Is there a reason people put down classical music but the never try listening to it?

Question

Most people have never heard of the greats such as Debussy, Mahler, Brahms, Stravinsky, Ravel, Mussorgsky ect... but they put down classical music when all they probably ever heard was the can can, marriage of figaro overture, or a little night music. And when you try to introduce them to it they say no way.

Answer 1

Yes, I know exactly what you mean! They shouldn't be commenting on music they haven't even experienced. It all has so much feeling and emotion and if they cared to listen they'd find it much more inspiring than they had thought. I mean the sad part is that they are basing their opinions on a very tiny portion of the classical music out there; the music that isn't even the best. If they cared to explore all the different composers and listen to them at their best and still didn't fancy classical music I guess I could forgive them (even though I think it'd be pretty tough not to like it), but if they won't even give it a try and put it down, that's what true ignorance is.

Answer 2

Yes, it is annoying. Some people are just close-minded.

It's probably a combination of factors such as the overall image classical music gives off in modern society to the uninitiated, as well as widely believed misconceptions regarding classical music held by those unfamiliar with classical music-namely that it is boring, stiff, and elitist.

Also, as you've mentioned above, a lot of people unfamiliar with classical music seem to think that the few classical pieces that they have heard are representative of ALL classical music-and often those pieces are

a) over-used in popular culture to the point of being cliches such as Eine Kleine Nacht Musik and Morning Mood by Grieg

b) in a major key, and from the baroque peroid

With that being said, the culprit lies also with popular culture for generating such classical music stereotypes and perpetuating the idea that all classical music sounds like The Marriage of Figaro Overture or Eine Kleine Nacht Musik.

The final reason I can think of is ignorance and mal-education. I'm sure if people were more exposed to a wider range of music from a young age such misconceptions and prejudices held against classical music wouldn't exist. I doubt anyone would be able to accuse classical music of being stiff or boring after hearing Stravinsky's The Rite of Spring.

So yes, it's probably something close to a combination of the factors mentioned above.

It's good to see that there are other open-minded, non prejudiced classical music fans out there!

Answer 3

Hey prog
Ive been hearin it all my life..my Mom was a Concert Pianist. My Dad loves classical music and wont listen to anything else. To me while a lot of it sure is beautiful I guess there are e few reasons I don't care tooo much for it with the exception of a few pieces..They are
Way way tooo many hoursmspent playing them during my piano lessons from ages 5 to 18.
Too much of a Metalhead
Music just don't quite sound right too me without the Bass and Drums
I can play just about any of that stuff on piano but I would rather play some Dr. John
That about sums it up.
that is one Intelligent Question you just asked my friend
hats off to you and a star for ya.

Answer 4

Sadly, these kind of people DO exist. When I was in my 'formative years' in classical music, friends would smirk and say 'are you listening to that sleepy music? AGAIN?" It was like as if I had a disease. They openly told me that the music was boring, unimpressive and 'not in the trend'. (Which was why I liked my friends, despite them disliking the music - they were so honest!)

However, do not despair. Most of my friends now understood that classical music is more beneficial than it is boring. I brought my friends over to study once, and put on Corelli's Christmas Concerto, and they commented that the music did help them to concentrate in studying (because it was so boring!).

And when I bought my first Puccini record (it was Madama Butterfly) they were curious, although initially turned off by all the screaming. With due explanation, they understood, and finally managed to get the idea of classical music. Heck, one even enquired about Salome (Strauss' opera) after I revealed that there was a strip scene!

For those who fervently deny even try to listen to Fur Elise, you might as well wait for the day a cat grows a pair of horns. Leave them be. Minds like that cannot be salvaged, I'm sorry to say.

Answer 5

Two years ago I did not find music interesting until my brother introduced me to classical. First of all I dislike almost all the pieces of music later than the baroque period. They are idiots that do what other people do and do not deserve music if they do not want to try listen due to a somewhat false stereotype.

Answer 6

Yes, it bothers me that people won't take the time to learn about it. I have friends who say they don't like classical music, but they have never listened to the really good stuff and they just generalize that classical music is 'boring.' I am not trying to make them love it like I do, but I think that they need to be cultured a bit. Yes, I like the music my friends listen to as well, but they need to learn about classical too. I get annoyed with ignorant people. Besides all of the music that they listen to comes from classical music. To me, classical music is the most beautiful, dramatic, and emotion changing music. It really effects my mind, like no other music can. Thanks, good question!

Answer 7

I know alot of people associate classical music with being nerdy (what's wrong with being nerdy anyway?!?!?) and they want to seem "cool" so they resist it. The also perfer to think it's only for old people which is so not true, Before I got into rock, I use to only listen to classical music and everyone made fun of me for ir and the never tried anything like Stravinsky and I KNOW tehy wouls love the Rite of Spring.

*PS I lost my top contributor badges and I can't even reconize myself anymore :0(

Answer 8

It's because this is no ordinary music, it isn't just to hear, you have to pay attention to understand it, the music has a very rich content and people don't understand it, most people think of music as some rithm to induce dancing and not as something to pay attention to. As the dude up here said, it puts your brain to work, yes absolutely true.

Answer 9

It's the attitude of most people to everything(food, books, ..)not only to classical music. Only when we really like classical music, could we say in fact people didn' learned good pieces.

Answer 10

Unfortunately, a lot of people believe Classical music = boring music.

I decided to give it a try, and discovered that I appreciate a selection of Classical, including

Elgar
Mozart
Handel
Chopin
Beethoven
Warlock
Butterworth
Purcell
Delius


If I were to suggest to my cousins {ages 13 - 16} that they try it, I can guess what their reactions would be!

People need to remember that without Classical, we wouldn't have any of the other genres of music.