Why isn't classical music more popular?

[PKTrekGirl]

I'd venture a guess that those of us who are big classical music fans probably have favorite composers and periods that just 'click' with us.

That's certainly true in my case. Most nineteenth-century music leaves me cold, but I like the 20th century. I like Schubert, but have no use for Beethoven. I like Mozart, but I like Haydn better, and I prefer Boccherini to both. I love Handel, and the French Baroque, and some of the Italians, but the German Baroque does nothing for me. Bach? Meh.

I'm sure this has always been a problem for classical-music retail sales. A classical-music store must need a very wide inventory, while a popular-music store probably makes the majority of its money off the latest hits.

Exactly!

And the thing is that most people go through life having heard what are essentially classical music's "Top 40 of the Last 4 Centuries": Handel's Messiah, Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and The Nutcracker Suite, Bach's Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring and maybe the Toccata that's played in all the horror movies ( ),Mozart's Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Holst's The Planets, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, Ravel's Bolero, Beethoven's 5th Symphony....and maybe a couple of Pavarotti signature pieces that they were unable to avoid from The Three Tenors. Oh...and The Blue Danube (if they've seen A 2001 Space Odyssey) and Barber's Adagio For Strings (if they've seen Platoon)

They might connect with a handful of those...but then they are stuck. Where to turn now? Where to go from there?

Seriously. We should sell maps.

 

[Lordjim]

At most colleges there is a "general music" course designed to introduce students to music of the baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century.
Unfortunately, this is not found in the high schools.

 

[PKTrekGirl]

At most colleges there is a "general music" course designed to introduce students to music of the baroque, classical, romantic, and 20th century.
Unfortunately, this is not found in the high schools.

Yeah...and I think that by the time you get to college, is is almost too late.

I kinda think that by that time people are so sucked into the rock scene that they have little to no interest in making time for classical - not to learn about it...and not to listen to it.

I mean, if you grow up with the mentality that 5 minutes is a long song...sitting down and listening to a 45 minute symphony is practically unimaginable.

 

[Smiley]

The length of the pieces does make it a lot harder to sample classical music. I like a lot of classical music, but I have no way of knowing the good from the bad unless I hear it or it comes recommended by a friend or popular opinion.

 

[M'Sharak]

Go for a walk through the woods while litening to Copland's "Appalachian Spring,"

I can't listen to the "Simple Gifts" melody from Appalachian Spring without my brain supplying the "Lord Of The Dance" lyrics that were grafted onto it that we had to sing in school when we were kids...

That's a horrifying thing to contemplate.

BTW, on the subject of classical music not having frequent enough hooks to be populist, I realised there is one exception, which is why (in combination with its relatively short duration) it gets replayed on classical radio stations so much. In fact it's such a good hook, it was abused in Blues Traveler's song Hook which rather makes fun of it for being so catchy.

I'm sure you've seen Rob Paravonian's rant on the subject, but if not, I think you'll enjoy it. ;-)

That was one of the funnier things I've seen in a long time.

**bookmarks**

 

[PKTrekGirl]

The length of the pieces does make it a lot harder to sample classical music. I like a lot of classical music, but I have no way of knowing the good from the bad unless I hear it or it comes recommended by a friend or popular opinion.

Yeah...but see, since different people are likely to be drawn to different composers or periods, this is difficult. Telling 'good from bad' is purely subjective, just as it is with rock or country or any modern music...you may hate Elvis, but there are an awful lot of people out there who love him! It's the same with Mozart or Beethoven! And so unless you are getting your recommendations from someone with nearly identical taste to yours, you are likely to be disappointed by random recommendations.

The better bet is to identify a few pieces of music that you like, and think about why you like them - what draws you to that piece in particular.

Then you can ask someone who is more knowledgeable about classical music as a whole to direct you to more music like that. Or maybe try and listen to more music by that composer and see if other compositions by him appeal to you.

I can't even imagine going about discovery of classical music on a hit or miss basis. It's too big, IMO, to just sit down and start listening to on the radio. Not to mention the fact that if you are listening on the radio, you have to wait several minutes to (hopefully) hear the composer's name and by that time you'd have either forgotten to listen for it, gotten out of your car or whatever!

Anyway, good luck! I hope you find a few composers who you can really connect with - that's when it really gets fun!

 

[Lordjim]

You are right.

