Mark Hutchinson outlines a novel concept of coherence within Western art music from the 1980s to the turn of the millennium as a means of understanding the work of a number of contemporary composers, including Thomas Adès, Kaija Saariaho, T¿ru Takemitsu and György Kurtág.

Mark Hutchinson is a Lecturer in Music at York St John University. His research focuses upon creative approaches towards the analysis of recent contemporary music, and in particular upon ways of bridging the gap between listening, analysis and critical thought. He is also an active piano accompanist and oboist.

1 Introduction: beyond the delta?
2 'A here that is gone, or is going': Adès's Arcadiana3 Connections 1: interaction, analysis, energy
4 Pulling inwards, pushing onwards: Saariaho's Solar5 Connections 2: shape, continuity, development
6 Strolling through a formal garden: Takemitsu's How slow the Wind7 Connections 3: expression, moment, meaning
8 Ruined artefacts: Kurtág's ¿¿¿¿¿
9 Conclusions: three statements, three questions