Enya
Dream Spiral
All the Seasons of George Winston: Piano Solos
Andreas Vollenweider

New Age » Contemporary Instrumental

Contemporary instrumental music was informed by the aesthetics of new age's progressive electronic wing, but drew from a wider range of emotions and styles. Where progressive electronic emphasized lush, elaborate, and often grandiose compositions, contemporary instrumental was just as free to settle into simple, quiet rumination, or to prominently feature soloists in addition to accessible melodies. Contemporary instrumental also made greater, sometimes exclusive use of acoustic instruments, particularly when artists wanted to create mellow, pleasant moods. The recordings of pianist George Winston helped establish this direction during the early '80s. Not all contemporary instrumental artists share new age philosophies, even if their music frequently draws upon similar feelings and influences; moreover, contemporary instrumental music may employ bits of pop, rock, jazz, folk, classical, and world music (when the latter is especially prevalent, it's termed ethnic fusion). Nevertheless, the '80s and '90s continued to witness a high degree of crossover between progressive electronic, the similar adult alternative style (which was more electro-acoustic), and contemporary instrumental, with many artists fitting simultaneously into more than one category.

Contemporary Instrumental Artists Highlights

Enya
Enya
Andreas Vollenweider
Andreas Vollenweider
Yanni
Yanni
Kitaro
Kitaro
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Will Ackerman
Will Ackerman

More Contemporary Instrumental Artists

Contemporary Instrumental Album Highlights

Dream Spiral
Hilary Stagg
Dream Spiral
All the Seasons of George Winston: Piano Solos
George Winston
All the Seasons of George ...
Sanctuary: 20 Years of Windham Hill
Various Artists
Sanctuary: 20 Years of ...
Orphée
Jóhann Jóhannsson
Orphée
Arcanum
Acoustic Alchemy
Arcanum
Silk Road, Vols. 1 & 2
Kitaro
Silk Road, Vols. 1 & 2

More Contemporary Instrumental Albums

Contemporary Instrumental Song Highlights

Title/Composer Performer Stream
Peace George Winston
Barcelona John Tesh
Aria Yanni
Theme From Silk Road Kitaro
Inside Out Liz Story
Dream Weaver Steven Halpern
Valley in the Clouds David Arkenstone
Volver, Volver Richard Clayderman
How the West Was Lost Peter Kater / R. Carlos Nakai
Down to the Moon Andreas Vollenweider

More Contemporary Instrumental Songs

Other Styles in New Age