What is progress in music? Progress, as with anything, is an innovation, something new or something people have never seen or heard before. When it comes to music, so much has already been done and so much has been recycled into new pieces of music. In the first half of the 20th century, major advances were made in music, thanks to composers like George Gershwin and Igor Stravinsky. Both composers, although from diverse musical genres and particular periods, had a common theme, they both created music that pushed the boundaries of their respective styles. Gershwin with his early jazz pieces and Stravinsky with his early neoclassical works both created pieces that are still performed in the 2000s. Although they both faced different challenges, they did something similar , they were oriented towards progress. The progress made by both composers can be heard through their profound ability both to borrow themes or styles from different genres and to render a body of music original. The works of Gershwin and Stravinsky, in particular Rhapsody in Blue and Histoire de Soldat, embody, in their respective periods, music at the dawn of musical progress. Stravinsky was an accomplished composer of his time, while many questioned him and his changes in style. But many of his changes, musically speaking, throughout his life imitate or, better yet, display his progressive nature in music. Many critics of his time had criticized him for excessive variation in style, notably Theodor Adorno regarding his distaste for Stravinsky's neoclassical works. “Stravinsky's place as a significant figure of the 20th century. matured. and individually, as a great composer seems to assure...... middle of paper ... Gershwin was helping to bring jazz to the forefront of popular culture and critical acclaim. Both progressed with their respective works in different ways, both developing their talents, both took early 20th century music to the next level by continuing their existing works into something new. Both Rhapsody In Blue and Histoire Du Soldat carry a symbol of progress in the 20th century. Works Cited1 “Stravinsky, Igor (Fyodorovitch Igor Stravinsky)”. Oxford Music Online. Oxford UP. Internet. October 26, 2011.2Walsh, Stephen. “Stravinsky, Igor, §11: Posthumous reputation and legacy.” Oxford Music Online. Oxford UP. Internet. October 26, 2011.3Crawford, Richard. “Gershwin, George [Gershvin, Jacob].” Oxford Music Online. Oxford UP. Internet. October 26, 2011.4Crawford, Richard. “Gershwin, George [Gershvin, Jacob].” Oxford Music Online. Oxford UP. Internet. October 26. 2011.