Ambivalent Attitudes toward the Musical Past

• Some composers have made the conscious decision to distance themselves from the styles and values of the past.
  
• Claude Debussy said: "The century of the airplane ought to have its own music."
  
• Other composers have just as consciously tried to return to some aspects of the past, especially the elements of the Classical style.
  

A Widening Gap between "Art" and "Popular" Music

• Popular music, especially jazz, country, and rock, became the central musical focus of the majority of people in the Western world, and its reach covers the globe.
  
• Composers in the "art" traditions have come to be seen as less relevant in day-to-day life.
  
• Composers whose music has become more and more complex have widened the gap between art and popular music.
  

The Advent of Sound Recording

• The distribution of music made possible by recording was instrumental in the growth of popular styles.
  
• Recordings have changed the way we listen to music. Works from all musical periods are available at any time.
  
• The techniques of recording and audio production have become important musical elements in their own right.
  

The Birth of a World Music Culture

• Western music, popular as well as art traditions, has become a world language.
• At the same time, Western musicians have become more and more interested in the music of other cultures. Western composers with non-Western ancestry have likewise sought out the music of their heritage.
• Non-Western ideas have enriched Western styles and have been accepted enthusiastically.
  
• In the age of global communication, a new "world music" style is starting to emerge. This style freely mixes elements from multiple cultures and is not dependent on the heritage of its creator.