Let's have it, your all-time favorite/most respected Avant-Garde composition of the 20th century...essentially, to you, what one piece of music defines the Avant-Garde in one single piece...

...my initial reaction would be John Cage's 4'33", but I'm going to think about it some more before coming to a definite conclusion...

...hmmmmm... probably something by Bjork...

...either that or maybe something by Art Bell...

...he doesn't know he's creating music... he thinks he's just doing a radio show....but that's the brilliance of it... that's why it's so fresh sounding every time I listen to it...

-- drsquid

Squidquote follows:
You know, Hobbes, sometimes even my lucky rocketship underpants don't help.

That's brilliant...best response I could've hoped for!!

Gonna' go see the Day After Tomorrow, drsquid?

... ok, I'll stop jerking you around, Seba... for now...

... how about Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring" ...? Classic-Avant Garde...
(...jumbo shrimp, military intelligence, american cultural elite...)

anyHoovers, the Rite is MY favorite. Dunno if it is the essence of Avant Garde... 4'33" may be a better choice where that is concerned...

--- drsquid

Squid Quote of the moment:
... bleakness ... desolation ... plastic forks ...

I'll go with "Rite of Spring". It set off the powder keg, really.

Actually, the Riot that occurred at the premiere on May 29, 1913, at the Théatre des Champs-Elysées in Paris had nothing to do with the music. It was the Ballet for Les Sylphides that actually caused the riot at the premiere, which included the outrageous costumes (skin-tight and see-through material), unusual choreography and bizarre story of a pagan sacrifice. You can thank Serge Diaghilev, director of the Ballets Russes for the Riot and not Stravinsky.

The music was more along the lines of the straw that broke the Camel's back.

Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima (Penderecki)

That one got "OUT"

I love Ligeti but this was earlier.

Does Arnold Schoenberg or Josef Hauer deserve any credit? Tone rows and tropes man!

okay, without listing a huge list, I would say Olivier Messiaen is my vote.

..But Seba...as soon as you name it, doesn't it CEASE to be "avante garde"?