# Has a good piece of classical music been written since Jan. 1 1900? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060 "2008-02-03T04:00:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/1 "2008-02-03T04:00:35Z")
Do you think a good piece of classical music has been written since January 1, 1900? Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev are the only composers I can think of who have written good classical music in the 20th and 21st century. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/2 "2008-02-03T04:02:49Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] Do you think a good piece of classical music has been written since January 1, 1900? Igor Stravinsky and Sergei Prokofiev are the only composers I can think of who have written good classical music in the 20th and 21st century. [/QUOTE] With all due respect, have you looked? In America, have you listened to Aaron Copland? I would argue that Steve Reich has written brilliant classical music - but it is modern and minimalist - but to be performed by orchestras… Too many to mention… ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/3 "2008-02-03T04:03:05Z")
Here’s something for you to chew on: _Define “good classical music.”_ :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![lissener](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lissener/32/6139_2.png) [@lissener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lissener)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/4 "2008-02-03T04:07:37Z")
The short answer is Yes. A lot of people tend to call it “Art Music” these days, to distinguish from A)old music, and B)pop music. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/5 "2008-02-03T04:08:02Z")
Does _Rhapsody in Blue_ count? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/6 "2008-02-03T04:08:58Z")
Maurice Ravel? Leroy Anderson? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/7 "2008-02-03T04:12:29Z")
[QUOTE=Robot Arm] Does _Rhapsody in Blue_ count? [/QUOTE] I thought about Gershwin. I decided to put him in jazz. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/8 "2008-02-03T04:14:25Z")
[QUOTE=Lute Skywatcher] Maurice Ravel? Leroy Anderson? [/QUOTE] Ravel counts! His string quartet is amazing. I have the dope to thank for introducing me to that amazing work. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/9 "2008-02-03T04:15:59Z")
[QUOTE=dalej42] I thought about Gershwin. I decided to put him in jazz. [/QUOTE] Well so much for old George then. \< Jumbotron-sized :rolleyes: \> ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/10 "2008-02-03T04:17:09Z")
Holst? Orff? ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/11 "2008-02-03T04:27:29Z")
[QUOTE=Ranchoth] Holst? Orff? [/QUOTE] Holst was a great composer. The Planets is a masterpiece. Orff? I love Carmina Burana. OK, this thread can serve as an introduction to good 20th and 21 century pieces. ---
**Author:** ![Wolfian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/7ea924/32.png) [@Wolfian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolfian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/12 "2008-02-03T04:27:32Z")
Has a good piece of “Classical” music been written since 1800 for that matter? ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/13 "2008-02-03T04:27:47Z")
[Ralph](http://www.boosey.com/pages/cr/composer/composer_main.asp?composerid=2948&) Vaughn Williams. ---
**Author:** ![Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e47c2d/32.png) [@Biffy\_the\_Elephant\_Shrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffy_the_Elephant_Shrew)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/14 "2008-02-03T04:28:58Z")
What a ridiculous question. I’ll assume that you don’t appreciate Varèse, Ives, Berg, Webern, or Schoenberg, let alone the minimalists or the more avant-garde composers of the 20th century and will claim that they don’t count as “good” classical music. But Mahler? Shostakovich? Scriabin? Debussy, fer chrissake? (_La Mer_ is a 20th century work.) Satie? Vaughan Williams? In short, _fuck yes._ ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/15 "2008-02-03T04:29:23Z")
[QUOTE=Wolfian] Has a good piece of “Classical” music been written since 1800 for that matter? [/QUOTE] Well, Prokofiev wrote a classical symphony. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/16 "2008-02-03T04:30:07Z")
[Alan Hovhaness - And God Created Great Whales.](http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/store/artist/album/0,,197507,00.html) Try composing **that** for an 18th century orchestra! ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/17 "2008-02-03T04:35:05Z")
Samuel Barber, 1938, [Adagio for Strings](http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6427815) ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/18 "2008-02-03T04:39:42Z")
Technically, “Classical music” is art music written from approximately the 1720s to the 1820s. Music written after 1900 cannot, by definition, be “Classical music.” I’ve heard modern art music called “20th century classical,” but the modifier’s important. Usually it’s called “modern,” “Avante Garde,” or whatever fits the style. Yeah, I’m being picky. Hey, lots of fine orchestral music has been written as movie soundtracks. Surely that must count? If music written for operas can be regarded as great art, why not for movies? ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/19 "2008-02-03T04:43:01Z")
Easy. Too many mouth breathers still go to the movies. Give it 200 years or so. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2008, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060/20 "2008-02-03T04:43:23Z")
John Williams has written [a dozen or more concertos.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Williams#Concerti) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-a-good-piece-of-classical-music-been-written-since-jan-1-1900/436060.md?page=2)