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Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

jackbrown8786 — Fri, 26 May 2017 02:42:57 GMT

Author: jackbrown8786

Posted: 05/26/2017 06:42

there's actually quite a bit of music I prefer to listen to that I know for a fact isn't in Beethoven's league. like the sex pistols. better than Beethoven? lol no, but I still prefer to listen to them.

it might be partly b/c it's never even really a great composer - IT'S ALWAYS JUST A COVER. essentially, anyway.

also, I love to see how music has changed. how all of the bands are influencing each other and somehow, slowly, the sound of music in general evolves. classical music might still be evolving and music might still be influenced partly by it, but most of the roots of modern music are found in jazz and the beatles.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

CharlieBarley — Wed, 24 May 2017 20:42:24 GMT

Author: CharlieBarley

Posted: 05/25/2017 00:42

I love classical music. I am listening to Classic FM, a UK radio station right now. Its the middle of the night here. They have Smooth Classics at night, mellow ones to help you nod off.

I have always been a fan of the more popular classics but now I know a smidgeon more, over the last 2 years.

Favourite composers are Vaughan Williams, Rachmaninov, Mozart, Finzi, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Elgar and a little Einaudi, the little I know I like.

Also like a lot of film scores and even a few video games soundtracks, which though not strictly classical, are modern works which are good to listen to.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

RoundTheBend — Tue, 23 May 2017 22:34:02 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 05/24/2017 02:34

AlexZangari wrote:

I've heard the "not a genre" argument plenty before. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a way of maintaining the imagined inherent "betterness" of classical music over contemporary genres. If one truly wants to see classical music listened to more, they should wish death upon the manufactured concept of the high culture/low culture divide. Of course many are quite comfy with the divide, deluded into the belief that it somehow elevates them to a higher class of culture consumer as well.

Oh for sure. If it weren't for Wagner, classical music was as festive and riotous live. Wagner wanted his music respected like church... because Germany was looking for a way to replace the church altogether (see longing for myth in Germany).

Its just that classical music is a genre as much as everything created since 1930 is the same genre.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

AlexZangari — Tue, 23 May 2017 10:31:39 GMT

Author: AlexZangari

Posted: 05/23/2017 14:31

I've heard the "not a genre" argument plenty before. As far as I'm concerned, it's just a way of maintaining the imagined inherent "betterness" of classical music over contemporary genres. If one truly wants to see classical music listened to more, they should wish death upon the manufactured concept of the high culture/low culture divide. Of course many are quite comfy with the divide, deluded into the belief that it somehow elevates them to a higher class of culture consumer as well.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

RoundTheBend — Tue, 23 May 2017 01:40:15 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 05/23/2017 05:40

Not sure it really could be called a genre... it basically entails ALL music from like 500 AD until today... to not get confused with the time period, those that study it often call it "art music" as seen referenced in the wiki (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classical_music)

Motet, madrigal, or a symphony - it really isn't a genre. I think these are called forms.

Sorry, just had to clarify. (also based on the but there's so much else to listen to... hmmm... somehow the past 70 years just don't mean anything when you talk about music traditions that are over a thousand years old).

Ok rant over.

I totally get why classical music isn't appreciated or listened to. I said it once before, but classical music is often referred to as art music because it is much more cerebral, demands more from the listener, and often emotionally taxing once you get into it.

Probably 90% of all albums on this site are forms of pop music in a broad sense (average of 4 minute songs, easy to listen to, catchy, etc.).

