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 artist ...
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