Do You Like Classical Music?

b0b · Post by **b0b** » 13 Jul 2008 8:54 am

I wonder what our collective attitude is towards classical music.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 13 Jul 2008 9:32 am

In the course of making my recordings, I've come across an interesting phenomenon among people who say they don;t like classical music. It's not the music itself they don't like, it's the sounds of orchestral instruments.

They can listen to and enjoy my recordings, or those of guitar ensembles, but when presented with the same pieces played by an orchestra, they tune out.

Some time ago, I played a recording of Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" played by by a guitar ensemble, to a 20 year old rock and roller who regarded classical music as "the enemy." His comment when it was over, and this is an exact quote, was; "For the first time in my life, I understand who Mozart was." But he HAD to hear the piece played on guitars. If he had heard it playing on a string quartet as Mozart originally wrote it, he would have tuned out.

Conversely, there are those within the classical music community who are so used to hearing the orchestral sounds, that they don't care for the sounds of guitars, (steel or 6 string,) and electric keyboards.

The concertmaster of the L.A. Philharmonic wrote me a nice letter telling me that intellectually he appreciated how well I played the music on my first CD, but that he found the sounds of the steel and electric guitar and other instruments I used so foreign, that on a gut level, he could not enjoy the CD. He acknowledged that this was his prejudice, and his loss.

Steinar Gregertsen · Post by **Steinar Gregertsen** » 13 Jul 2008 9:34 am

I chose "most of it" since - as in most musical styles - there's much I love, some I like, some I'm indifferent to, and some I can't stand. But all in all (not including opera), I guess "most of it" is closest to the truth...

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 13 Jul 2008 10:27 am

I own nearly 100 classical CD's that range from Domenico Scarlatti (my favorite), J S Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms, Chopin, Mendelssohn, Schubert, Schumann, to Grieg, Copland, etc. Years ago when I was a classical guitarist, I listened to classical music quite a bit. These days I don't listen to it very much but I still like it now and then.

Jerry Overstreet · Post by **Jerry Overstreet** » 13 Jul 2008 10:43 am

In addition to the classical masters already mentioned, add Dvorak and Rachmaninoff to my list.

Like Mike S., I may not listen to it all the time, but enjoy cranking the stereo and feeling the dynamics of the music particularly when stressed. Something soothing and satisfying about that.

Classical was one of my first interests followed by big band, jazz and southern gospel until rock and roll came along and corrupted my brain.

Then came country rock in the 70's and traditional country and pedal steel.

No wonder my playlist is so screwed up

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Jul 2008 10:54 am

What is worse: serial music (12-tone row etc), or hip-hop?

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 13 Jul 2008 11:02 am

Dvorak has many admirers, such as the composer (I forget who) who said that Dvorak throws away a dozen themes every day that any other composer would die for. But he leaves me kinda cold.

Rachmaninoff on the other hand is a thrill because he milks the chord changes for all he can. Harmony is the best part of music, and Rachmaninoff was a creative master there.

Glenn Suchan · Post by **Glenn Suchan** » 13 Jul 2008 11:19 am

I love classical music. As a child, growing up, I was exposed to it early on. My father had a vast vinyl collection of classical music. To this day, just hearing certain pieces of music instantly transports me back to events surrounding the first time I heard them. I tend to like symphonic music written in minor keys and migrate toward eastern European and Russian composers. Although, I also like Respeghi, de Falla, Ravel, and Debussey, and many, many other composers. My fav would have to be Stravinski, followed closely by Rimsky-Korsokov and Tchaikovsky. I tend to not like the baroque music, except by Bach, Vivaldi, and Handel.

Keep on pickin'!
Glenn

Mike Shefrin · Post by **Mike Shefrin** » 13 Jul 2008 12:12 pm

Earnest Bovine wrote:What is worse: serial music (12-tone row etc), or hip-hop?

Kind of like asking what's worse: Getting shot in your left or your right leg. I know what's even worse than either 12 tone row or hip hop though.....
12 tone row hip hop. Now that would be a real vicious combination.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 13 Jul 2008 12:42 pm

Mike Shefrin wrote: 12 tone row hip hop. Now that would be a real vicious combination.

What a great idea. Now I know what to do for my next CD.

Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 13 Jul 2008 12:49 pm

Earnest Bovine wrote:Dvorak has many admirers...

I (with a well rehearsed band) played the 2nd movement of his 9th symphony (From the New World) at one of Jack Lox's steel guitar concerts. The piece really lends itself to the steel guitar. Half the audience tuned out, and the other half really got into it. 18 months later somebody in St Louis who had been, there approached me and told me that he had never heard anything like it before, but thought it was really pretty and liked it.

I'd like to try to play the whole thing some day.

Chris Forbes · Post by **Chris Forbes** » 13 Jul 2008 4:54 pm

I would consider my life empty without "the big 3" of Beethoven, Mozart, and Haydn. Of course this doesn't mean I don't enjoy a whole host of others (I have a weak spot for Bruch), but I find myself returning to those 3 on a regular basis.

Barry Blackwood · Post by **Barry Blackwood** » 13 Jul 2008 5:20 pm

"Do You Like Classical Music?"

Only if it's properly cooked .....

Post by **Dave Mudgett** » 13 Jul 2008 6:32 pm

I just said "Yes", even though I don't like everything that is considered "classical music". But I'd also say "Yes" to blues, country, bluegrass, jazz, rockabilly, and a bunch of other things even though there are some examples of those that I'm not crazy about.

I started out playing classical piano till in my teens, when I switched to guitar after hearing Michael Bloomfield play with the Electric Flag. I no longer play piano in any serious way, but Rachmaninoff still thrills me too. Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi, and lots more too. I like more modern atonal classical music also, as long as I can detect more of a pattern than pseudo-random white noise designed to irritate people.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 13 Jul 2008 7:27 pm

Yes, all of it, even the modern stuff that irritates people, when I'm in the mood for it. Who's gonna be the first one to dish out some Rachmaninoff on pedal steel?

