On Innovation: Are there any truely new ideas?

Edgard Varèse

Today in class, as we discussed new directions for brass ensemble literature, I brought up the question of how to determine truly new ideas. Often, new ideas and new genres in music are inspired by, or are derived from a combination of older ideas or genres.

Here are some interesting links related to innovation in classical music:

The eMusic Dozen: Classical Innovators

Top Ten Most Innovative Composers by William C. White

The Birth of the New: Reflections On Innovation in Music by Thomas May and the San Francisco Symphony

Innovation: Inspiration from Reinventions of Classical Music by Olin Hide

Music’s Greatest Innovator: Celebrating Haydn on the 200th anniversary of his death by David Hurwitz from Listen

Aaron Copeland: About the Composer from PBS

Visionaries: Musical Innovator Tod Machover from WBUR