Conversation about symphonic music .....

[Irene]

I am continuing the conversation which had developed with andsome and which turned out to be in an inappropriate category.

andsome, you are clearly a musical kinda guy. Do you play a musical instrument yourself?

I would love to be able to play piano. The only thing I ever learnt to play was a recorder at school. However, that does not preclude me from appreciating music.

In answer to your question in the other thread: I have tried to listen to symphonic music, but I have not yet acquired the taste. That does not make me any lesser a person. I enjoy the sound of string instruments, sax, clarinet, piano and probably many more which I don't recognise!

When and how did you develop your taste for symphonic music?

[-pops-]

Irene, I'm a music freak as well.

You say you can't appreciate "symphonic" music but, have you ever watched Visconti's film adaptation of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice starring Dirk Bogarde? The film uses extracts of Mahler's Fifth and Third symphonies to promote a lot of the emotion in the film and the whole thing is a profound and moving experience. That's just one example, there are many, many others.

Classical music is all around us all of the time. It's a fault of this Muzak society that so much goes unnoticed and consequently, unappreciated.

For my own tastes, I am deeply into the music of Bach, Handel, Haydn and some of the more ancient medieval composers such as Palestrina and Tallis - as well as some more modern works by Mahler, Shostakovich, Wagner, Stravinsky - and not forgetting the 18th century favourites like Mozart, Beethoven and so on.

In the other thread you question whether Mahler could cope with Status Quo, well anyone who can write a symphony written for up to one thousand performers would be able to cope with anything that a few blokes with guitars and related accoutrements might offer. Please don't think I am decrying the efforts of Status Quo, I enjoy them as well.

Symphony of a Thousand

(It's not performed very often - too expensive - but both andsome and myself have been lucky enough to see it live).

[rong]

"uses extracts of", that is the bit in your statement that makes the difference to me, there are lot's of extracts of larger pieces of music that I can listen to and enjoy, it's the bits that go in between that turn me of. Also why would have to acquired the "taste for the music", if you don't like it at the outset why try and force yourself to like it.

Edit: The music in films is their to stimulate your experience, not necessarily to be heard as a piece of music.

[-pops-]

The "Extracts" ought to provide the taster for what is available in the piece. In the example I gave of the Visconti film, the extracts demonstrate some of the themes of the two Mahler works which are developed in the course of the performance of the work in its entirety. I am struck by the statement about the "bits in between" that you don't like. Now, please take this in the way it's intended, but statements like that show that you don't understand the music. There is much more to music than making a tune. I'm sure Hendrix understood and that is why he is known and played 37 years after his death.

On your point of forcing yourself to like whatever it is, music, caviare, cream cakes or leather trousers, the very act, or even thought, of compulsion is a guarantee to turn anyone against it. If you don't like it, that's all there is to it but it is unfair to reject it without even trying.

[andsome]

I am continuing the conversation which had developed with andsome and which turned out to be in an inappropriate category.

andsome, you are clearly a musical kinda guy. Do you play a musical instrument yourself?

I would love to be able to play piano. The only thing I ever learnt to play was a recorder at school. However, that does not preclude me from appreciating music.

In answer to your question in the other thread: I have tried to listen to symphonic music, but I have not yet acquired the taste. That does not make me any lesser a person. I enjoy the sound of string instruments, sax, clarinet, piano and probably many more which I don't recognise!

When and how did you develop your taste for symphonic music?

I attended The Birmingham School of Music as a youngster learning the piano. I reached a reasonable standard, but in all honesty, unless I can do something well, I prefer to watch or listen to the experts. I have loved music since a tender age, and grew up listening to Classical, and popular music of the day. I was a fan of the famous ballad singers of the day, as they could at least sing in tune, Sinatra, Frankie Lane, Johnie Ray, and a lot of others. I was a member of The Midland Jazz Club in Birmingham, that's where I grew to love traditional jazz. My favourite Symphonic composer has to be Gustav Mahler of course. I have seen the eighth symphony performed in Symphony hall, with Simon Rattle conducting The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, and two performances of his second symphony, The Resurrection. One of these was conducted by the American Billionaire amateur conductor Gilbert Kaplan. He actually owns the original score. Biography here.. I also love Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovitch, Sibelius, Anton Bruckner, Carl Nielson, Rachmaninoff, Wagner, Puccini, Verdi and many others. I also grew up loving the music of Dave Brubeck, and have been lucky enough to meet him and his family twice. When my daughter lived in California, she attended anti natal classes with his daughter in law. She took us to visit her and husband Danny Brubeck, (an absolutely marvellous drummer), at their home in San Francisco. When Dave and the family toured the world for his 75th birthday, we attended a concert in The Barbican, given by Dave and his sons accompanied by the London Symphony Orchestra, a memorable evening. We were invited backstage to meet the family. We repeated the occasion when Dave toured for his 80th birthday. My daughter has twice visited one of Dave's homes in the states. Life for me would not be complete without music of one sort or another, but it has to be performed well.

