i shall bring up a point as well... via contemporary composers.
But first, I love contemporary composers.
Now.
How folk who perform a work is reflected how they see the composer...
If an orchestra were to go on and play something from Beethoven, they are expected to play at their best. Yet, when some contemporary composer is played, like, Webern, Sorabji, Braxton, Xenakis, Even Zappa... (which i had this epiphany from watching 200 Motels... then listening to Jami Symphony... which later reminded me of the anime Nodame Cantibile. during the episode when the virtuoso conducter decided to call in sick after a night of drinking... so the protagonist is the step in conductor... however none of the orchestra was too thrilled... and started testing the protagonist... they were playing Brahms' First Symphony. Anyways, he was all noticing things they were intentionally doing... and such...) :O wait i got side tracked slightly...
But anyways, it was that part of the anime where i ended up with the epiphany after reading this and typing that...
The fact is, most performers wouldn't put all their effort into some contemporary composer's work, because there isn't enough respect in their musical language.
But yes, if Webern was to be performed on the radio stations... in place of Haydn or some other notible composer's work. (i mean we all probably have at least a few of the works played on any radio station, and other radio stations tend to play more recent music a bunch of times... which is particularly why they are so popular.
My point being. Micheal Jackson was played on the radio, on the television. Also had some scandals... i am sure everyone here has heard of him. Lady Gaga, Madonna, Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake, Janet Jackson, Linkin Park... (also nearly anyone with enough public promotion, Pepsi, Super Bowl, etc.
...a few more names... (and how do we remember these ones?)
The Beatles, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, Elvis, Frank Sinatra
in the first list i can assure you that i know of one that not many have heard... Bright Eyes. (they are from my home city...) yet they are at least nation wide... (took them a decade or so just to get to this state.) How ever, the local radio station plays them a lot, yet not many others... (although he is more indie.)
another is The Feint. (which is more electro-pop.) A lot like a 2000s Depeche Mode.
On the second list... one that i know a few of you have heard, but they didn't get as much publicity as the five on the list above. The Moody Blues.
(i could go back in time, with every few decades all the way back to The Hymn of Nikkal. if you would like. but i won't that would be a series of books...)
(and to the mods, this all relates... *suspicious eyes)
*nods, however, back to the direct topic.
Each epoch has a specific language. (publicized or unknown.)
For instance, the Medieval Epoch was mostly vocal, with an Estampie here and there. The Renaissance was primarily 1-3 voices (instrument or voice.) Which also produced a lot of canons. The Baroque evolved the canons into Fugues, and started developing various other genres, like Concertos and such. The Classical, started making symphonies and have adapted a more structural sonata form. The Romantic (although Madrigals were around since Medieval which have evolved into the Opera.) this was more emotional music. which lead us to the Modern, which was where the symphonies evolved into bigger forms, (thanks to Mahler and others.) Chamber music was primarily Piano Trios, String Quartets, Horn Trios, and occassionally others.)
then there was a schism impressionist and expressionist. Which school of though do you think triumphed from this?
anyways, after this we are led to (i won't count 20th century, or 21st century...) Contemporary, where they start implimenting older techniques that not many would regularly hear since the performers tend to overlook these things. So they don't realize the amount of amazing techniques are used.
Sorabji was addicted to fugues, Messiaen was borderline minimallist. Xenakis (in my personal opinion) was attempting to impliment a classical metal fusion. Varese was writing simply to promote electronic instruments among other reasons, also has some really amazing music. Coates is addicted to glissandi and mirror canons.
Various others i could list like crazy... but i won't since some i have no idea on yet...
I do know, Cage has a lot of interesting works, that i sometime want to get into. (i already heard his 4'33"... even though my copy is a second short...