Compositional Ambient

Compositional ambient is a genre characterized by its use of minimalist, atmospheric soundscapes, often featuring repetitive, evolving patterns and delicate instrumental textures. Emerging in the 1970s and 1980s, it draws from classical music, electronic experimentation, and ambient traditions. Popularized in the 2000s and 2010s, this genre emphasizes mood and texture over traditional melody and rhythm. Compositional ambient often incorporates elements of neo-classical, contemporary classical, and film scores, creating a sense of cinematic grandeur. Its cultural significance lies in its ability to evoke emotions and create introspective spaces, resonating with listeners in search of calm and contemplation. While related to ambient and new age music, compositional ambient is set apart by its emphasis on compositional complexity and nuanced, layered sound design, making it a distinctive and captivating genre.

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36
A Winged Victory for the Sullen
Abel Korzeniowski
Akira Kosemura
Alex Kozobolis
Angus MacRae
Anne Müller
Arms and Sleepers
Arvo Pärt
Balanescu Quartet
Balmorhea
Ben Lukas Boysen
Bersarin Quartett
Bing & Ruth
Brambles
Brian Eno
Brian McBride
Bruce Brubaker
Bruno Bavota
Ceeys
Chad Lawson
Chihei Hatakeyama
Christopher O'Riley
Clem Leek
Clint Mansell
Craig Armstrong
Danny Norbury
David Wenngren
Deaf Center
Dirk Maassen
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitry Evgrafov
Dustin O'Halloran
Ed Carlsen
Elskavon
Eluvium
Ensemble Modern
Erland Cooper
Fabrizio Paterlini
Federico Albanese
Goldmund
Grace Davidson
Greg Haines
György Ligeti
Hammock
Harold Budd
Helios
Hidden Orchestra
Hildur Guðnadóttir
Hior Chronik
Hugar
Illuminine
James Heather
Jim Perkins
John Adams
John Cage
Jon Hopkins
Jonny Greenwood
Julia Kent
Lambert
Last Days
Laurie Anderson
Library Tapes
Loscil
Lowercase Noises
Luke Howard
Max Richter
Maxence Cyrin
Message To Bears
Michael Nyman Band
Mike Lazarev
Oskar Schuster
Peter Broderick
Peter Gregson
Peter Sandberg
Philip Glass
Poppy Ackroyd
Rafael Anton Irisarri
Rival Consoles
Slow Meadow
Snorri Hallgrímsson
Sophie Hutchings
Stars Of The Lid
Steve Reich
TLE Petty
Terry Riley
The Album Leaf
The Dead Texan
The Echelon Effect
U137
Ulises Conti
William Basinski
Wim Mertens
Yann Tiersen
Zoë Keating
amiina
múm
Ólafur Arnalds
Max Richter
Fabrizio Paterlini
Yann Tiersen
Ólafur Arnalds
Dmitri Shostakovich
Brian Eno
Philip Glass
James Heather
Harold Budd
Chad Lawson
Peter Sandberg
Akira Kosemura
Jon Hopkins
Craig Armstrong
Dustin O'Halloran
Arvo Pärt
Abel Korzeniowski
Clint Mansell
Illuminine
Peter Gregson
Federico Albanese
Maxence Cyrin
Grace Davidson
Balmorhea
Jim Perkins
Luke Howard
Hammock
Laurie Anderson
Angus MacRae
Rival Consoles
Dirk Maassen
Clem Leek
Mike Lazarev
Library Tapes
Message To Bears
Lambert
Goldmund
Erland Cooper
Hildur Guðnadóttir
Hidden Orchestra
Sophie Hutchings
Jonny Greenwood
Slow Meadow
Steve Reich
A Winged Victory for the Sullen
Oskar Schuster
Alex Kozobolis
The Album Leaf
Helios
Elskavon
Wim Mertens
Snorri Hallgrímsson
Chihei Hatakeyama
Stars Of The Lid
Peter Broderick
Brambles
Bruce Brubaker
Julia Kent
Loscil
Ben Lukas Boysen
Hior Chronik
William Basinski
36
Eluvium
Lowercase Noises
Hugar
Zoë Keating
The Echelon Effect
Bruno Bavota
John Adams
Dmitry Evgrafov
Poppy Ackroyd
múm
Arms and Sleepers
The Dead Texan
Ed Carlsen
Ceeys
Balanescu Quartet
Terry Riley
amiina
John Cage
Anne Müller
Bing & Ruth
György Ligeti
U137
Rafael Anton Irisarri
Brian McBride
Deaf Center
Michael Nyman Band
Christopher O'Riley
Greg Haines
Bersarin Quartett
Danny Norbury
David Wenngren
Ensemble Modern
Ulises Conti
Last Days
TLE Petty