Is this an issue of maturity of taste?

Question

If someone prefers the music of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov to that of Mozart, Beethoven, Bach and Brahms, does this mean that their musical appreciation is immature?

Answer 1

no! not at all! it's more of preferance than maturity of tast. for some people, the music from the Romantic period speaks more to them, and they're able to feel the core/soul of the music better. others identify with earlier music. none of them are considered 'immature' in taste. anybody who can feel music can appreciate it. i myself prefer Romantic/Russian/Eastern Europe music to those of other nationalities, simply because these speak to my musical personality more.

Answer 2

No, absolutely not. Music works at different times for different people. Your taste in music is likely to change over time - now you are particularly fond of T & R, but nex year who knows. Now if you had asked - I like Tchaikovsky, but hate Mozart, Bach and Beethoven, that might have indicated some dubious inclinations.
Listen to what you enjoy. Not a bad idea to challenge yourself by listening to other composers or even different versions of the same work. The really neat thing about classical music is that you can revisit the same work over and over and still find something new in it.
If you have an appreciation for T & R, it is natural that you would appreciate their predecessors.
I was advised to listen to Schoenberg a few years ago and I did so reluctantly, but I now actually own some recordings. You'll be amazed at what you'll develop an appreciation for if you remain open minded and give it a chance.

Answer 3

Oh no, of course not. People have different preferences. It really has nothing to do with maturity. I think it's fine if someone thinks Rachmaninov is better than Mozart. It's just their opinion. Some people may like dark, heavy pieces. It makes them feel a certain way. . Light and airy pieces may just do nothing for them. Or it may be the exact opposite for some people. And they just might like the romantic era over the classical era. I think it should be respected though, not debated. Unless someone claims things about certain composers that may not be true to someone else. For example, no one should say I prefer Beethoven to Mozart because Mozart's music is emotionless, because to other people including me, that may not be true at all, and shouldn't be said as fact, it should be said as opinion.

Answer 4

This more of a case of preference to a musical period.

But, you could make a couple of arguments here, I am presenting them simply to play devil's advocate:

1. Because the music of Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff comes from a later period than the others listed, their music is more developed. (This is a pretty shaky argument, mind you)

2. Because Mozart and Bach were composing music for a smaller, arguably more highly educated audience and Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff were gearing their music more for the masses, it would require a less sophisticated ear to listen to their compositions.

Answer 5

not at all.
There are no set guidelines as to what is correct in listening to music, or whom to listen to when. If that were so, the world would be a much duller place.
It's not like which fork to use, it's a question of enjoying what's actually on the plate. ( although the aesthetics of table silver is another subject of itself)
It also depends on what your needs are, emotionally, at any given time. I could see myself doing the washing up ( which I do not like) with the biggest Romantic to late Romantic music playing, simply to help me get through the chore. Often, I use the Gypsy Kings for that. For more soothing tasks, like ironing, I will stick to Bach.
I adore Mozart at all times, except when I have to sing- my voice is not well suited for his music- where discipline takes over from pure enjoyment.
when Wagner or Strauss comes up, there is very little to stop me from enjoying myself thoroughly.
Don't let someone else's opinion color or change yours, unless they have a well-founded string of facts to back them up. And the fact here is that you enjoy the Russians.

Answer 6

Absolutely not. Everyone has different tastes in music and in my opinion, if someone actually has a preference for certain composers, it just means they may know even more about music because they're able to tell each of the pieces apart and figure out what they like about each one.

Answer 7

Not at all! It just means you prefer romantic-period (mid to late 19'th century) "classical" music to classical-period music (early 19'th century). Pianists love Rachmaninov, for example, because his music is incredibly fantastic to play once you have spent 20 frustrating years learning it. :-P So it's not maturity of taste, just differences of personal taste.

Of course there's plenty of great classical-period music, from Beethoven's 9th on down. So you can like whatever you want, but it's pointless to argue with people about which style is better. (or to let them argue with you)

Answer 8

Nope not at all.

In matters of taste there are no rules.

I will say this -- I did not begin to truly appreciate the music of Mozart and Bach until I was much older. Kinda like learning to like brocolli and spinach -- you learn to appreciate the subtle flavors.

Answer 9

Maybe they just prefer Russian music to German. Who are these arbiters of "taste" anyway? You know, even if something is written on a wall, carved in stone, visible only at night, or embroidered in cross-stitch, it does not say it is so. The world is a very big place, jet travel notwithstanding.

Who is it - Ralph Waldo Emerson or Henry Thoreau ?? - who said that conformity is the hobgoblin of little minds? We should be broad minded, let people like what they like, like what we like, and all will be well. Pass the sugar, please?

Answer 10

Absolutely not .... we as classical music lovers change with time and at some time each composer will touch you in different ways its just a matter of when and how each composer is introduced to you