What is New Music?
New music is an extension of the classical music tradition, and it represents the cutting and creative edge of classical music. In addition, new music can incorporate elements of many different musical genres, including classical, jazz, rock, world music and others. In the end, new music is simply that: newly created music written by living composers.
Zeitgeist is one of the country’s most successful and established new music groups with a unique instrumentation of two percussion, piano and woodwinds. For Zeitgeist, new music means working with variety of new composers of all ages, many from the local community. New music also means exploration: Zeitgeist plays music that pushes boundaries into new sound worlds, new influences, new techniques, new structural forms, new media, new ways of expressing and understanding the world we live in today.
It may take repeated hearings or a few varied experiences to develop a personal understanding of new and sometimes complex music. The intent of much new music is not merely to be pretty, but to deal with sometimes large and multi-faceted emotional, spiritual, intellectual and social issues. Not every piece of new music will appeal to everyone, but there truly is something for everyone: In the words of Jon Nordahl, "The ease with which a piece of music is digested upon the first hearing is not a definitive measure of its value."
In the early years, Zeitgeist was strongly linked to the minimalist esthetic and style, commissioning works from minimalist masters Terry Riley and LaMonte Young. Today Zeitgeist embraces a broad stylistic range, including recent commissions from Paul Dresher, Beth Custer, Jin Hi Kim, and Martin Bresnick. Seeking to move beyond the boundaries of the traditional chamber music concert form in recent years, Zeitgeist has developed a variety of multidisciplinary collaborations and large-scale theatrical productions, working with theatrical directors, poets, video artists, computer musicians and more to create noteworthy and adventurous music.
Zeitgeist primarily performs in the St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood at Studio Z. Check out our next concert to hear and learn more about new music.
Zeitgeist is one of the country’s most successful and established new music groups with a unique instrumentation of two percussion, piano and woodwinds. For Zeitgeist, new music means working with variety of new composers of all ages, many from the local community. New music also means exploration: Zeitgeist plays music that pushes boundaries into new sound worlds, new influences, new techniques, new structural forms, new media, new ways of expressing and understanding the world we live in today.
It may take repeated hearings or a few varied experiences to develop a personal understanding of new and sometimes complex music. The intent of much new music is not merely to be pretty, but to deal with sometimes large and multi-faceted emotional, spiritual, intellectual and social issues. Not every piece of new music will appeal to everyone, but there truly is something for everyone: In the words of Jon Nordahl, "The ease with which a piece of music is digested upon the first hearing is not a definitive measure of its value."
In the early years, Zeitgeist was strongly linked to the minimalist esthetic and style, commissioning works from minimalist masters Terry Riley and LaMonte Young. Today Zeitgeist embraces a broad stylistic range, including recent commissions from Paul Dresher, Beth Custer, Jin Hi Kim, and Martin Bresnick. Seeking to move beyond the boundaries of the traditional chamber music concert form in recent years, Zeitgeist has developed a variety of multidisciplinary collaborations and large-scale theatrical productions, working with theatrical directors, poets, video artists, computer musicians and more to create noteworthy and adventurous music.
Zeitgeist primarily performs in the St. Paul’s Lowertown neighborhood at Studio Z. Check out our next concert to hear and learn more about new music.
