NancyLebovitz comments on Is masochism necessary? - Less Wrong
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There is. In fact most new orchestral music falls into this category. (The advanced stuff is difficult to perform and is generally only done by elite orchestras.) It just doesn't have the same prestige as the old classics or the new advanced stuff.
Recommend some pieces and/or composers?
Is it possible that it has less prestige because it just isn't as likable for most people as the many sorts of competing music?
Not particularly. :-)
But seriously, if you go to a concert by your local orchestra, there will often be a premiere of a new piece by some local composer which will sound like band music written for orchestra. (Unless your local orchestra is the New York Philharmonic or something. But even then, most new music will tend to be on the conservative side -- people such as Rouse or Harbison, rather than Babbitt or Ferneyhough.)
Usually it's plenty "likable", it just isn't particularly impressive.
OK, it's likable, but it isn't lovable. Any theories about the shortage of lovable new music for orchestra?
We do not currently live in a culture where the most impressive new music has broad appeal.