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 13 Jul 2008 9:11 pm

Yes. Absolutely.

Professors Dave & Dave have lent their always great insight into other music worlds. Thanks guys.

We all love classical music, actually, without sometimes realizing that we do.

Most of the time, in weddings, Bach's "Jesus, Of Man's Desiring" is usually played. Who doesn't love that song?

And what about "A Lovers Concerto" by the TOYS - that was a rip-off of a Bach Minuet in G.

And Robby Krieger and the Doors doing "Spanish Caravan"; another Bach piece where the title escapes me now. Krieger was no Johann, but he pulled off and created just a great song.

The Moody Blues, most original members, all had classical music training. I think their legacy speaks for itself.

Paul McCartney, as well.

Even though they did not turn out to be "classical musicians", they certainly incorporated that wonderful training to create their oh-so-unique musical style.

Learning "real" music, can never hurt your playing; I think.

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Mike Perlowin RIP · Post by **Mike Perlowin RIP** » 13 Jul 2008 9:34 pm

CHIP FOSSA wrote:
Robby Krieger and the Doors doing "Spanish Caravan"; another Bach piece where the title escapes me now. Krieger was no Johann, but he pulled off and created just a great song.

Chip, the piece has two names. It is usually called Asturias , but is also sometimes called Leyenda. The composer however is not Bach, but Spanish composer Isaak Albéniz. Albéniz originally wrote it for the piano, but it has become a staple of the classical guitar repertoire.

I recorded this piece myself. My recording of it will appear on my "Spanish Steel" CD, which hopefully will be available in time for the convention.

Marshall Hall also recorded the piece, back in the 70s. It's on his "Classical Steel Guitar" LP.

Charlie McDonald · Post by **Charlie McDonald** » 14 Jul 2008 4:32 am

I answered 'yes' altho it depends on where one draws the often subjective divisions. Classical, to me, covers Bach and Beethoven (but not Berlioz), skips the entire romantic era (without tossing The Rach), and perhaps includes the classical revival--Wagner? in some opinions?

For a real treat, hear 'Classical Symphony' by Prokofiev--he truly understood the classical symphony. So 'the moderns' are my favorite, even if it's not, to me, classical.
But it's long-hair.

Earnest Bovine wrote:What is worse: serial music (12-tone row etc), or hip-hop?

That would be another good poll; I prefer music with bad melody to no melody at all.

David Doggett · Post by **David Doggett** » 14 Jul 2008 6:52 am

Charlie, you're confusing the technical definition of the Classical Period (as opposed to the Baroque, Romantic, and Modern periods) with the generic term "classical music," which covers all the periods. I think this poll addressed the generic term.

Pete Woronowski · Post by **Pete Woronowski** » 14 Jul 2008 7:04 am

60-40-partly cloudy.
I think its like any music some is amazing, some not so amazing and some does nothing for me at all.
Even the works I don't appreciate however someone does somewhere so its a good thing.
Take Care, Pete

Earnest Bovine · Post by **Earnest Bovine** » 14 Jul 2008 7:14 am

"Classical" is ambiguous.

from dictionary.com:

4. Music.
a. of, pertaining to, or constituting the formally and artistically more sophisticated and enduring types of music, as distinguished from popular and folk music and jazz. Classical music includes symphonies, operas, sonatas, song cycles, and lieder.
b. of, pertaining to, characterized by, or adhering to the well-ordered, chiefly homophonic musical style of the latter half of the 18th and the early 19th centuries: Haydn and Mozart are classical composers.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 14 Jul 2008 8:20 am

Thanks for that correction, Mike. It sure does sound Bachish, though.

Just like Pachebel (not sure if I got his name right) with "Canon in D Major".

I always thought that was a Bach piece, too.

I can be easily fooled.

Chip Fossa · Post by **Chip Fossa** » 14 Jul 2008 8:21 am

Thanks for that correction, Mike. It sure does sound Bachish, though.

Just like Pachebel (not sure if I got his name right) with "Canon in D Major".

I always thought that was a Bach piece, too.

I can be easily fooled.

Donny Hinson · Post by **Donny Hinson** » 14 Jul 2008 8:44 am

Mike Perlowin wrote:The piece really lends itself to the steel guitar. Half the audience tuned out, and the other half really got into it.

That's not strange. Many listeners focus on an instrument, rather than the music. (Notice those here who like almost anything played on steel). Alternatively, some don't like their instrument playing certain types of music. (Notice those who don't care for Robert Randolph's work.) Lastly, there's those who take everything in context, and judge according to the music and how well the instrumentalist interprets it.

Whenever I listened to Lovers Concerto, by "The Toys", the absolute last thing on my mind was the Bach minuet it was patterened after (though I'd heard both hundreds of times). Change the time signature, the accents, and the note-timing, and it's like a whole different piece, IMHO.

Of course, in some works, the instrument is an integral part of the musical idea. Dueling Banjos just loses something when done on piano and sax.

Brint Hannay · Post by **Brint Hannay** » 14 Jul 2008 10:05 am

Just an aside: I've never heard "Dueling Banjos" done by dueling banjos! (I'm sure it has been, probably was originally, but it's pretty funny that the version everyone's heard is "dueling" banjo and guitar.)
Uh-oh, I used the B word three times. Sorry, b0b!

I love a great deal of classical music, roughly from Bach, Handel, and D. Scarlatti through Stravinsky and Prokofiev. Earlier and later almost never do anything for me. Most of my true favorites are piano music. My "desert island discs" would probably be at least half classical. Sure would be hard to pick, though.