Paul Griffiths: Modern Music and After
Paul Griffiths' “Modern Music and After” provides a magnificent introduction to avant-garde music, covering key composers and major works with clarity and depth.
Tim Rutherford-Johnson: Music After the Fall
Music After the Fall is an interesting read if you'd like to learn more about contemporary music.
Exploring Levels of Musical Complexity
In this video, starting with a simple melody, Happy Birthday, Nahre Sol leads the viewer through 16 techniques to create increasingly complex variations on a theme.
The Best Albums of 2018
A disappointing year as far as I'm concerned, but the three albums that I do like are outstanding.
György Ligety: Mysteries of the Macabre
Superb performance of György Ligeti's Mysteries of the Macabre by the formidable Barbara Hannigan and the Gothenborg Symphony.
Alex Ross: The Rest Is Noise
The Rest Is Noise provides an excellent overview of 20th century classical music. It is also a joy to read. I'm glad that I finally came around to reading it and now wish I had done so earlier.
The Best Albums of 2017
Some of my favourite albums of the year and the ones that I expect to listen to for some time to come were classical recordings.
Kein Licht
It was funny, moving, interesting and inspiring and then it was all over. I wish I could replay it. I wish I remembered more of what I'd seen and heard.
The Best Albums of 2016
My favourite albums of the year.
The Best Albums of 2015
An excellent year with many albums that I expect to play for some time to come.
The Best Albums of 2014
A short list this year, but Aeriality by Anna Sigríður Þorvaldsdóttir is one of the best contemporary classical albums I've heard in a long while.
The Best Albums of 2013
A solid year with good albums by Nick Cave and Arcade Fire and a return to form for the Arctic Monkeys and Daft Punk.