What compositional characteristic of twentieth-century music was most directly influenced by technological advances?

The choice of musique concrète as the correct answer highlights a significant innovation in composition that emerged in the twentieth century, specifically influenced by advancements in technology. Musique concrète is a form of electroacoustic music that uses recorded sounds from the environment—spoken word, natural sounds, and various noise elements—and manipulates them through electronic means.

This practice was made possible by the development of magnetic tape recording technology, which allowed composers to capture and edit sounds outside traditional instruments. The ability to manipulate sound non-linearly and combine diverse audio sources opened up new creative avenues for composers, leading to a radical new way of thinking about music, sound, and composition itself.

While other choices reflect important movements within 20th-century music, they do not have the same direct relationship with technological advances. Jazz improvisation focuses more on live performance and skill than technology, minimalism arose from compositional techniques rather than technological influence, and neo-classicism incorporates elements from earlier styles without a primary dependence on technological development. Musique concrète stands out as a genre that fundamentally reshaped music creation through the marriage of sound and technology.