The term Contemporary' usually refers to classical music written in the last half-century, particularly to pieces composed post 1960. Whether it covers all modern classical music or just that written in an avant-garde style is the subject of great debate amongst aficionados, but generally the term is used as a synonym for modern' and cites composers who are still producing work. One recurring theme in the art of contemporary classical composition has been that of rule-bending, with music often sounding discordant to the untrained listener, while minimalism and repetition are also prominent features of much contemporary work.
