10 Remarkable Classical Works from America

Though I am not American myself, I firmly believe that some of the most exceptional classical compositions of the last century have come from America. I’ve curated a list of 10 such pieces from some of the nation's greatest composers. Whether avant-garde or traditional, each piece offers something unique. Don’t be discouraged if you encounter unfamiliar sounds in these works – these composers are the modern-day Mozarts, deserving of your patience and appreciation.

10. Dances Morton Feldman

Let’s kick things off with the most unconventional piece in this list. Morton Feldman, a student of John Cage, was deeply inspired by Cage’s concepts of indeterminacy in music. ‘Dances’ is a captivating work that was created specifically for dancer and performer, challenging the norms of musical composition.

The second movement of Crumb’s Black Angels is inspired by the Vietnam War, composed for an electronic string quartet. It’s a distinctive and haunting piece, with some sections being quite chilling. A portion of this composition was famously featured in the soundtrack for The Exorcist. Crumb hails from West Virginia.

Elliot Carter was inspired to pursue music as a child by Charles Ives (item 2). A native of New York, Carter, now 98, studied at Harvard University and later with the renowned Nadia Boulanger in Paris. Boulanger mentored many of the 20th century's most influential composers, including other notable figures on this list such as Antheil, Copland, Gershwin, and Glass.

This groundbreaking composition by George Antheil, a native of New Jersey, was ahead of its time. A pivotal video recording emerged in the 1990s, finally pairing the footage with Antheil's score, a collaboration originally intended but delayed. The film was directed by Leger. The original arrangement called for an ensemble of 16 player pianos (pianolas) divided into four parts, 2 standard pianos, 3 xylophones, 7 electric bells, 3 plane propellers, a siren, 4 bass drums, and a tam-tam. However, due to the challenge of synchronizing so many pianolas, early performances utilized a re-orchestrated version with just one pianola and 10 pianos.

If you're not yet acquainted with contemporary opera, brace yourself for a surprise! This opera, composed by John Adams, a prominent American minimalist, is centered around President Nixon’s visit to China in 1972. This is just a snippet, but larger portions of the opera can be found on YouTube. It’s a significant inclusion as it highlights the remarkable contributions to opera that America has made in the past century.

I chose this piece because it provides a stark contrast to most of Cage’s compositions. Known primarily for his avant-garde masterpiece 4’33”, where the performers remain silent for four and a half minutes, Cage was perhaps the most daring American composer of his time. This particular piece, however, is serene and beautiful, composed for solo piano.

Summertime is a memorable piece from Gershwin’s opera Porgy and Bess. Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong bring a wonderfully jazzy interpretation to this classical work, adding their unique flair to the original.

This is a particularly challenging piece to perform, an excerpt from the first opera in a trilogy that includes Einstein on the Beach, Satyagraha, and Akhnaten. The video is fascinating as we get to witness Philip Glass both performing and conducting simultaneously (with his head). I've also included part 2 above to highlight the extraordinary virtuosity demanded of the singers in this opera.

Although the quality isn't optimal, the essence of the piece comes through. This is a breathtaking composition by Charles Ives, who is often regarded as one of the greatest American composers of all time.

We conclude with a powerful piece, Fanfare for the Common Man by Aaron Copland. It’s likely you’ve heard this iconic composition played during the Olympics at some point. The accompanying video features a poignant collection of photographs from 9/11.