But do you know what - pop music is absolutely fantastic, just like pizza. It's just sometimes I want to eat sushi or a salad.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

AlexZangari — Tue, 23 May 2017 00:12:56 GMT

Author: AlexZangari

Posted: 05/23/2017 04:12

Lovely genre, but tremendously overrated. Can't compare any contemporary artist to a Beethoven, Mozart, or what have you without being declared a blasphemer. If I were to even suggest Kanye West is as accomplished as any individual classical composer (which I would suggest), I'd likely be laughed out of the room. Truth is, classical music, over so many centuries, hasn't diversified much more than far younger genres have over mere decades. And that's just in terms of sonic variation. On top of that, contemporary music also offers a far broader palette of personal expression than the Eurocentric, androcentric Western canon.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

davidhuret — Mon, 22 May 2017 04:20:55 GMT

Author: davidhuret

Posted: 05/22/2017 08:20

I do. But there's so much to listen to in other genres.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

dihansse — Sun, 21 May 2017 06:31:32 GMT

Author: dihansse

Posted: 05/21/2017 10:31

I think I agree craola. The thing to me is: I have been to concerts, I think I know fairly a lot of classical music and think I can appreciate it a lot ont the intellectual level. But somehow I don't feel I have the same kind of emotional connection as I have with the best rock music.
There's one major exception: the ninth of Beethoven of which I think I know every twist and turn and to which I have listened already to a lot of different recordings (and I do agree with Seth in one of his previous comments that focusing on recordings instead of works as a whole is maybe not the best thing on this site as far as classical music is concerned).
But the most important thing is: I worship the whole piece, even the quieter parts, although I must say it's the last section which invariably (like the best rock music) wants me turn the volume up all the way.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

craola — Sat, 20 May 2017 17:50:36 GMT

Author: craola

Posted: 05/20/2017 21:50

I think the key to getting into classical music is hearing it live with a good or great orchestra (quartet, pianist, or whatever). A good show is a life-changing experience.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

gussteivi — Sat, 20 May 2017 13:29:07 GMT

Author: gussteivi

Posted: 05/20/2017 17:29

I can totally sympathize with people who find classical music boring, because the way it's interpreted by the vast, vast majority of performers today IS boring and doesn't do the music justice at all.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

boyd94 — Sat, 20 May 2017 12:36:46 GMT

Author: boyd94

Posted: 05/20/2017 16:36

Being completely honest with myself it's the last one. I have obviously listened to classical music over the years and enjoyed some of it but nothing has ever enticed me to get 'into' it, so to speak.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

RoundTheBend — Sat, 20 May 2017 01:45:58 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 05/20/2017 05:45

neilgee wrote:

I've always thought you needed to be bought up with classical to understand it. I wasn't, and I don't. I've deliberately tried to broaden my tastes at times, listened to some Classical FM, tried it but it always sounds that bit alien to me. Because I wasn't bought up with it, it sounds like a music from another time.

I think I'd have to agree with this. I likely wouldn't like classical music if it weren't for my family of origin.

I'd have to say though, there's got to be something you like? No Beethoven or Mozart? Nothing? Also do you like any instrumental music that is modern? Jazz/ambient, etc?

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

neilgee — Fri, 19 May 2017 14:59:28 GMT

Author: neilgee

Posted: 05/19/2017 18:59

I've always thought you needed to be bought up with classical to understand it. I wasn't, and I don't. I've deliberately tried to broaden my tastes at times, listened to some Classical FM, tried it but it always sounds that bit alien to me. Because I wasn't bought up with it, it sounds like a music from another time.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

AfterHours — Sun, 9 Apr 2017 22:09:52 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 04/10/2017 02:09

sethmadsen wrote:

Regardless, I think it is a good start for anyone getting into it. They likely still would have listened to Mozart's Requiem in it's entirety and made their own assessment.

Here's some playlists I made for each era based on some educational stuff and some favorites:

Medieval/Renaissance:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/1VcsHND9hNvL3BYxMZJxp7

Baroque (if it ain't baroque don't fix it... sorry I had to)... also another lame joke, sing "Oh my word, it's Beethoven's 3rd, again", to Beethoven's 3rd and you won't ever listen to it the same again):
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/0LXrJSLxG3CgZqBnfg67Qe

Classical:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/2uxxRqWOvpSaT2Szkzu8vy

Romantic:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/6IFYhkoAiF3Ql89VbvKfMh

Nice! Good job! Each list is very much worth going through, whether a beginner or experienced 😄

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

RoundTheBend — Sun, 9 Apr 2017 17:09:04 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 04/09/2017 21:09

Regardless, I think it is a good start for anyone getting into it. They likely still would have listened to Mozart's Requiem in it's entirety and made their own assessment.

