With this brave new book, James McHard pulls away all the negativity shrouding the word modern in the realm of classical music. Through a skilled analysis of prominent composers from 1890 to the present, along with their musical styles, philosophies, and incentives, McHard reveals modern music as the fully enriched and enriching listening experience that it is.

What 'live music' means for one generation or culture does not necessarily mean 'live' for another. This book examines how changes in economy, culture and technology pertaining to post-digital times affect production, performance and reception of live music. Considering established examples of live music, such as music festivals, alongside practices influenced by developments in technology, including live streaming and holograms, the book examines whether new forms stand the test of 'live authenticity' for their audiences. It also speculates how live music might develop in the future, its relationship to recorded music and mediated performance and how business is conducted in the popular music industry.