[andsome]

The "Extracts" ought to provide the taster for what is available in the piece. In the example I gave of the Visconti film, the extracts demonstrate some of the themes of the two Mahler works which are developed in the course of the performance of the work in its entirety. I am struck by the statement about the "bits in between" that you don't like. Now, please take this in the way it's intended, but statements like that show that you don't understand the music. There is much more to music than making a tune. I'm sure Hendrix understood and that is why he is known and played 37 years after his death.

On your point of forcing yourself to like whatever it is, music, caviare, cream cakes or leather trousers, the very act, or even thought, of compulsion is a guarantee to turn anyone against it. If you don't like it, that's all there is to it but it is unfair to reject it without even trying.

I agree 100%. I also appreciate Hendrix, because he PLAYED the instrument, he did not just strum it, and make a few off tune chords.

I don't particularly like the sound of the Sitar, but can appreciate the performance when it is played well.

[Irene]

You say you can't appreciate "symphonic" music but, have you ever watched Visconti's film adaptation of Thomas Mann's Death in Venice starring Dirk Bogarde? The film uses extracts of Mahler's Fifth and Third symphonies to promote a lot of the emotion in the film and the whole thing is a profound and moving experience. That's just one example, there are many, many others.

No pops, I have not seen the film to which you refer. Although I did see "Amadeus", which I thoughtly enjoyed. We actually have some Mahler's CD's, which I have listened to in the past, and I have to say that at that time, it certainly did nothing for me.

Classical music is all around us all of the time. It's a fault of this Muzak society that so much goes unnoticed and consequently, unappreciated.

I do appreciate and enjoy some classical music. Not the pomp and ceremony type! I much prefer the softer gentle sounds.

For my own tastes, I am deeply into the music of Bach, Handel, Haydn and some of the more ancient medieval composers such as Palestrina and Tallis - as well as some more modern works by Mahler, Shostakovich, Wagner, Stravinsky - and not forgetting the 18th century favourites like Mozart, Beethoven and so on.

I believe that some of the composers you mention are in fact some of those which are enjoyed by my goodself. :)

[deuces wild]

B)

[rong]

The "Extracts" ought to provide the taster for what is available in the piece. In the example I gave of the Visconti film, the extracts demonstrate some of the themes of the two Mahler works which are developed in the course of the performance of the work in its entirety. I am struck by the statement about the "bits in between" that you don't like. Now, please take this in the way it's intended, but statements like that show that you don't understand the music. There is much more to music than making a tune. I'm sure Hendrix understood and that is why he is known and played 37 years after his death.

On your point of forcing yourself to like whatever it is, music, caviare, cream cakes or leather trousers, the very act, or even thought, of compulsion is a guarantee to turn anyone against it. If you don't like it, that's all there is to it but it is unfair to reject it without even trying.

I didn't word it very well, I like short pieces of some of the longer pieces, so I have listened to some and have not been able to get into the whole thing. I do not necessarily like everything that Hendrix did but would still find the ones of his I don't like more enjoyable than most if not all symphonic music, that is my taste and I think it is good that others enjoy different music, that's how it evolves, if it didn't you wouldn't have your symphonies.

The forcing bit was from Irenes post.

[andsome]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uJXC5WqbeU

B)

This has been on here before. He is an excellent guitar player, very talented, but I don't like what he has done to a beautiful piece of music.

[deuces wild]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uJXC5WqbeU

B)

This has been on here before. He is an excellent guitar player, very talented, but I don't like what he has done to a beautiful piece of music.

I do. B)