Modern Classical: Is it more about Innovation or Inspiration?

   When considering the majority of 'classical' pieces written over the past few decades, the atonal themes, complex polyrhythms, and the tendency to 'experiment' with new sounds becomes extremely apparent.  I don't mean to slam the contemporary Classical sound, but at the point when the majority of music becomes more about innovation on the composer's behalf then about providing the common man with a vessel to discover aspects about the human spirit, it's hard not to ask the question: Is this direction for Classical music really the road we want to continue down?  

    Perhaps the reason that the general public has lost touch with classical music is that in the composers' efforts to be interesting, they have created a product which produces too great a strain on the listener's mind more than it produces satisfaction in their hearts.

   And the modern composer, seeing that they cannot gain the interest of the general public, only strives harder to create more contrived pieces that smack of over-complexity.  From where we now stand, there appears little to do but wait (and hope) that classical music will one day experience a rejuvenation of melody, simplicity, and modesty.