What is contemporary classical music?

Contemporary classical music is art music written since the mid-20th century: serialism, musique concrète, minimalism, spectral music and, more broadly, new works by living composers. Pierre Boulez, John Cage, Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Arvo Pärt are among its major figures.

Which contemporary classical records should I start with?

Minimalism is often the easiest way in: Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians" and Arvo Pärt's "Tabula Rasa" are safe picks. Add Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time" and a piece by Ligeti to get a sense of how wide the repertoire is.

What is modern classical or neoclassical music?

Modern classical, sometimes called neoclassical, is a scene that emerged in the 2000s mixing piano, strings and sometimes electronics, usually with melodic, pared-down writing. Max Richter, Nils Frahm and Ólafur Arnalds are well-known names. The style has drawn younger listeners to classical vinyl.

Which labels release contemporary classical music on vinyl?

Key labels include Deutsche Grammophon, ECM's New Series, Nonesuch, Wergo for the avant-garde and Erased Tapes for modern classical. Many historic recordings are found used, while recent albums usually come out on new vinyl, sometimes in limited color editions. Compare listings to see which edition fits your budget.

Contemporary music

Contemporary music pushes the boundaries of sound expression, exploring new harmonies, unprecedented rhythms, and surprising textures. It reflects the sensibilities and questions of our time, whether minimalist, experimental, or influenced by older currents.

Spinning this vinyl is like diving into a creative and unpredictable universe, where each listen reveals new nuances and stimulates our musical curiosity.

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The Curse Of Neck Cemetery

Contemporary Classical Vinyl: Minimalism, Avant-Garde and Modern Classical

What this contemporary classical collection covers

This collection gathers contemporary classical vinyl, meaning art music of the 20th and 21st centuries: the postwar avant-garde, American minimalism, spectral music and today's modern classical scene built on piano, strings and electronics. The catalog runs from Glenn Gould to Wim Mertens and from Ensemble Modern to Kaiser Quartett, through to recent pianists and composers such as Alexandre Tharaud, Poppy Ackroyd and Shida Shahabi. Vinyl has regained a real place in this repertoire, largely thanks to modern classical labels.

Essential works and composers

For the postwar period, a few solid landmarks: Olivier Messiaen's "Quartet for the End of Time," composed as a prisoner of war in 1941; John Cage's "4'33"" from 1952; and the work of Pierre Boulez, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Iannis Xenakis and György Ligeti, whose "Atmosphères" reached a wide audience through "2001: A Space Odyssey."

American minimalism produced some of the most approachable records in the repertoire: Steve Reich's "Music for 18 Musicians," released on ECM, and Philip Glass's opera "Einstein on the Beach," premiered in 1976. Arvo Pärt's "Tabula Rasa," issued by ECM in 1984, opened the way to a more contemplative sound. Today, Max Richter and Nils Frahm lead the modern classical wave that brought a broad audience back to this music.

Labels and editions: buying tips

A few labels are reliable landmarks. Deutsche Grammophon documented Boulez, Stockhausen and Ligeti and now releases Max Richter. ECM's New Series is Arvo Pärt's home and released