London, 2022, featured on www.interlude.hk

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A recent visit to Los Angeles triggered the intensification of my curiosity of American art in general, but particularly American classical music. While quite aware of many American composers — and having recently written an article about Ives —, I realised that if I had been quite obsessed by some — as a matter of fact, Glass and Reich have been angular stones in my personal career development and choice to focus on composing music — I had nevertheless overlooked many of them.

The history of American classical music is undoubtedly shorter than the one of its European counterpart, however the speed at which it has evolved and developed results in a very rich repertoire and outcome. 

 

Following is a short summary on American classical music, and its leading figures. American music, of course, cannot be reduced to a single and simple identity. There have been many movements, and genres within it; from modernists influenced by jazz or the jazzers themselves, to avant-gardists, minimalists and much more. 

Gershwin, Berlin, Kern, Porter and Rodgers are probably the most well-known American composers; yet many often fail at recognising them. This does not stop them from being responsible for some of the most famous songs off Broadway, and building the jazz repertoire — aka The Real Book; from The Sound of Music and Kiss Me, Kate to This Is the Army, Show Boat and American opera Porgy and Bess. 

Then come the real celebrities; Copland, Barber, Bernstein. Everyone knows them, one way or another. If not Bernstein’s West Side Story — which has recently been reinterpreted by Williams and Newman — Barber’s Adagio and Copland's ballets including Appalachian Spring, Billy the Kid and Rodeo. Bernstein and Copland have also been popular educators and have helped both the spread of European classical music in the United States and the development of American classical music. 

Perhaps the ones that had the most important impact on classical music around the world, the minimalists. From the pioneer that is Riley — and his groundbreaking "In C" —, to Feldman, Adams and the two most popular ones Glass, Reich, who have both in their own way participated in shaping electronic music, film music and even popular music. Though the wave of the minimalists would have not existed without the avant-garde works of Crumb, Ives and most importantly Cage — who is one of the most unique composers, not only for his music but also for his own artistic development.

This list would not ever contemplate the idea of being complete without mentioning the most important jazz composers of the second half of the 20th century; Ellington. His influence on jazz music is so important that a considerable part of its repertoire is based on his works. But Ellington cannot be only reduced to his work in jazz improvisation and repertoire, and his concert hall music is just as important — Black, Brown and Beige is a recurring performed work around the world. 

Today of course, American classical music is dominated by film music, with names such as: 

Williams, Whitacre, Zimmer — which are all well known to the bigger audience and create the bridge between academic and popular.

 

It is interesting to see how visual and musical artists have evolved together, how Glass and Close, Rothko and Feldman, they all seem to have grown together, while in the case of Gershwin, Berlin and Bernstein it is through dance and Broadway shows. Following in through the footsteps of what the tradition that the Europeans had installed. 

It seems that from the 1950s, there was a wish from the Americans to take their pacific revenge on European art, to catch up with the cultural delay that the country seemed to have; and this resulted in a huge development and progress, in literature, cinema — which became “their” art —, dance, painting, and of course music. 

Due to their disconnection to the history of European classical music, American composers have always felt freer in their creative movements, and this has led to considerable musical progress — “In C” by Riley is one of its best examples.