Classical Music: Why don't you listen?

[johnjohn320]

Hey all,

I'm a piano performance major, about to start my junior year. Obviously, I've made classical music my life/career. I read a really interesting interview with the composer John Corigliano, in which he essentially blames the composers/performers for the decline in classical music's popularity during the second half of the 20th century. It was a really interesting read (i can dig up the link if anyone's interested).

Anyway, in terms of sales, I believe the numbers are somewhere around 3% of all record sales are classical. So, I'm just curious for your input. What is it about classical music that turns you off, or rather doesn't turn you on to it? Why would you rather go to a rock or rap concert than a classical concert? Why do you shell out the cash for Eminem's new CD, but not Leon Fleisher's? I'm not here to attack tastes, just looking for input. Do you find classical music boring? Are you of the belief that it's unoriginal (sounds the same no matter who performs it, etc?). Is it that you can't dance to it? Is it lack of exposure to it? What are your thoughts?

Thanks!

EDIT-Again, I'm not here to attack, but if you can elaborate and support your reasons (i.e. don't just say it's boring, say why you think so).

 

[Pepsi90919]

i like classical scores from movie soundtracks

 

[Tiamat]

classical music makes up about 70% of my music listening and 30% of my collection.

I like the dynamic range, complexity, talent, integration.

I enjoy listening to different conductor's rendition of a classical piece. The same piece of music is always different when performed by different people.

Most younger people like rhythm, bass, and simplicity.

Telarc and Reference Recordings make some of the best Classical CDs out there.

 

[Leros]

I can appreciate classical music, but I never really have a desire to listen to it. Not my kind of music.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'd love to take the family to the symphony, but I just can't afford it.
And most of the classical music that I actually buy is in the form of records at thrift stores.

 

[Lola]

I cannot help... I love classical music and prefer it to most other genres.

 

[DaveSimmons]

To me modern classical music is like modern art and the most haute cuisine, created to provide novelty and stimulation to those over-educated in the arcana of the craft. I'd rather have some Vivaldi and a steak

I listen to music for emotional stimulation more than intellectual, especially while working as a software developer. The music keeps the emotional centers entertained while the analytical ones figure out how to encode ADPCM audio to embed into a Flash SWF file.

I do own about 50 classical CDs, but I rarely buy new ones since I already have a decent coverage of the concertos and chamber music that appeals to me.

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

I really like the contemporary classical music on the Happy Days internet radio station

 

[Ika]

I've yet to find some good classical, and I don't have any classical-flavored headphones that are easy to use (audiophile!). If I find one, I'll go find the other.

Any classical recommendations to help me get started?

 

[veggz]

I'd imagine most people don't listen to classical music either because they are unable to appreciate it in its entirety (as mentioned above, a desire for simplicity) or because they want to listen to what all their friends are listening to.

However I absolutely love classical music.. would you mind digging up that link?

 

[dainthomas]

Modern classical style music sucks. The LOTR soundtracks are pretty good, though.

Of course I could listen to the true classical composers like Haydn, Bach, and Beethoven all day.

 

[Feldenak]

I listen to classical....I just have to be in the mood for it.

 

[Auryg]

For me, it's hard to find classical music that isn't..boring. While it can be lovely, I prefer music with a ton of emotion in it.

I only know of a few good pieces...Canon in D, girl with flaxen hair (?)... I'd love to know of more though.

Edit: and yes, the LOTR sountracks are great.

 

[Descartes]

I grew up playing (piano and violin) and listening to classical, and I'd say it makes up for 90% of my listening time.

I've been to probably 100 or more concerts in the past 2 years alone, and many of those include premiers of new pieces from composers in some musical conservatory. I only say this because this will explain what I think is wrong with classical today. Newer compositions seem to focus more on being avante garde than anything else, and it's for this reason that I tend not to like neo-classicism. Even later romantics seem to focus more on the technical (like an etude) and less on emotional depth and clarity. The Mozart piano concertos are brilliant in their quiet dignity and respectable cadenza, not because they embellish a coda for 5 minutes. I personally think the last to demonstrate those Mozartian qualities with romantic embellishments was Hummel.

I haven't even answered your question. I don't know why some people are averse to it. I find it very disappointing in fact. When I go to concerts I'm often one of the youngest in the audience, and I find very few people are knowledgeable about the music in general. Everyone knows who Mozart/Beethoven is, but most can't even name a single composition, the time they lived, etc.

I do think the formalities around performances contributes to it slightly. A lot of people show up for those outdoor concerts in the larger cities, but even then the music is more like a divertimento of Mozart's time; it's just for the background. I think a lot of people consider concerts to be formal, stuffy, and just not a "fun" place to be. I think this is a turn-off to some younger people.

A year or so ago there was a thread on ATOT about a guy claiming that being a great Counterstrike player was more impressive than being a concert pianist. I think that mentality demonstrates the level of ignorance most people have about the music.

