Could we settle a problem here? Is it part of a plot to persecute classical musicians by .....?

Question

........calling a string quartet, for example, a "song" ?

Are they all trying to annoy the socks off us by doing that? I am assuming it is intentional.

There is a danger in democracy. Some people abuse the privileges.


Huff!
Lakshmi

It is interesting how few people can read. Must one spell things out?

Many answers here miss my point: I am not calling these people stupid. I am calling them wilful.

Answer 1

I quite agree with you. Whilst I am against Classical music being given an elitist status and for lovers of the muse being regarded as cultural snobs, referring to a classical work as a 'song' is simply not echt.

Unfortunately, there is a lot of 'dumbing down' going on, increasingly promulgated by the populist media. Its the same with food, I cook Chateaubriand with pommes pont-neuf and some bugger calls it 'steak and chips'

Answer 2

This began many years ago when music appreciation classes were dropped from high school. Unless people have had a music education, how would they learn the terminology used for classical pieces, or that in classical music "song" has a specific meaning?

I think we who are familiar with classical music should encourage all the questions that come here, and should do our best to answer them and not quibble about the terminology. In most cases, I'm sure we know what the questioner means, and we should leave it at that.

In one of my earlier responses to a question about a classical "song" I went into a lengthy description of what a song is in classical music. I realize now, that this was unnecessary and didn't help the asker get the answer.

Answer 3

Mostly I think it is genuine ignorance, and I agree with what some have said about being nice about them not using the right terminology or pronouncing names like Chopin wrongly.

But yes there are some who deliberately call pieces by the wrong name...and it drives me MAD! A string quartet is certainly not a song, it is a string quartet or a piece. The most annoying for me is when people don't call arias "arias", but "songs." Songs are separately composed pieces for voice and piano/ensemble, arias are pieces written for voice and orchestra in operas!! Concert arias are songs that resemble operatic arias and were on occasion inserted into operas to replace "inconvenient" arias the performer didn't like!! Rant over...

So yes on the part of some it is certainly a conspiracy!

Answer 4

After having been subjected to the "that was nice song" treatment after having played a movement from some AWESOME sonata (or SOMETHING), I have to agree that there IS a plot to persecute classical musicians:

Actually, I don't think most people do it intentionally, but STILL!!

And then there's the "how fast can you play" "how loud can you play" routine....where fast and loud are oh-so-much more impressive than soft with beautiful tone and voicing.

And then (perhaps worst of all!) is the "That's nice, but can you play "Fur Elise" or "Canon in D"?" routine

'nuf said.

Answer 5

Let me give you an example of another area: My father was a lawyer. He told me that in the first year of law school, that it became mandatory to think and TALK as a lawyer does. No more vague "whatevers", it was exact or nothing. Those who couldn't make that transition didn't make it through law school. A very wise philosophy.

When I hear a person say a "song" about a non-voice piece (Mendelssohn's Songs Without Words are one exception!), I immediately think "Rube", and if this person has pretenses of being in music, I know they likely won't make it.

So, it actually gives us an opportunity to see quickly whether or not they can manage the intellectual discipline of a career in music. It is not unlike some of the internet crap that parades as "words" or "language". As far as non-musicians are concerned, please read about Schumann and the League of David. It's been going on for centuries...

Answer 6

sa_char_uk should be killed :> Asking people to use the right terms is a call to educate yourself about music - not being "snotty". A sonata is not a song. An art song is not a sonata. sa_char_uk may just be the true "snotta" here.
SilverRoseWolf hit the nail on the head- people know so LITTLE about music that they think it started with whatever they casually ignore - er "listen" to. This lack of knowledge leads the public to accept mediocrity in music as genius, makes rich "musicians" who have no formal training whatsoever, and further perpetuates the notion that formal training ISN'T NEEDED to become an excellent musician. All rubbish. You can only produce excellence in art to the level that you yourself understand that art.

Answer 7

amen

totally agree

also that in the classical section of yahoo answers we shouldn't get "tab" questions either .. LEARN TO READ TOO!

if these people who just call anything a song (sonatas, string quartets, tone poems, arias) should at least say they don't know the correct terminology and put in a little effort to learn what they are allegedly interested in

(I love a good rant)

Answer 8

Musics not about words. Maybe you should spend less time complaining about peoples ignorant mistakes and more time enjoying yourself. Lifes too short for BS like worrying about kids calling a quartet a song. I often talk to people who do not come from a classical background and they know very little about classical music, when they make a mistake I correct them and they learn something. You should stop hating on people just because they have begun to enjoy a new genre of music without having it force fed to them like so many of my fellow piano students.

Where I come from it was considered "nerdish" to like classical music so when I see people start to take an interest in it I don't slam them for mis-pronouncing Chopin just because no one has ever told them how to say his name. I'm happy that despite their background they can enjoy the music I play.

Be nice to the classical newbies so they can learn from you and don't be like so many of those musical elitists who hate on people without teaching them what they are doing wrong

Answer 9

It is just sheer lack of knowledge; they just don't know. The only way to appreciate "classical music" is to actually see a live orchestra. The way things are is that most people are never exposed to classical music on the radio. They are forced-fed mass-produced record company sponsored production line dross.

I love every type of music: pop, rock, classical, jazz; but I have to go out and find it - it will not be heard on the radio or MTV.

Answer 10

It is a little irritating. BUT, if the person asking the question uses that term and it is in relation to "serious" music, at least the person is taking a step toward becoming familiar with the art.

As far as I'm concerned, the glass is half full.