The Struggle to Appreciate: Tobias in Whatever

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around participants' experiences and preferences regarding classical music, particularly in relation to the works of contemporary composer Tobias Picker. Participants express varying levels of appreciation for different musical styles and composers, exploring the emotional and intellectual challenges of classical music.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants find the sharp notes of Tobias Picker's music difficult to appreciate, expressing discomfort with the style.
  • Others suggest starting with more accessible pieces, such as adagios or nocturnes, and recommend composers like Ralph Vaughan Williams and Samuel Barber.
  • Several participants express a fondness for Bach's Goldberg Variations and Mozart's Clarinet Concerto, indicating a preference for these works over contemporary classical music.
  • There are suggestions to explore online resources, such as radio stations or specific performances, to find more enjoyable classical music.
  • Some participants argue that contemporary classical music, like that of Tobias Picker, does not align with traditional classical music and express disdain for it.
  • Discussions arise about the historical context of classical music and the challenges of appreciating older compositions, with some noting that certain pieces may require a different mindset to enjoy.
  • Participants share personal anecdotes about their musical journeys, including initial struggles with certain styles and the gradual appreciation of more complex works.
  • There is mention of specific composers and pieces that are considered more accessible or enjoyable, such as Dvorak's 9th Symphony and Tchaikovsky's works.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

The discussion contains multiple competing views on the value and accessibility of contemporary classical music versus traditional classical music. Participants do not reach a consensus, as opinions vary widely on what constitutes enjoyable music.

Contextual Notes

Participants express varying levels of familiarity with classical music, indicating that their experiences and preferences are influenced by personal exposure and historical context. Some mention the difficulty of understanding or appreciating certain pieces without prior knowledge.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to individuals exploring classical music, particularly those seeking recommendations or grappling with their own musical preferences and experiences.

wolram
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I am trying to like it but it hurts on my nerves, all the sharp notes, tobias in
what ever, how can you like it?
 
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wolram said:
I am trying to like it but it hurts on my nerves, all the sharp notes, tobias in what ever, how can you like it?

To what are you listening?!? Start with some adagios or nocturnes. :rolleyes:

Try Ralph Vaughn Williams!

Or Samuel Barber, especially his Adagio for Strings.
 
I am particulary fond of the Goldberg Variations by Bach. Also Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A.

~H
 
Hootenanny said:
I am particulary fond of the Goldberg Variations by Bach. Also Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A.

~H

Can you give me an online rendition of some thing that is not so, painful ?
 
If you stick with Mozart, your ears should not be pained. But after you have got the habit of listening to longer musical lines than pop tunes or rock anthems provide, you should branch out. I recommend for your second step, Schubert, and then some of the French late romantics (Franck, Saint-Saens) and Dvorak. All of this is as sweet on the ear as classical music gets. Oh, Smetana's The Moldau is popular with a lot of people who don't like listening to symphonies.

Have you got access to a public library? Check out their CD collection.
 
Or listen to an online radio station. I've been listening to Beethoven.com for the past two months and it's great!
 
neutrino said:
Or listen to an online radio station. I've been listening to Beethoven.com for the past two months and it's great!

Good idea, i will give it a try.
 
What on Earth were you listening to?
 
  • #10
wolram, you are such an enigma (I was going to say 'strange bird' but enigma is more polite).

Sometimes you seem as familiar as the guy next door, and sometimes you seem so ... alien?

I'm dying to know your story.
 
  • #11
DaveC426913 said:
wolram, you are such an enigma (I was going to say 'strange bird' but enigma is more polite).

Sometimes you seem as familiar as the guy next door, and sometimes you seem so ... alien?

I'm dying to know your story.

:confused: Me, i am as common as muck, a bit scatter brained at times i
know, but alien?
 
  • #12
Evo said:
What on Earth were you listening to?


Tobias, that's all i heard, anyway i have had classic FM all day and must say
:rolleyes: i like some of it.
 
  • #13
Tobias Picker? I don't know how they can call that classical music, it's "contemporary classical", new music, not what one thinks of when one mentions "classical".

http://www.tobiaspicker.com/
 
  • #14
Try Pachalbel's Canon, very soothing.

And stay far, far away from opera - even I can't stand it.
 
