For more than thirty years, UMBC's Department of Music has earned accolades as a presenter of contemporary concert music. Visiting artists, many of whom have premiered works at UMBC, have ranged from luminaries such as John Cage to young performers making their American debuts.The music of present-day classical composers, usually referred to as "new music," can be a far cry from the more often heard sounds of composers such as Bach or Beethoven. "My sense of much new music is that it is more akin to a visual arts experience than what most people think of as a typical musical experience," says Linda Dusman, chair of themusic department. "That is, one of the legacies of the 19th century is that music is more linked with the literary, that it has a narrative element or a specific emotional content. Many composers continue to think in these ways, but many do not — and for these artists, narrative and emotion are less important than texture, or color, or pure form.This makes their work feel more abstract. So attending a new music concert is never a predictable experience — that's what I enjoy about them. I am constantly called on to think and experience from different perspectives. Though this can be disconcerting, it can also be tremendously rewarding in the amount of creativity it calls forth from the listener."For new music fans — and for the uninitiated — the month of November offers an especially diverse array of repertoire and instrumentation. The Hoffmann/Goldstein Duo, showcasing the artistry of pianist Paul Hoffmann (from Rutgers University) and percussionist Tom Goldstein (from UMBC), kicks off the month on November 6 with a concert of works by UMBC composer Stuart Saunders Smith, Malcolm Goldstein, Olivier Messiaen and other composers. Over the past eight years, the Duo has appeared in dozens of concerts and new music festivals in the U.S. and in Europe, and recentlyreleased their first CD on Capstone records (featured in October's Insights).On November 15, clarinetist E. Michael Richards, a new member of the departmental faculty, will explore sounds of today's leading Asian composers, including Akira Nishimura, Masao Honma, Isang Yun and P.Q. Phan. Richards will also perform a work for solo microtonal clarinet by Drake Mabry. As a recitalist of new music, Richards premiered over 125 works at performances throughout the United States, Japan, Australia and Western Europe. He will be joined for this concert by guest artist pianist Kazuko Tanosaki.In the 1930s, composers began to explore the world of percussion instruments, writing pieces that defied tradition by omitting pitched instruments (strings, woodwinds, brass, keyboards and so on). Such a large percussion repertoire now exists that groups such as the Rrrr... Percussive Theatre, which will perform on November 28, have become a ubiquitous part of the musical landscape. The Rrrr... trio works to expand the boundaries of music and performance art through spirited performances of works that combine music with drama and movement. Their program will include music by Georges Aperghis, Ken Ueno, Thierry de Mey and Mauricio Kagel.If percussive music freed composers from pitch, the advent of commercial magnetic tape in the 1950s freed composers from the need for performers. Working with various electronic instruments that continue to grow in sophistication, composers have developed an entirely new world of sound. On November 8, composer Kristian Twombly will present a concert of electronic music by Karlheinz Stockhausen, Iannis Xenakis, UMBC Department of Music Chair Linda Dusman and other composers.The Hoffmann/Goldstein Duo, E. Michael Richards and Rrrr... Percussive Theatre concerts all will be held at 8 p.m. in the Fine Arts Recital Hall. Tickets are $7 general admission, $3 for students and seniors and free with a UMBC ID. The Kristian Twombly concert will be at 8 p.m. in Fine Arts Studio 508 with free admission. For more information, visit the online arts calendar call the Department of Music at x2942.