In your opinion, is classical music dull?

Question

Why or why not?

Answer 1

Much too broad a question to answer completely, but let me take a shot.

Is classical music boring? Some of it is, some of it is not, but it is obviously personal preference.

Part of my problem with just throwing out the term, “classical music” is that it is so broad. So I guess that I’ll just take this to mean the stereotypical music played by orchestras.

I’ve played the violin since 1965. I’ve played in symphonic orchestras, chamber orchestras, string quartets and even for an opera company. There are several things that I like about good “classical music.”

1. The music can be mentally challenging. If you listen to many classical pieces there is so much going on! Interaction between parts. Complex rhythms. Harmonies (and sometimes even intentional discords that grate on the ears).

A good classical piece almost seems to me to tell a story. The interesting thing is that the story may be different for each one of us. What I “see” in the music may be nothing like what you perceive, and vice versa. There is usually an introduction, some sort of conflict, and then a resolution…just like any good story. In a concerto the solo instrument usually plays the hero, and it is often a “struggle” between the soloist and the orchestra to work together…usually with a positive outcome. Or the struggle may be in the presentation of the theme. How many interesting ways can a single theme be presented, altered, turned around and upside down to the point that I barely hear the original, and then brought back to the original form to resolve pleasantly? How can I present the same theme played by so many families of instruments, and how can I make each presentation different and interesting? What about two…or three…or four themes going on at the same time so that they interact with each other and produce a harmonious whole?

2. The music frequently requires a high level of skill to compose and play. It shows off the expertise of the composer and the instrumentalists. It allows me to appreciate the work that these folks have put into learning their instruments, and it allows me to appreciate the effort that it takes to get all of these folks working together as a unit. You don’t often hear of a classical musician who taught himself to play in his garage in a couple of months. You don’t hear of classical composers who wrote the piece while sitting around waiting for the bus.

And classical music frequently requires a little sophistication or education to properly appreciate. There are many pieces of classical music that I absolutely hated when I first heard them, that I can listen to almost endlessly now because I understand what the composer, the conductor and the orchestra are doing.

3. The range of emotions presented in classical music can run the gamut from calm and serene, to joyously exultant, to fierce hatred, to despondent. And sometimes several of these can be included in a single piece (going back to that idea of a storyline aren’t we?).

Now what I don’t like in some classical works (or for that matter in a lot of popular music) is simplistic (not necessarily simple), repetitive presentations.

“Let’s see, I’ve put together eight lines, let’s go back to the 4-line chorus, so that I can write another eight lines that sound a lot like those I just wrote, so that I can sing my chorus again. And then I’ll get to repeat the chorus again. And the---oops, my three minutes is up, so I guess I’ll just end.”

That’s a killer in any kind of music. A lot of rock is just that. So is most pop. And frankly, there is a lot of that in bad classical music, too. (Aside: A good tune well performed can overcome almost anything, so a lot of formulaic drivel is saved by an interesting melody.)

Another music killer for me is pretentious musicians and composers…and those are present in any genre of music (just more stereotypically in classical). Any time that somebody can stick their nose up in the air and tell me that I just can’t understand their music because (you can fill in the blank here) they’ve lost my interest. And I’ve had classical, operatic, pop, rock, reggae and rap musicians tell me that.

To summarize, what is interesting to me in any piece of music is
an interesting theme
a skilled presentation of the theme within the work by the composer
a skilled (or at least effective) performance of the music
a satisfying (or at least interesting) ending

Do those four things in any type of music and you’ve got my attention. Miss out on any one of the four and you’ll probably find me yawning!

Answer 2

The question should be: What kind of people do not appreciate classical music? And the answer would be "Only Dull People"

Answer 3

The true question is, Can anyone even stand listening to classical music for 10 seconds without falling asleep? Your in the wrong section bud! And you are generalizing too much! The majority of the people here will defend hiphop with their lives and i don't think you want to bring on a horde! 5-20 years ago, rap was a subject of god's! Let's not touch the untouchable okay?

Answer 4

Yes I think classical music is dull mainly because there's no lyrics and in my opinion if there's no lyrics then there's no song and you can't consider that music. I enjoy music so much, because there are songs that I can sing along to and relate to, but with classical music there's no such thing.

Answer 5

Being a huge music fan, I respect all types of music, however classical does not tend to be my typical type of music to listen to. However if you ever get a chance, seeing classical music done by real musicians is actually very good. And by performance I mean in a classy theather, not a stadium. It's gotta be the right mood. Classical music is interesting and is very complex, and for this it is to be respected.

Answer 6

ummm well i don't personally like it, it can bore me to sleep. so yeah it is in my opinion dull. But where would a lot of genres of music be today if someone never had interest in classical music? i think some classical music influences a lot of different genres of music. but i don't enjoy listening to classical.

Answer 7

I enjoy classical music and think people should open their minds a little bit more when it comes to music. I listen to just about every genre out there. My parents exposed me to classical music at a young age so people that think it's dull should broaden their horizons and open their minds up just a little bit.

Answer 8

Not if you are "into" it.

If you attend a symphony, it's pretty amazing to see and hear all of those different instruments being played by experts and having their sounds being combined as one - to produce an expressive sound as intended by the composer.

Personally, I am somewhat unsatisfied when I attend a symphony because I am "visually bored". I have found that ballet is more satisfying. I still get the symphony. However, in addition I see the world's greatest athletes performing unbelievable movements "accompanied" by music.

Try it, you might like it.

p.s. to those males who might be "afraid" of ballet.
I'm married and attend over 50 games a year - NFL, MLB, + NBA.

Answer 9

Not at all; but you have to know the basics of what it is you're hearing.
Both classical and jazz are complex and difficult to do well.
However, speaking as a once professional musician, several "kinds" of music can be really boring unless you're playing them; then every note becomes vital. Or get out of the biz.

Answer 10

Its just not my style although I do like classical guitar. (I'm more into jazz, blues, and classic rock). Actually the guitar styles of many heavy metal guitarists are based on classical scales and it often sounds very interesting. Some of it sounds like classical music played as heavy metal. For example Yngvie Malmsteen, Michael Schenker, and many others.