 

[firehawk12]

As a consequence, recording companies have been coming out with more and more contemporary stuff. In addition to starting lines like Deutsche Grammophon's 20/21 line and the 21st Century Classics series from Naxos, they've simply been adding more and more contemporary composers to their ordinary releases.

http://www.naxos.com/catalogue/item.asp?item_code=8.555866#

Wow, someone wrote a symphony about Nanking? I'm totally impressed... just annoyed that I never even heard of that person before.

 

[Jadzia]

I like Beethoven a lot, and Mozart a little, but classical is not something I listen to most days. Although most classical music is ok as background music, and is often used in computer games for its ability to create atmosphere without drawing ones attention too strongly away from the game.

Beethoven's music really stands out to me though. It feels so pure, and as it was described in Clockwork Orange, it depicts form without substance, which I relate to well. Maybe I should add him to my heroes list??

 

[Garrovick]

Because it takes effort to enjoy it to the fullest. Classical music is forever, POP music lasts today.

 

[Bloodwhiner]

My son is going in sixth grade and can listen to classical only because he has heard it in my car since infancy (imagine a 1 year old going da-da-da-DAAA in the back seat). But he is the exception. There is no real music appreciation in school anymore. There are music classes where kids are taught to torture their parents with a recorder or horn - but nothing of just listening to music.

I recall being in elementary school in the early 70's ad going to hear "Peter & the Wolf" performed and explained to us. At the time we weren't all that interested, but it planted the seed.

I got into classical in middle school. Primarily because I always marched to beat of a different drum. Everyone was into rock, country or disco - I wanted something else. Then it stuck and I'm glad it did.

 

[mimic]

Having played in an orchestra back in middle and high school, I love classical music - but that's only because I 'know' several pieces. Other people who aren't familiar with the piece get bored and don't listen after a few minutes.

I'm sure you've seen Rob Paravonian's rant on the subject, but if not, I think you'll enjoy it. ;-)

My friend was there when he did this at PSU.

 

[firehawk12]

Speaking of Pachabel, there should also be more electric guitar remixes. I'm sure that Canon Rock introduced more people to that piece of music more than all the weddings in the world combined.

 

[Daedalus12]

You gotta admit that Canon rock was the best interpretation of the piece. It absolutely rocks anyone's boxers.

Speaking modern remix of older piece I found this reworking of "Ode To Joy" to be very addicting.

 

[Othello]

Because its rather dull, uninspiring, drawn out, lacking in nearly every good aspect of popular music and carries a large social stigma of being boring or not for "cool" people to listen to.

Personally I have found a few pieces I can sit through or like at least part of, but for the most part the genre is very tiring and dull to me.

Funny thing is you don't even realize what a profound effect classical music has on your movie and TV viewing experiences and whether you like a particular show, scene or movie. How the right muic at the right time can really implant a certain feeling on you while watching soemthing on the tv or big screen.

 

[zakkrusz]

Classical music is like chicken. Good but generic as a meat. Most of it is listenable but not too much of it stands out to me. I don't really go out of my way to listen to it. It's like what you listen to when you want to concentrate and study or when the other radio stations aren't playing anything you like and if I do the pieces I prefer overall are the darker, moody, more emotionally brooding ones.

I'm also more into forms of music with singing as I've always had an aptitude for memorizing lyrics and a good voice. I like things that make me want to move, dance or tap my foot or finger better. Rock, metal, techno/trance music and the like. Stuff like Nightwish, Kamelot, Rammstein, Stabbing Westward and the works of techno instrumental composer Yuki Kajiura are more my thing. Generally I listen to a little of everything under the sun though I do have lots of trouble finding anything to like in the country and rap genres.

 

[Ceridwen]

Classical music is like chicken. Good but generic as a meat.

If you think chicken is generic, you don't know how to cook.

 

[ITL]

Go for a walk through the woods while litening to Copland's "Appalachian Spring,"

I can't listen to the "Simple Gifts" melody from Appalachian Spring without my brain supplying the "Lord Of The Dance" lyrics that were grafted onto it that we had to sing in school when we were kids...

That's a horrifying thing to contemplate.

Absobloodylutely.

 

[Deckerd]

A bit like what Barry Manilow did to Rach's P2.

 

[Australis]

I really like Canon Rock! Skillz, he has them!

I also really like harpsichord. Don't know why, but when played well it's great.

And Gregorian chants. I could just drift off to sleep listening to them. I mean the real deal. Not where they've arrange pop songs as a Gregorian chant, they're just bloody awful.