excellent teacher and a wonderful arranger. He enthusiastically led the orchestra in the music school. He was also a good performer. He played keyboards and wind instruments. Each of his nine piano pieces has a subtitle: “Mom,” “Confession,” “Wind of Wanderings,” “Inspiration,” “Ball in the Prince’s Castle,” “Prelude,” “March,” “Waltz,” “Lullaby.” All of them are 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 entitled "Rejoice in the Sun" and "Children's Album" for piano. The plays are a wonderful addition to the students' repertoire. The titles of the plays accurately reflect their character and mood: “Thumbelina”, “Wooden shoes”, “Variations of a peasant with an accordion”, “Emelya goes on the stove”, “Sad princess”, “Girl's round dance”.
Songs for children
Children's songs of contemporary 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 funny and fervent songs with great pleasure, singing along 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 Sagittarius”, “Children of Captain Grant”, “By the Pike Command”, “Plasticine Crow” and others.
Another legendary creator of modern songs for children is V. Shainsky. He has over three hundred of them. It is enough to listen to “Blue Car”, “Piggy”, “Chunga-Changu”, “Antoshka” and many others to understand how talented the composer is.
So, it is customary to consider modern composers not only living or recently deceased composers of the 21st century, but also masters of the 20th century. Both of them created multi-genre and diverse music that deserves attention from listeners and musicologists.