Question:
What are your thoughts on Classical music ? (Most think it's slow and boring but there's way more to it)?
Scott
2015-01-26 06:53:24 UTC
Classical music. What a genre. I think it's the most disciplined and complex genre of all of Western music. It's historic yet modern. But it has been largely stereotyped as "slow" and "boring."... When people say it's slow and boring I immediately know their place in music AND life. It has always been the premiere PROGRESSIVE music... The lower class back then always had their simple Folk music while the higher class had their Western Art or Classical music. They HAD the education to advance the music and innovate... With the rise of the middle class in the 1800's spawned the 'Popular music' Industry filled with corruption. Popular music has dominated our lives ever since... Now, the idea of Pop music is simple. It's entertaining, catchy, simple dance tunes made for the Mass. They don't focus on innovating and advancing the music. They focus solely on entertainment and FAME. Their music is made FOR money and fame.

Okay, enough with the history stuff, now back to Classical music. When people think of Classical music they think of slow, romantic music for elders. Which CAN be true but it isn't JUST that. The music evolves and let me give you an example of the music evolving. Stockhausen was a 20th century composer who started innovating the music by experimenting with electronics WAY before the Pop industry even know about the electric guitar... And a lot of Classical music can be as loud and fast as ever too. I can confirm that I went to a performance that was METAL loud.
Seven answers:
Scott
2015-01-26 07:03:14 UTC
For those of you that want an example of Classical music that is fast paced and loud, check out the famous ballet music The Rite of Spring by Igor Stravinsky composed in 1913. That piece started a riot at it's premiere because of its dissonant, loud sounds and irregular complex polyrhythms. What a shock. Classical pieces have multiple DYNAMIC ranges, unlike Pop music which stays with the same Dynamic volume throughout the song. Classical music changes quickly from softness to sudden LOUD crashing percussion, which is what makes it so interesting. And also the Tonal colors and diverse Timbre also make it so interesting. You can hear so many different sounds at once in an Orchestral piece... People usually talk about The Beatles and Led Zeppelin and all of those overcrazes so-called "Classic Rock" bands like its the "Pinnacle" of all music... While ignoring other intellectual art traditions around the world and Western Art music. Classic Rock is merely just the 'Pop' of its day.
?
2015-01-26 09:02:44 UTC
I love it and find it very complex and influential. Not too keen on Beethoven and Mozart as they're a bit overplayed, but Tchaivosky and Bach are brilliant. Personally I prefer Score to classicial. Check out Hans Zimmer, Alan Silverstri and my all time favourite composer Howard Shore.



Also, the Assassin's Creed soundtracks are very good.



I wouldn't say it's the most complex genre, that title belongs to Progressive Metal. However, Classical is a massive influence on Progressive, Power and Symphonic Metal, which I also love.
OU812
2015-01-26 07:16:33 UTC
I don't think most believe it is slow. We've all heard enough pieces to know otherwise. Boring is another topic. I don't know that it sounds "boring" to me, but I do not enjoy it. Most folks listen to music from somewhere close to their generation. So we tend to like what we grow up hearing. Not many of us grew up in a household where classical music was played.



I realize there are some folks that truly enjoy classical, and I also believe that for every person that really enjoys it there is another that is a cork sniffer pretending to enjoy it because it makes them feel more cultured.
David
2015-01-27 18:55:09 UTC
I have always loved classical music. Some is slow but beautiful and relaxing at the same time. Dome gets the blood flowing. And most people don't know rock and metal both have roots in classical music.
Emerald
2015-01-26 09:02:26 UTC
Well, I don't like your sanctimonious attitude, but I do like [and in some cases love] a lot of classical music and I do not think it is "slow and boring" at all. I was raised by a mother who taught me wonderful classical pieces by many composers. Giuseppe Verdi, Franz Liszt, and Sergei Rachmaninov are some of my favourtites. I still listen to them and others, but I like all kinds of music and do not suffer from tunnel vision. Even my daughter, who is eighteen years old, likes classical music and has no trouble listening to it. She also has an open mind and has eclectic musical tastes. I am proud of her for that. Even her father likes classical music very much. However, judgmental people who presume to be better than others because of musical taste, no matter what kind of music it is, are quite a disappointment.
?
2015-01-26 11:03:13 UTC
The overture to Beethoven's 6th symphony is one of the most beautiful pieces of music ever written and much of the 9th isn't too shabby either. I never get tired of Vivaldi and there are a few others that are a bit clichéd that I like - Night on Bald Mountain, Pictures at and Exhibition. I think much of the problem with it is the same problem with much jazz (which we listen to all day long) - people like vocals, they like singing, and they like listening to a story even if it's just how her boyfriend left her.
Tbone
2015-01-26 07:03:08 UTC
Many people don't know that rock and metal takes a lot from classical, along with jazz. Classical music is considered old time and stale by many people. They couldn't be more wrong. Show me a rock fan and have him or her listen to these:



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGU1P6lBW6Q



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbxgYlcNxE8



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxLacN2Dp6A



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPlhKP0nZII



These songs kick a**!


This content was originally posted on Y! Answers, a Q&A website that shut down in 2021.
Loading...