I'm talking about exploring new ways to approach what music is. There were actually only two pieces that I felt were really doing interesting things, and there was one other that was working on it. The first was making use of many extended techniques, as well as interesting ways to create phrases. Also, the instrumentation (solo flute) was an odd choice. If I could explain it more fully, then I could be writing it myself! The other one was with embracing the lack of music as well as the music is something that can be explored more (though, that's dangerous, because many people have already done the same). The one that I thought showed great potential was involving spoken words and sounds beyond what the specific instruments produced (i.e. clapping and stuff). Now, all of that has been done before, but the way it was done was pretty interesting, and I think it prooves that there is more to be done in that direction of music.
Also, I don't think college kids have it and no one else does. As I said earlier, even college kids are doing stuff that I've never heard before. Surely other people have to be doing the same as well. I'm just annoyed that none of it is getting from the composers and performers to me. The record shops all have just more recordings of the same damn pieces that have been around for 50 or more years. Maybe Adams was right and concert music is really a dying genre. Not because it's not advancing, but because the people who are supporing it with the most money are the people who don't want it to advance! They want to hear those same damn pieces. Hell, for most of them 50 years ago is too soon! They just want to listen to Mozart and Bach and all of the big names because it sounds so pretty. They're just so fucking conservative!
Edit: About listening to retro for innovation. The idea is one that has worked throughout history, actually. I think Monteverdi looked backwards a ways for his ideas which ended up founding the Baroque era. Wagner's revolutionary ideas for operas and music in general was from a look back at Greek dramas and music. So, it's not so surprising that they could sound reasonably new after not actually listening to new stuff.
Also, it should be noted that I don't agree with the futurists in that the traditions should be completely abandoned. I think that somebody just needs to look at them in a different way. Hell, people probably are. Actually, I'm sure people are. There are a lot of people out there writing music. Most of them are probably several times smarter than I. All I want is to be able to hear their music.
