An observation about "Modern" classical music.


As I sat in my car, waiting for my wife as usual, I listened to a local classical music station which happened to be playing some "modern" music. I don't like it, being an old fart who likes Mozart and his ilk. But, as I had nothing else to do, I tried to appreciate what I heard. No luck, but I did notice something I have experienced before but never thought about. At the end, there was a dead silence of 3 to 5 seconds before audience applause. This never happens with, for example, Mozart where the final notes never get a chance to decay before the applause and Bravos. Obviously (IMHO) the music was so hard to "follow" that the audience were not sure it was over until nothing happened for a while.

I know that some guys like this music, but haven't you noticed this dead time? How do you explain it?
eldartford
Says a lot more about you as a listener than about "'that' music", as you so degradingly call it...
Lousyreeds1...I can agree with that. It says that I am not too proud to admit that I can't appreciate most modern music. I could pretend, as many seeking acceptance do, but that would not be me.

By the way, the sounds resulting from the "technical difficulties" really were not far from some compositions that I have heard. I am not the only one who could be fooled.
Please, Eldartford. You're quite proud of the fact that you can't understand most modern music, and have made it quite clear that you consider yourself an expert in the sociology of musical appreciation.

As I've asked so many times, to which pieces are you refering? Be specific for once. Convince those of us who are interested in modern music that your assertions are based in some sort of knowledge and experience, rather than unsubstantiated drivel. We've gone round and round in this thread, yet you keep coming back to your vague anecdotes. What gives?
Lousyreeds1...As the saying goes..."If I said that I was misquoted".

I am *dissapointed* not proud that most modern music leaves me cold, and I consider myself an *observer* of the sociology of musical appreciation, not an expert like you, sir.

As to citing specific composers and compositions, I am not about to get sucked into a contest with an expert like you!
In most cases I do not take note of the composer/composition that I dislike because I will never go looking for it on a CD. One exception that does come to mind is Philip Glass, because he does get considerable mention in the general press, and because his music does have a character that is recognizable, even to me. Many of the names that have been mentioned are familiar to me, and their work must have been included in what I have heard, but I can't give specifics.
If you're going to post snyde comments about what you call 'that' music, you should at least be able to tell us what music you're refering to. That's not so much to ask.

To do otherwise is irresponsible. It could encourage in others the close-mindedness that you've embraced.

No one likes all of the music that's been written since Rite of Spring. I certainly don't. But many people will find something intriguing if they keep an open mind. Your consistent generalizations about how 'modern music' sounds and how it makes people feel (again, without being able to reference your attacks with a salient example) are a disservice to this community, which I believe should be a mechanism for encouraging people to try new things (equipment, music, whatever).

I hope people who have read this thread have come away with an impression that the world of 'modern music' is as diverse as any other, and that generalizations about the genre as a whole are meaningless.

Check out some of the pieces that folks have recommended. Most of it's probably downloadable, so you can try it for free. It would be fantastic to get a discussion going about some of them.