New Music in New York

New Music is a general term that encompasses a broad spectrum of musical projects, mostly centered on electronica-based sonic forms but sometimes also expressed through the literary, the visual, or the dramatic that position themselves in a postmodern, critical way. The term New Music emerged in the early 1980s with the publication of Michael Jackson’s Thriller album, though it really became prominent with the creation of the hip-hop and techno genres. More recently new music has entered into mainstream conversation when artists such as Sufjan Stevens and LCD Soundsystem have introduced new musical concepts and instruments to the mainstream.

new music

Today, new music is often associated with experimental and non-traditionalist styles such as folk, drone, and noise music. But this is not to say that these genres are devoid of melody. In fact, melody can play a very important role in creating new music. The main difference between traditional and new music is that classical music centers on the use of formal structures and scales while new music tends to explore new methods of recording and composition as well as the creative process in general.

With new music, there are less boundaries that can be perceived along the lines of conventional categorization. While it might be easy to categorize it under “postmodernism” or “decay,” new music tends to resist pigeonholes. One might therefore label such genres as “influenced.” There is no specific definition for contemporary music since it generally tends to blur the borders of conventional knowledge and categorization. It is therefore not surprising to discover new music to fit the taste and preferences of any listener.

However, there are certain characteristics that distinguish new music from its fellow contemporaries. For instance, new music may have a distinct sound signature that is different from that of its contemporaries. This is because new music usually breaks away from the conventions of Western music in the way that it deploys textures, tempos, structures, modes, and so forth. At the same time, new york contemporary music may be characterized by the presence of certain common features.

Some of these common features include a strong reliance on rhythmic/rhythmic repetitive patterns, polyrhythmic patterns, and so on. Ramon da Silva Pereira is often cited as the father of new york contemporary music. Some other important figures include thinkers like George Stravitz, Kenneth Noland, and John Cage. All these artists have contributed towards the making of new music that would go on to form the foundations of popular music.

The term “New York contemporary music” thus implies something new, different, and perhaps revolutionary. By this it is meant that contemporary music is distinctive, innovative, and above all it is of a highly creative nature. Many critics and music enthusiasts have put New York into the category of a world music capital. This city has grown as a major center for new music. It is not surprising therefore that many people consider it to be the locus of new music.