What is "Classical" music?
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Just to start a thread about what people consider to be "classical" music.
"Jazz," IMO is defined by improvisation, with "weird" chords and progression. It demands you listen and pay attention.
"Rock," IMO is ear candy. That doesn't make it bad, by any means. However, it's not as demanding of the listener as jazz.
"Classical," is often described as "serious" music. It's not ear candy, and demands of the listener to pay attention. However, it's (usually) not as open to improvisation, so it's reproducible.
"Country" - see "rock."
"Rap" isn't music.
@george-k said in What is "Classical" music?:
"Classical," is often described as "serious" music. It's not ear candy, and demands of the listener to pay attention. However, it's (usually) not as open to improvisation, so it's reproducible.
It wasn't always like that. Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin were all monster improvisers.
I think it's gone backwards in that regard. All people really do now is 'interpret'. It's objectively a much less creative process.
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@george-k said in What is "Classical" music?:
"Classical," is often described as "serious" music. It's not ear candy, and demands of the listener to pay attention. However, it's (usually) not as open to improvisation, so it's reproducible.
It wasn't always like that. Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin were all monster improvisers.
I think it's gone backwards in that regard. All people really do now is 'interpret'. It's objectively a much less creative process.
@doctor-phibes said in What is "Classical" music?:
It wasn't always like that. Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin were all monster improvisers.
Indeed. I think Beethoven participated in some "improvisation competitions."
As I said, that died out by the end of the 19th century.
"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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@doctor-phibes said in What is "Classical" music?:
It wasn't always like that. Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin were all monster improvisers.
Indeed. I think Beethoven participated in some "improvisation competitions."
As I said, that died out by the end of the 19th century.
@george-k said in What is "Classical" music?:
As I said, that died out by the end of the 19th century.
Which is a bit sad. It means that the music of that era is stuck, and the most people can do is re-interpret rather than create.
A bit like what Wynton Marsalis seems to want to do to jazz - he still champions improvisation, but innovation, not so much.
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@doctor-phibes said in What is "Classical" music?:
It wasn't always like that. Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin were all monster improvisers.
Indeed. I think Beethoven participated in some "improvisation competitions."
As I said, that died out by the end of the 19th century.
@george-k said in What is "Classical" music?:
@doctor-phibes said in What is "Classical" music?:
It wasn't always like that. Mozart, Beethoven and Chopin were all monster improvisers.
Indeed. I think Beethoven participated in some "improvisation competitions."
As I said, that died out by the end of the 19th century.
It does have a limited revival, though. Alma Deutscher. Gabriela Montero. Conrad Tao. A couple more. Not a lot, but it's a start.
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George, the definition changes a lot depending on whether you are talking about a musician actually playing the music, a musician listening to the music, or a non-musician listening. The fact is that for most listeners, Classical Music is more “ear candy” than any other type/style.
Also, most classical = country directly… Classical music is strongly influenced by and in many cases directly rips off folk music of various cultures. That folk music is as country as country gets…
The Brad
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My "today's musical interlude" :
Link to video -
George, the definition changes a lot depending on whether you are talking about a musician actually playing the music, a musician listening to the music, or a non-musician listening. The fact is that for most listeners, Classical Music is more “ear candy” than any other type/style.
Also, most classical = country directly… Classical music is strongly influenced by and in many cases directly rips off folk music of various cultures. That folk music is as country as country gets…
@lufins-dad said in What is "Classical" music?:
George, the definition changes a lot depending on whether you are talking about a musician actually playing the music, a musician listening to the music, or a non-musician listening. The fact is that for most listeners, Classical Music is more “ear candy” than any other type/style.
Also, most classical = country directly… Classical music is strongly influenced by and in many cases directly rips off folk music of various cultures. That folk music is as country as country gets…
True enough though I think we now tend to think of it as cliche more than ear candy. But in my parents’ generation it was definitely ear candy.
Exactly right about the folk music influence. From Haydn and throughout the Romantic period. All the big name composers relied heavily on folk music for melodic lines. Even sometimes harmonic ideas if they wanted to sound “oriental” or nationalist. A lot of folk themes used in 20th century classical as well. Not just by Bartok either.
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Where do Polkas land in this spectrum?
@lufins-dad said in What is "Classical" music?:
Where do Polkas land in this spectrum?
Rap music by golly from down the way, dontcha know.....
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@lufins-dad said in What is "Classical" music?:
Where do Polkas land in this spectrum?
Rap music by golly from down the way, dontcha know.....
@larry said in What is "Classical" music?:
@lufins-dad said in What is "Classical" music?:
Where do Polkas land in this spectrum?
Rap music by golly from down the way, dontcha know.....
The Schmenge Brothers rock:
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