10 contemporary composers worth listening to

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Lifehacker has collected for you playlists from the music of ten excellent composers of our day: from Einaudi and Marradi to Hisaisi and O'Halloran.

Among these melodies there is a motive for any mood: romantic, positive or dreary, in order to relax and not think about anything, or, conversely, to collect thoughts.

1. Ludovico Einaudi

The Italian composer and pianist works in the direction of minimalism, often turns to ambient and skillfully combines classics with other musical styles. He is widely known for atmospheric compositions that have become soundtracks for films. For example, you probably recognize the music from the French 1 + 1 tape, written by Einaudi.

2. Philip Glass

Glass is one of the most controversial personalities in the world of modern classics, who is sometimes exalted to the skies, then criticized to smithereens. He has been with his own band, the Philip Glass Ensemble, for half a century and has written music for over 50 films, including The Truman Show, The Illusionist, Taste of Life and Fantastic Four. The melodies of the American minimalist composer blur the line between classical and popular music.

3. Max Richter

He is the author of many soundtracks, the best film composer of 2008 according to the European Film Academy and a post-minimalist. Conquered critics from the first album Memoryhouse, in which Richter's music was superimposed on poetry reading, and in subsequent albums, fiction was also used. In addition to writing his own ambient compositions, Max arranges the works of the classics: Vivaldi's Seasons in his arrangement topped the iTunes classical music charts.

4. Giovanni Marradi

This creator of instrumental music from Italy is not associated with the sensational cinema, but without that he is known as a composer, virtuoso and an experienced piano teacher. If you describe the work of Marradi in two words, it will be the words "sensual" and "magical". His compositions and covers will appeal to those who love retroclassics: the notes of the last century shine through in the motives.

5. Hans Zimmer

The renowned film composer has created musical scores for many high-grossing films and cartoons, including Gladiator, Pearl Harbor, Inception, Sherlock Holmes, Interstellar, Madagascar, The Lion King. Its star flaunts on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and on its shelf are Oscars, Grammy and Golden Globes. Zimmer's music is as different as the films listed, but regardless of the key, it takes to the living.

6. Joe Hisaishi

Hisaishi is one of the most famous Japanese composers, having received four Japanese Academy Awards for Best Film Music. Joe became famous for writing the soundtrack for Hayao Miyazaki's anime "Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind." If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli's creations or Takeshi Kitano's tapes, then you surely admire Hisaishi's music. It is mostly light and light.

7. Olafur Arnalds

This Icelandic multi-instrumentalist is just a boy compared to the listed masters, but by his 30 years he managed to become a recognized neoclassicist. He has recorded an accompaniment to the ballet, won a BAFTA for the soundtrack for the British TV series Murder on the Beach and released 10 studio albums. Arnalds' music is reminiscent of a harsh wind on a deserted seashore.

8. Yiruma

Lee Rum's most famous works are Kiss the Rain and River Flows in You. The Korean New Age composer and pianist writes popular classics that can be understood by listeners on any continent, with any musical taste and education. His light and sensual melodies became the beginning of love for piano music for many.

9. Dustin O'Halloran

The American composer is interesting in that he has no musical education, but at the same time writes the most pleasant and quite popular music. O'Halloran's tunes have been featured on Top Gear and several films. Perhaps the most successful soundtrack album was for the melodrama "Like Crazy".

10. Roberto Cacciapaglia

This composer and pianist knows a lot about the art of conducting and how to create electronic music. But his main field is modern classics. Cacchapaglia has recorded numerous albums, three of them with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. His music flows like water, it will be great to relax under it.

What other contemporary composers should you listen to?

If you love epic music from films, add Klaus Badelt, who collaborated with Zimmer on Pirates of the Caribbean, to your playlist. Also not to be missed is Jan Kaczmarek, Alexander Desplat, Howard Shore and John Williams - you need to write a separate article to list all their work, achievements and awards.

If you want more tasty neoclassicism, pay attention to Niels Frahm and Sylvain Chauot.

If you don't have enough positives, remember the creator of the soundtrack to "Amelie" Jan Tiersen or discover the Japanese composer Tammon: he writes airy, fabulous melodies.