As John Cage, a 20th century composer, has shown, music can be any sound made at any time.

In Cage's piece entitled "4'33," the pianist sits down at the piano, takes out a stopwatch and doesn't play a note for four minutes and 33 seconds. Cage's concept is that instead of listening to the musician, the audience becomes the performer and the noise in the auditorium is the music. This idea of stripping music down to its bare essence, which is a form of minimalism, has supported ideas pursued by composers in the 21st century.

Marcia Farabee, the principal librarian of the National Symphony Orchestra Music Library, said that today's musicians are taking that concept a step further.

"It's almost an extension of minimalism." Farabee said.

Farabee clarified the current trends in classical music.

"They tend to be in one of two categories," she said.

Farabee said that music written today is usually minimalist or the exact opposite. Minimalism involves simple melody, harmony or rhythm while adding slight or gradual variations. The exact opposite is music that Farabee describes as "very busy."

Ruthanne Schempf, adjunct music instructor at Marist College, said that some musicians, who write busier music such as John Corigliano, can be hard to follow.

"Corigliano's music requires a solid technique and is not exactly easy to listen to," said Schempf. "However, amidst the dissonance (crunchy, colorful harmony) there is romantic lyricism."

Composers such as John Corigliano, who wrote "Symphony No. 2," push the musicians and their instruments. His symphony won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for music. An American composer, Corigliano also wrote the music for the movie "The Red Violin." In the movie, the violin has several owners over the course of several centuries. Corigliano had to orchestrate a score that spanned three centuries, creating a different sound for each owner.

Emil Decou, an associate conductor for the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington D.C., said that classical music is gaining popularity.

"New music is definitely making a comeback," said Decou. "Because people are making music that other people want to hear."

Schempf said that while composers are creating classical music with a new and abstract edge they must keep in mind the audience that will hear their performance.

"I think that all composers need to consider the audience if they want to hear their music performed more than once," she said. "This is always a consideration ... and in all art forms like haute couture, cuisine and visual arts."

Other composers like Toru Takemitsu, provides a different approach to classical music. While American composers like Corigliano are compared to Copeland, Takemitsu gathers Japanese influences for his music. The result is a totally different experience. In the performance of his piece "From Me Flows What You Call Time," bells suspended by ribbons were played throughout the piece.

Farabee said the performance was very different.

"It was very cool," she said. "A lot of aspects were minimalism."

Decou said that more orchestras are not made up of conventional instruments anymore.

"There are a lot of unusual electronic and acoustic instruments," he said.

Schempf said that technology has also changed the makeup of an orchestra.

"Recording technology has lured many performers and composers into expecting perfection and an increasing level of virtuosity," she said. "Technology has allowed some composers to completely bypass the live performer in that one can compose using synthesizers and computers. Computer software has made life easier for composers and individual orchestra parts can be extracted with a key click."

Farabee said that there is a difference between new composers and more established composers.

"Younger composers tend to be busier and the older composers are pulling back," she said. "The more established writers are much more introspective."

While the contemporary movement presents a refreshing spin on classical music, Farabee said that audiences are finding it difficult to accept classical music that is more avant guard.

With artists exploring numerous outlets to express themselves, some new and some old, English said it is impossible to tell where the movement is heading.

"They get really weary of having to listen," she said. "A lot of people come for meditative and entertaining purposes. The audience will insist on meat and potatoes."

Decou agrees that less people enjoy edgier music

"There's a small audience for contemporary music," he said. "It's difficult to get that accepted. Music will tend to be more audience friendly."

However, Schempf said that what conductors must not do is cater to an audience that craves classical music as something that is only played in restaurants and elevators.

"I think that those who listen for relaxation are seeking music that is familiar or at least has soft instrumentation," said Schempf. "They do not want to actually listen to the music; they want it to fade into the background. Composers shouldn't concern themselves with this sort of non-audience. There is already a company that produces MUZAK."