As well as those already mentioned I'd suggest Varese, he basically wanted new instruments, so was very interested in electronics, and at times his earlier stuff is a precursor to Sun Ra's 60s output (I hate that kind of "classical composer X did it before jazz fella Y" argument too - that's not what I'm trying to say, just stick Heliocentric Worlds 2 on after Varese and see what I mean) Try for starters his "Offrandes", "Integrales" and "Octandre" stuff. I don't know about on CD (I don't have one) but there's an LP on Nonesuch which contains some (if not all, I don't have it to hand) of the above works. Also look out for "Desertes" - the first stereo broadcast over French airways - and "Poeme Electronique", his most well known work.
Other folk such as Stockhausen (try for Mixtur, Mikrophonie I & II, Kontakte, Momente & Originale) & Reich (Sonatas and Interludes just begs to be sampled) have already been mentioned. As for first entry into the realm of 20th century Classical, go for the likes of Satie and Debussy (starting with their piano music) - especially the latter, who, "if I may be so bold as to say so", is the father of 20th century music, full stop. It's worth picking up different recordings of the same pieces, there can be a massive (and interesting) difference of interpretation. So's to keep the purists happy: I mentioned Sun Ra who worked with Francisco Mora who worked with CARL CRAIG. I also said the word "electronics". ;) Jonny. NP: Arthur Russell "World Of Echo" - seems appropriate to the matter in hand. (Who wanted to make music without drums, which is what DERRICK MAY said he does first when making music.)