Here's some playlists I made for each era based on some educational stuff and some favorites:

Medieval/Renaissance:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/1VcsHND9hNvL3BYxMZJxp7

Baroque (if it ain't baroque don't fix it... sorry I had to)... also another lame joke, sing "Oh my word, it's Beethoven's 3rd, again", to Beethoven's 3rd and you won't ever listen to it the same again):
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/0LXrJSLxG3CgZqBnfg67Qe

Classical:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/2uxxRqWOvpSaT2Szkzu8vy

Romantic:
https://open.spotify.com/user/1226145753/playlist/6IFYhkoAiF3Ql89VbvKfMh

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

AfterHours — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 23:22:37 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 04/09/2017 03:22

sethmadsen wrote:

I personally find Confutatis most emotionally drive/best part of the requiem, yet they didn't include that... etc.

Yep etc etc etc 🧱

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

AfterHours — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 23:21:35 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 04/09/2017 03:21

sethmadsen wrote:

AfterHours wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

Found this to be a pretty good list (a la Rolling Stones type... it's like a best of - the expected stuff).

http://pbs.bento.storage.s3.amazonaws.c...ntdown.pdf

Which came from this: http://www.wmht.org/radio/classical/400...nd-beyond/

Has a lot of amazing works of course, but lists like this kind of bug me when they seem so randomly ranked. What is the point in ranking them in an exact sequence if there is no apparent method one is doing so by? Why not just put them in date order or something? Also, why are some of them complete works and some are just movements? The idea that a movement from Bach's 3rd Orchestral Suite (while great), is #3 all time, and merely 2 spots below the whole of Beethoven's 9th is just silly, but that's just me. Lots of other examples. Why just 1 movement from Bach's Mass in B Minor and not the whole thing? Have they not heard it? Also, I forgot about that time when Mozart's Oboe Concerto surpassed Mahler's 9th Symphony ...Etc...

🤣

Yup - that's why I edited to say it's a bit like a Rolling Stones list. It's the "best of classical", not really the greatest works of all time.

Spot on assessment 😄

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

RoundTheBend — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 22:35:17 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 04/09/2017 02:35

I personally find Confutatis most emotionally drive/best part of the requiem, yet they didn't include that... etc.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

RoundTheBend — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 22:20:18 GMT

Author: RoundTheBend

Posted: 04/09/2017 02:20

AfterHours wrote:

sethmadsen wrote:

🤣

Yup - that's why I edited to say it's a bit like a Rolling Stones list. It's the "best of classical", not really the greatest works of all time.

Re: Why don't you listen to much (if any) Classical Music?

AfterHours — Sat, 8 Apr 2017 21:36:44 GMT

Author: AfterHours

Posted: 04/09/2017 01:36

sethmadsen wrote:

So back on topic:

I think classical music (and free jazz/avant-garde jazz for that matter) is tough to always be listening to because it at times can be so emotional, cerebral, and actually kind of taxing to listen to - it demands more from the listener.

It also has a very LONG history and understanding the context of the different pieces, the genre or type of piece and finding what you like out of almost a thousand years of music... it's a bit daunting. I mean obviously not everything has been recorded, but still A LOT to process.

Excellent points. Can definitely see this being a hurdle for some/many. For me, experiencing the greatest music/art and the rewards of such efforts, far outweighs this in importance. And once one gets rolling and increasingly experienced the necessary knowledge tends to snowball. The more experience and knowledge and understanding gained, the more the effort (or taxing aspect) of it goes away, and it just becomes one incredibly rewarding journey and adventure.