John Rutter, "Britain's best loved living composer", is still alive and kicking. He composes the more 'easy listening' kind of music one could say, though much of it is really good.

And the guy is really nice, with a charming personality. He directed the choir I sing in at the Dutch premiere of his Feel the Spirit works. Wich is of course one of the reasons for me to mention him. Besides, I don't know many 20th century composers and I don't like most of the ones I do know.

Have to check out those guys you mentioned sometime though..... What kind of music does Florio make? And that Oliva guy sounds nice (http://www.cduniverse.com/productinf...tyle=classical). That reminds me, Manuel Ponce wrote some nice guitar music too (19th/20th century).

John Adams, Arvo Part, John Williams.
Critics say John Williams is a lightweight. Perhaps but a good many other classical composers wrote screen music also. Both John Adams and Arvo Part are minimalists. Part is one of the foremost composers of modern sacred music. A lot of listeners don't like minimalism but it appeals to me.

hey, i love minimalism...Heard Arvo Part's name everywhere but never had a chance to listen to anything by him, got any suggestions?

Hello equinox:
Part writes sacred music with a few twists here and there. One of his tricks is to have a chorus sing two notes very close together, which intones a slightly dissonant note; then the chorus will bend it out and it simply intensifies the beauty of the harmony when the singers come out of the dissonant chord. (does that make sense?) If you don't like masses, chants, or that sort of choral music, Part is not for you. However, if you do, he composes some of the most sublime, thrilling, and moving music ever heard.

Try "Te Deum", and "Berliner messe" for starters. I've got a version that was recorded in an ancient church in Part's homeland of Estonia and features the Tallinen chamber orchestra and chorus.

Here are some samples .
http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/mudhon...arvo_audio.htm

Well, here's some that I like:

Tod Dockstader (in my CD player now)
Karlheinz Stockhausen (Still alive!)
Earle Brown (hard-core serial music, he just died in 2002)
Ligeti!!!

If you tend to like more "symphonic" music. Definitaley check out Vagn Holmboe's (well, he's dead, but still 20th century) symphonic cycle on BIS. Kancheli, too, fits in the "tonal" category.

Ok, I'm not really doing this right...still alive...hmm...

Christopher Rouse!
Hans Werner Henze...pretty sure he's still kickin'

this is my area of expertise.

Seeing that I have several 1000 classical albums.

Well in reality only around 900.

well, if it's your expertise, share your knowledge with us, please...

Michael Kaiman has composed wondrous interpretations of varrying styles. most of us are familiar of his work with metallica and the san fran orchestra.

Born 1935 Georgia ex UDSSR