In the broadest sense, contemporary music is any music being written in the present day. In practice, usage of the term tends to be restricted to composers writing avant garde music in the classical tradition.

Contemporary composers working the early 21st century include György Ligeti, Mauricio Kagel, Harrison Birtwistle, Brian Ferneyhough, Steve Reich, and many younger figures such as Thomas Adès.

There are a number of festivals dedicated to contemporary music, among them the Donaueschingen Festival of Contemporary Music and Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival.


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