Sorry, my thoughts are rather random right now.

 

[purbeast0]

i dont listen to it because it's boring.

the only time i like classical music is when it's in soundtracks of a movie, and i only like listening to it while watching the movie - never outside of th emovie.

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: Aflac
I've yet to find some good classical, and I don't have any classical-flavored headphones that are easy to use (audiophile!). If I find one, I'll go find the other.

Any classical recommendations to help me get started?

depends what you like.

If you like romantic era stuff, Rachmaninoff has some great stuff. Symphonic dance is a great collection..

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
To me modern classical music is like modern art and the most haute cuisine, created to provide novelty and stimulation to those over-educated in the arcana of the craft. I'd rather have some Vivaldi and a steak

I listen to music for emotional stimulation more than intellectual, especially while working as a software developer. The music keeps the emotional centers entertained while the analytical ones figure out how to encode ADPCM audio to embed into a Flash SWF file.

I do own about 50 classical CDs, but I rarely buy new ones since I already have a decent coverage of the concertos and chamber music that appeals to me.

Damn. Nice quote. I agree with you as well, and I too listen to it while developing. :thumbsup:

 

[Descartes]

Originally posted by: purbeast0
i dont listen to it because it's boring.

the only time i like classical music is when it's in soundtracks of a movie, and i only like listening to it while watching the movie - never outside of th emovie.

Out of curiosity, what's exciting about any music when considered by itself? Are you simply looking for something to get the adrenaline going or what?

That's a serious question because I think your sentiments are common to those that don't care for the music.

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: Descartes
A year or so ago there was a thread on ATOT about a guy claiming that being a great Counterstrike player was more impressive than being a concert pianist. I think that mentality demonstrates the level of ignorance most people have about the music.

No, it demonstrates the incredible elitism of classical music people. Look how many people have already derided those who like modern music as not being able to understand the "complexity" of classical. Give me a break :roll:

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: aswedc

Originally posted by: Descartes
A year or so ago there was a thread on ATOT about a guy claiming that being a great Counterstrike player was more impressive than being a concert pianist. I think that mentality demonstrates the level of ignorance most people have about the music.

No, it demonstrates the incredible elitism of classical music people. Look how many people have already derided those who like modern music as not being able to understand the "complexity" of classical. Give me a break :roll:

Are you saying classical music isn't complex?

 

[BlancoNino]

Classical music has been dumbed down. Here's what's wrong with modern recordings of classical music.

1. They are recorded in digital.
2. Modern conductors play things too slowly and use way too much rubato.
3. They are thrown together into crappy collections and multi-disc sets, thinking that will please every.
4. The players are simply not as good.

If you really want to get into some great recordings, I reccomend the older analog recordings. The 1950's and 1960's are prime. Munch, Szell, Bernstein, Paray, Dorati, Reiner, Ormandy (just to name a few) are some of the greatest conductors of all time.

It seems like today, classical music is recorded in a way that people like to play it as background music. Hah, as my music teacher told me: TURN IT UP! Symphonies were meant to be played LOUD. If you're listening to classical music at a soft volume, you are only listening it to be snobby.

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: nakedfrog
Are you saying classical music isn't complex?

No, I'm not. I'm saying it is elitist and flat out wrong to assume that people who don't like classical do so because they cannot understand its complexity.

 

[BlancoNino]

Originally posted by: aswedc
No, it demonstrates the incredible elitism of classical music people. Look how many people have already derided those who like modern music as not being able to understand the "complexity" of classical. Give me a break :roll:

It's a fact. The reason people don't like classical, is because they don't understand it. Look at the music scores for a symphony composed during the romantic era. Compare that with anything from today's top40.

 

[purbeast0]

Originally posted by: Descartes

Originally posted by: purbeast0
i dont listen to it because it's boring.

the only time i like classical music is when it's in soundtracks of a movie, and i only like listening to it while watching the movie - never outside of th emovie.

Out of curiosity, what's exciting about any music when considered by itself? Are you simply looking for something to get the adrenaline going or what?

That's a serious question because I think your sentiments are common to those that don't care for the music.

i just like music that will make me wanna bob my head to the beat, or something that will make me wanna get up and dance to it. i'm not really into rock or alternative stuff at all, i mainly like hip hop (older stuff) and trance, house, and dance type music.

i know some classical stuff does what i really like in trance music, where it'll have a really slow part and a huge build up to some extravagant part of the song. i love that about trance music and even though i've seen it in classical as well, i just can't listen to it on my own unless there is a movie in the background going along with it.

 

[aswedc]

Originally posted by: BlancoNino
It's a fact. The reason people don't like classical, is because they don't understand it. Look at the music scores for a symphony composed during the romantic era. Compare that with anything from today's top40.

Wrong. I had about ten years of classical instrument training, up to what I think anyone would consider pretty advanced levels (thanks to my parents). I just don't like classical. Never have, never will.