  • #15
Curious3141 said:
Try Pachalbel's Canon, very soothing.

And stay far, far away from opera - even I can't stand it.

My sophisticated bro goes to opera, i am sure some of those singers have a
compresd air line up the ***, how do they hold those notes so long
 
  • #16
Curious3141 said:
And stay far, far away from opera - even I can't stand it.
I like Madame Butterfly. It makes me cry. :cry:
 
  • #17
Evo said:
Tobias Picker? I don't know how they can call that classical music, it's "contemporary classical", new music, not what one thinks of when one mentions "classical".

http://www.tobiaspicker.com/

Trust me to get it wrong.
 
  • #18
"contemporary classical' is crap. It is not even close to the same level.

I like Dvorak 9th, From the New World.
 
  • #19
cyrusabdollahi said:
"contemporary classical' is crap. It is not even close to the same level.

I like Dvorak 9th, From the New World.

:confused: You still call it the new world, i thought all these guys came from europe, or about.
 
  • #20
You have much to learn about classical music.

The New World is the United States, because Dvorak imigrated there from his native bohemia. He liked to ride the steam engines up and down the United States.
 
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  • #21
cyrusabdollahi said:
You have much to learn about classical music.

The New World is the United States, because Dvorak imigrated there from his native bohemia. He like to ride the steam engines up and down the United States.

Well sure i have a lot to learn, i have ony just started to listen to it :rolleyes:
I did start a thread in history about, blast, forgot his name, but he had a
facinating life.
 
  • #22
Found it, i lied it was Van Gogh.
 
  • #23
wolram said:
Found it, i lied it was Van Gogh.
Not many people are familiar with Van Gogh's music. :biggrin: I believe he played the nose flute.
 
  • #24
You must remember that pieces in classical music weren't just made for the sake of just listening and enjoying the music. For some great composers, it meant more intellectual challenges and unheard melodies.

In fact, I would think of as enjoying classical music being the tiniest part of the experience. Its no brainer that some of the music won't get into you - the music was composed for a different style of audience and style, and what might be called masterpieces may be denounced easily by the public nowadays.

You really have to put yourself in the past for baroque and classical music, as some can get really hard to listen to. I can mention a couple of pieces that are really hard to listen to at first - the passions of bach, (just ANYTHING with Bach to be realistic) late string quartets of Beethoven, and for me, (contraversially(!)) everything by Mozart. The time effect is lessor in romantic music and contemporary.

So what does this mean? To get the true essence of classical music, you'll, if you don't your ears hurting, try to listen to more popular classical pieces at first, moonlight sonata, fur elise etc. (despite my disdain for it) Then move on.

Try this for a list:

Canon -> Moonlight sonata -> pathetique sonata -> appasionata sonata -> hammerklavier -> Bach solo cello suites -> Beethoven symphonies/ piano concertos -> Bach Violin partitas -> Everything by Mozart -> Everything by Bach.
 
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  • #25
Evo said:
Not many people are familiar with Van Gogh's music. :biggrin: I believe he played the nose flute.

You mean he did the boogy woogy :smile:
 
  • #26
Bladibla said:
I can mention a couple of pieces that are really hard to listen to at first - the passions of bach, (just ANYTHING with Bach to be realistic)

It was the other way for me. I was in love with Baroque music from the instant I started to listening to it. Yes, many of them sound very similar and were restricted in many ways, and, of course, there was the "Red Priest" who wrote the same composition a hundred times (or was 400 it times?) :-p. But I enjoy Baroque.

Wolram, maybe you should try the Four Seasons by Vivaldi (aka the Red Priest). Hope someone here can recommend a good performance.
 
  • #27
Damn. I'm too late to say anything useful. What did they say about Wagner, "The music is better than it sounds."
 
  • #28
Some of this stuff i am listening to is good, trouble is they all ways rattle off
what it is and i can never catch it all.

Oh the melody by chikovski (spelling)
 
  • #29
Tchaikovsky, Chaikovksy, Tschaikovksky, lots of transliterations. He wrote an incredible violin concerto...
 
  • #30
Bladibla said:
In fact, I would think of as enjoying classical music being the tiniest part of the experience.

:frown: ...[/color]
 

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