Not keen on the 19th Century [or late 18th for that matter]

Posted by: stephenjohn on 27 October 2002

Is there anybody else out there who's not that keen on music from the 19th Century or late 18th for that matter, Beethoven's late string quartets exepted.

There is a huge gap in my collection, for example, I have more Bach than all music from the next 150 years after he died put together, then I've got a reasonable amount of 20th century stuff. I have no Mendlesohn [sp?], Schubert, Schumman, Chopin etc. I have some Brahms, Bruckner etc which I don't really like. Hayden, Mozart, Beethoven [late string quartets excepted] don't do that much for me. There is a massive body of music out there that I just don't appreciate. I really wish that I did because I know that I'm missing out on so much.

So am I alone in this wierdness?

Posted on: 27 October 2002 by aybee

And I thought it was just me. No I have tried but so much seems musically bloated; more instruments, bigger orchestras, longer compositions. An orchestra attempting to imitate a storm at sea... bah!

But then I do enjoy Mahler - Ooops that blows my case:-)

Alan

Posted on: 27 October 2002 by Phil Barry

Didn't Bach write more music than the combined output of all (European/American) composers combined did in the next 150 years?

Regards.

Phil

Posted on: 28 October 2002 by --duncan--

Hi stephenjohn

Not weird at all. You are just saying you don't like (Austro-german) romantic music. This is a small proportion of all of 'classical'/art/whatever music. It happens to be a high-profile genre, but over the last thirty years people have increasingly realised that there is far more out there than Mozart/Beethoven/Wagner.

It's similar to saying 'I don't like impressionist paintings'. This happend to be a very popular style, but most people would understand if it's not your cup to tea.

As you hint, many here will feel you are missing out on some fabulous stuff. Perhaps you will grow to like it, perhaps not. I feel the same about late John Coltrane. Every five years or so I have another try...but I'm still not getting it.

duncan

Posted on: 28 October 2002 by stephenjohn

Hi
it's nice to know I'm not alone. Sadly the division in this house is total. My wife calls what I like 'tuneless' [C20th] or 'too fancy' [early C18th and beyond]. She also has taken offence when I've asked her not to speak until a particular piece is over. Strange huh

Posted on: 29 October 2002 by David Hobbs-Mallyon

quote:
Didn't Bach write more music than the combined output of all (European/American) composers combined did in the next 150 years?

No he didn't. He might have had more children (>20) than all the other composers in the next 150 years though.

David