new-music
UK[ˈnjuː ˌmjuːzɪk]US[ˈnuː ˌmjuːzɪk]
n
A genre of contemporary classical music, often experimental or avant-garde, that emerged in the late 20th century, characterized by the use of new compositional techniques, technologies, and sounds.
Morpheme Breakdown
new
music
new
recent
music
art form
Etymology
The compound term "new-music" is a modern English formation, directly combining the Germanic adjective "new" with the classical noun "music." The word "new" originates from the Proto-Germanic newjaz, meaning "new," which has a stable meaning across centuries. "Music" has a more complex journey, deriving from the Greek Mousa (Muse), the goddesses of the arts, through Latin and French, to signify the art governed by the Muses. The hyphenated compound "new-music" logically and transparently denotes a recent or novel form of this artistic tradition, specifically coined in the 20th century to demarcate avant-garde classical works from the established repertoire.
Analysis
Structure: new (recent) + music (art form)
- new: From Old English nīwe, nēowe, meaning "new, fresh, recent." It is a Germanic root functioning as an adjective describing recency or novelty.
- music: From Old French musique, from Latin mūsica, from Greek mousikē (tekhnē) "(art) of the Muses." It functions as a noun denoting the art form of sound in time.
Examples
The festival is dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge new-music from composers around the world.
Her latest piece is a fascinating example of new-music, incorporating electronic elements and unconventional notation.
The university's new-music ensemble frequently performs works that challenge traditional auditory expectations.