Masterpieces in Our Time

Postby **Steeltemplar** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:00 am

I was listening to Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 (a wonderful composition), when I happened to consider this question: Does this era, the latter half of the 20th Century, have a Bach or a Mozart? Do we have anyone producing music that would be considered virtuosic? Are there, in fact, true masterpieces?

Mind you, I am not going to say that it has to be classical to fit this description. I might submit certain art rock and metal bands as being possible candidates for our virtuosic highlights. After all, you have bands like Yes with "Close to the Edge", Genesis with "Supper's Ready", Jethro Tull with "Thick as a Brick", and Led Zeppelin with "Stairway to Heaven" back in the 70's. Joni Mitchell's style, being more along the lines of jazz, was more simple but nonetheless would be a good candidate with albums like Court and Spark or The Hissing of Summer Lawns. More recently, I would point to Metallica's "The Four Horsemen" and "One", Blind Guardian's "...And Then There Was Silence", and Symphony X's album The Odyssey.

Perhaps you all could also suggest possibilities?

The question remains, though, how do all of these stack up next to one of the classical greats. To Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, Handel, Haydn? I really am not decided. Opinions would be welcome. And if you think we have no music in our era to compare to the great classics, then would anyone care to venture a guess as to why that is the case?

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 8:52 am

The instrumental works of Phil Keaggy and Frank Zappa come to mind.

Postby **Joshua Christopher** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:38 pm

Masamichi Amano. AKA = Awesome.

Postby **ShiroiHikari** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 12:48 pm

Hmm. For something that stands up to the great composers of old, the only name that comes to mind is John Williams, or maybe Yoko Kanno.

Postby **Joshua Christopher** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:02 pm

And Harry Gregson-Williams, who is most famous for the well-know Metal Gear Solid themes.

Postby **inkjet1987** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 3:49 pm

mewithoutYou. Mainly Catch for Us, but A---->B Life as well.

Postby **Locke** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:20 pm

Maybe...the Star Wars themes?

Postby **inkjet1987** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:22 pm

Oh yeah Explosions in the Sky. Can't believe I didnt think of them before.

Postby **Warrior 4 Jesus** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:25 pm

Howard Shore is an excellent composer.

Postby **GrubbTheFragger** » Wed Feb 15, 2006 5:57 pm

underoaths Some Will Seek Forgiveness,others escape not sure if that counts as a masterpeice but thats just one of the best songs i have ever heard

Postby **Kkun** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:14 am

I would definitely count mewithoutYou as an achievement for the artistic side of music today. I would have to say that Catch For Us the Foxes is one of the best albums to come out in the last five years, EASILY.

Also, allow me to throw Godspeed! You Black Emperor's "Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas To Heaven" in. That album is amazing.

Postby **ShiroiHikari** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 7:37 am

If we're going to talk about rock, I have to toss in Coheed and Cambria. As for the album, you can't go wrong with either In Keeping Secrets, or Good Apollo.

Postby **Locke** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:21 pm

Sufjan Stevens gets my vote for folk/indie.

Postby **Steeltemplar** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 3:51 pm

Well, I think that I should put some parameters here. This isn't about just songs that are good or that we like. Ask these questions of the music as you listen to it.:

1. How complex is it?

2. How virtuosic is it both in terms of how it was written and how difficult it is to play correctly?

3. Now compare it to what the old masters composed. How does it stack up?

Postby **Arnobius** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:17 pm

I think Basil Poldouris did some very well composed works... differing from the "Use every instrument in the orchestra" approach from John Williams, but I think one difference betwen the rock musicians and the classical composers was the level of devotion and study. These Classical composers devoted their lives to continual study of music and composing (then after death, they devoted them selves to de-composing

) while the Rock musicians have not had so much devotion.

This doesn't mean I'm a snob who drinks tea and only listens to classical music. I love power metal, but I think this is the difference between Bach and Rhapsody

Postby **Steeltemplar** » Thu Feb 16, 2006 4:21 pm

AnimeHeretic wrote:I think Basil Poldouris did some very well composed works... differing from the "Use every instrument in the orchestra" approach from John Williams, but I think one difference betwen the rock musicians and the classical composers was the level of devotion and study. These Classical composers devoted their lives to continual study of music and composing (then after death, they devoted them selves to de-composing ) while the Rock musicians have not had so much devotion.

This doesn't mean I'm a snob who drinks tea and only listens to classical music. I love power metal, but I think this is the difference between Bach and Rhapsody

I think that's a really good assessment of the question and I am inclined to agree.

Also, I notice you have the obligatory AH Bad Joke in there :lol:

Like you, I love rock and metal. Jazz too. But if it's a question of what is virtuosic, complex, and created with an incredible devotion to detail, I have trouble finding something like what the classic masters did.

<drinks some tea>

Postby **Sonic_13** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 2:24 pm

I could list to many.

In my eyes Stevie Ray Vaughan was one heck of a guitar player. As far as rock and roll goes I consider him the Beethoven of the time.

Postby **Joshua Christopher** » Sat Feb 18, 2006 3:41 pm

Wait, dude... November Rain by Guns 'n Roses!

Postby **Maledicte** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 9:58 pm

"Ghost Love Score" by Nightwish.
"Master of Puppets" by of course, Metallica.
"The Abbey Road Medley" The Beatles!

Anything by Julian Nott--he's the guy who did the Wallace and Gromit soundtracks, among other things. Brilliant stuff.

Postby **bigsleepj** » Sun Feb 19, 2006 10:12 pm

I love the theme from the Wallace & Gromit songs.

Another neglected piece of 20th-century composition is Scott Joplin's "rags" used so much in the movie "The Sting". Excellent music. Although its not really a recent composition, but its under-appreciated.

And Carter Burwell's opening credits theme for the movie "Fargo" is one of the best pieces of music written within the last 20 years.

Postby **That Dude** » Wed Feb 22, 2006 6:10 pm

KKun I'm glad you mentioned Godspeed's "Lift Yur Skinny Fists." That band has got to be one of the most brilliant ones out there.

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Fri Feb 24, 2006 5:26 pm

Radiohead's Amnesiac and Kid A are very well-arranged rock albums. Easily some of the best "headphone" music ever.

Postby **Joshua Christopher** » Sat Feb 25, 2006 11:30 pm

The songs "Disarm" and "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins.

The mix of orchestral pieces into the music is just fantastic.

Postby **Steeltemplar** » Sun Feb 26, 2006 7:56 am

Impact Alberto wrote:The songs "Disarm" and "Tonight, Tonight" by The Smashing Pumpkins.

The mix of orchestral pieces into the music is just fantastic.

Both of those songs are awesome. I'm a big fan of the Pumpkins.

Postby **Htom Sirveaux** » Tue Feb 28, 2006 4:24 pm

Yeah, Mellon Collie was just a great album in general.

Postby **Ninja Rob** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:33 pm

Locke wrote:Sufjan Stevens gets my vote for folk/indie.

I second that vote.

Postby **That Dude** » Mon Mar 06, 2006 5:41 pm

As far as punk and folk go you can't get any better than Calibretto 13.

Masterpieces in Our Time

Masterpieces in Our Time

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