Comments on: Another Classical Convert. Almost. http://classicalconvert.com/2007/07/another-classical-convert-almost/ A beginners guide to classical music, by someone who switched at 23 Sat, 21 Apr 2012 23:06:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ben http://classicalconvert.com/2007/07/another-classical-convert-almost/comment-page-1/#comment-552 Ben Fri, 27 Jul 2007 20:56:56 +0000 http://classicalconvert.com/2007/07/another-classical-convert-almost/#comment-552 Hmmm. Thanks Jon, Interesting point. It would definitely irritate me if anybody tried, like, screaming and cheering and stuff in the middle of a piece in the performance hall. It's annoying enough when people loudly turn over the pages of the program. I was thinking more of the applause at the end... often it seems like people are just clapping because it's part of the routine, that they aren't actually expressing any genuine emotion. If people new to the experience feel that also, they might start to see the whole concert-going extravaganza as a stuffy, play-by-the-rules kind of grind instead of the powerful and emotional performance good music should be. I guess in the end there has to be some kind of balance between the standalone respect that the music needs to breathe (especially when compared to other genres) and a hearty emotional response. I guess I feel like there's maybe a tad bit too much of the former, but it's not obvious how to better even it out. Hmmm. Thanks Jon, Interesting point. It would definitely irritate me if anybody tried, like, screaming and cheering and stuff in the middle of a piece in the performance hall. It’s annoying enough when people loudly turn over the pages of the program.

I was thinking more of the applause at the end… often it seems like people are just clapping because it’s part of the routine, that they aren’t actually expressing any genuine emotion. If people new to the experience feel that also, they might start to see the whole concert-going extravaganza as a stuffy, play-by-the-rules kind of grind instead of the powerful and emotional performance good music should be.

I guess in the end there has to be some kind of balance between the standalone respect that the music needs to breathe (especially when compared to other genres) and a hearty emotional response. I guess I feel like there’s maybe a tad bit too much of the former, but it’s not obvious how to better even it out.

]]> By: JonJ http://classicalconvert.com/2007/07/another-classical-convert-almost/comment-page-1/#comment-536 JonJ Thu, 26 Jul 2007 14:32:13 +0000 http://classicalconvert.com/2007/07/another-classical-convert-almost/#comment-536 The problem I always have with those would like to see classical audiences getting up and dancing, stomping their feet, and generally behaving like rock audiences is that it would make it impossible for those of us who want to hear the music to hear it. The simple fact is (I hate to be this simplistic, but I think its true) that classical music, almost without exception, is a completely different beast from rock (and most jazz, as well). Rock and most jazz was meant from the start to be dance music, and not polite, waltz-type dancing, either. While some classical music originally derived from dances such as minuets and sarabandes, these were not rock-type dances or the jitterbug or the Lindy to begin with, and the actual dance aspects they originally had were leeched out of them by the time the baroque composers used them in suites. I'm afraid that O'Hagan and other converters will just have to get used to the idea that the nature of classical music is such that they need to sit down, be quiet, and listen (and careful with those cough drop wrappers, too!). At least at public concerts. At home, there's no problem with rocking out to Stravinsky, of course, but at a concert you have to be considerate of the other audience members. At least, if it's a standard concert situation. Virgil Fox of course did his rock-style organ recitals, and the last night of the Proms is another exception. The problem I always have with those would like to see classical audiences getting up and dancing, stomping their feet, and generally behaving like rock audiences is that it would make it impossible for those of us who want to hear the music to hear it.

The simple fact is (I hate to be this simplistic, but I think its true) that classical music, almost without exception, is a completely different beast from rock (and most jazz, as well). Rock and most jazz was meant from the start to be dance music, and not polite, waltz-type dancing, either. While some classical music originally derived from dances such as minuets and sarabandes, these were not rock-type dances or the jitterbug or the Lindy to begin with, and the actual dance aspects they originally had were leeched out of them by the time the baroque composers used them in suites.

I’m afraid that O’Hagan and other converters will just have to get used to the idea that the nature of classical music is such that they need to sit down, be quiet, and listen (and careful with those cough drop wrappers, too!). At least at public concerts. At home, there’s no problem with rocking out to Stravinsky, of course, but at a concert you have to be considerate of the other audience members.

At least, if it’s a standard concert situation. Virgil Fox of course did his rock-style organ recitals, and the last night of the Proms is another exception.

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