Final answer:
Today's composers, as believed by John Adams, can draw inspiration from a wide variety of styles and periods, including classical and Romantic influences, as well as the diversity of cultural music traditions that exist.
Step-by-step explanation:
Composer John Adams's belief on Contemporary Composers' Inspirations
Composer John Adams believes that today's composers can draw from a wide variety of styles and periods. This includes not only the music of their own cultures but also an entire spectrum of musical genres and historical periods. The influence of Classical music, which refers to Western music from various time periods, including the renowned eighteenth-century Classical period that featured composers like Mozart and Haydn, is significant. However, later composers, especially during the Romantic era, embraced and built upon these classical foundations while expanding the expressive potential of music.
During the Romantic period, composers such as Beethoven, who bridged the Classical and Romantic styles, deeply influenced the music with personal expression and emotional depth. Post-Romantic and modern composers continued this trend, often incorporating nationalistic elements or experimenting with new forms and harmonies. Contemporary music creators, in the lineage of these innovators, freely borrow from different periods including Classical, Romantic, post-Romantic, and modern, reflecting a diversity of influences that shape their compositions.
While the Romantic era played a significant role in shaping modern music, it is just one part of a rich tapestry that contemporary composers can draw inspiration from, including a broad array of cultural musics, past and present. Other progressive composers of the Romantic era, such as Berlioz and Wagner, famously pushed the boundaries of music, challenging audiences and setting the stage for future generations of composers to freely explore a multitude of musical styles.