I was so lonely as a kid growing up and finding a true love for classical music. I began getting into it in hs, and asked out a girl who played piano to a classical concert...and she turned me down. Instead, I took my dad. Almost didn't go, but figured what the heck. So we get to orchestra hall in Chicago, and told we needed an elevator to reach the seats. Thought they were way up, but instead, on stage. I had absolutely no idea who that Horowitz dude was at the time, lol, but after the Mephisto Waltz (and 7 encores), I was hooked. Funny aside, the lady sitting next to me when he finished was the only one in the hall who didn't give him a standing ovation. When I asked her why, she said "he plays it better at home." But to my bigger point-- None of my friends ever had the slightest interest other than rock and maybe blues. I'd spend countless hours by myself with my Sony Walkman on. I'm very lucky that my wife of 30 years now loves classical as much as myself, and we go regularly to the symphony, universities, and many string quartets and the like near us on an almost weekly basis when possible. Get the kids listening when they are young and maybe they will end up liking it sooner! Sigh...the few of them...
Thank you for the story! I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty a few times of thinking the same thing as your audience neighbor! Hahaha…! And I think it’s not too late for us adults as well; Hope so:-)
My brother got taught trumpet by a first chair of the city orchestra in exchange for good lasagna dinners every Friday. He used to hook us up with tickets sometimes and i remember the keep-still mints fondly. It was fun, i used to make up stories to go with the music, and i liked the way it made my body feel even before I liked the music itself. My favorite thing about classical music is how much room for contrasts it has! Dynamic contrast for sure but also all the changes that come from focusing on different mixtures of instruments. There's something elemental to it. Everything works better when good things are accessible. Orchestras don't make the only good music but the opportunity to listen live enriched me. Without Mr Lowry i probably never would've
Very interesting video. My introduction to Classical Music began when I was about 10 years old. I heard a Shostakovich Symphony on my brother's tape player. It took me some time to appreciate it, but once I did, I was hooked. I spent the rest of my childhood trying to get my friends into this music. I had to 'learn to appreciate' Rock Music in high school, and it wasn't easy, because Rock Music didn't do for me what symphonic music did. I've often felt that if one is not exposed to this music as a child, one is unlikely to develop an appreciation for it. Your video suggests the opposite, that this is 'music for the complexities of adulthood.' I hope that's right. Maybe I'm underestimating people's ability to pick up new things.
I never really listen to classical music. I listened to a lot of Zappa when I was in high-school. I like things that are less complex. Some truths are really simple and it's great if they're presented with one or two chords, I find.
@@arthurross2974 the truth of one point you make gets clearer and clearer with each year. Music can serve up complex emotions that the most poetic written language can't touch. Constant revelations. What a glorious instrument the centuries have built
Well, interesting views, but I would add that before go to a concert and listening "live" which indisputably is the best way to listen to any genre of music (performed by good musicians) One should be familiar with the works that are going to be performed at the concert. Simply because of the complexity of "Classical Music" which Mr. Ross is talking about and the concert of 60 minutes or more is simply too long to maintain the full concentration and when the attention drops (maybe just for a second) an important detail can be missed (again Mr. Ross talks about this in an excellent manner) and the experience may be impoverished. It's like driving in a foreign city with a lot of traffic for the first time, One don't have time to admire beautiful buildings and other architecture because One's focus is on the road, where the next turn comes, a traffic light... but when all this becomes familiar after driving the same road multiple times One can pay attention to other things too.
"One should be familiar with the works that are going to be performed at the concert." Maybe you didn't mean that literally. If I'm familiar with Beethoven's work and the concert features something of his I haven't heard before? I'd argue that could be ideal
I was so lonely as a kid growing up and finding a true love for classical music.
I began getting into it in hs, and asked out a girl who played piano to a classical concert...and she turned me down. Instead, I took my dad. Almost didn't go, but figured what the heck. So we get to orchestra hall in Chicago, and told we needed an elevator to reach the seats. Thought they were way up, but instead, on stage. I had absolutely no idea who that Horowitz dude was at the time, lol, but after the Mephisto Waltz (and 7 encores), I was hooked.
Funny aside, the lady sitting next to me when he finished was the only one in the hall who didn't give him a standing ovation. When I asked her why, she said "he plays it better at home."
But to my bigger point-- None of my friends ever had the slightest interest other than rock and maybe blues. I'd spend countless hours by myself with my Sony Walkman on. I'm very lucky that my wife of 30 years now loves classical as much as myself, and we go regularly to the symphony, universities, and many string quartets and the like near us on an almost weekly basis when possible.
Get the kids listening when they are young and maybe they will end up liking it sooner! Sigh...the few of them...
Thank you for the story! I’ll admit, I’ve been guilty a few times of thinking the same thing as your audience neighbor! Hahaha…!
And I think it’s not too late for us adults as well; Hope so:-)
My brother got taught trumpet by a first chair of the city orchestra in exchange for good lasagna dinners every Friday. He used to hook us up with tickets sometimes and i remember the keep-still mints fondly. It was fun, i used to make up stories to go with the music, and i liked the way it made my body feel even before I liked the music itself. My favorite thing about classical music is how much room for contrasts it has! Dynamic contrast for sure but also all the changes that come from focusing on different mixtures of instruments. There's something elemental to it.
Everything works better when good things are accessible. Orchestras don't make the only good music but the opportunity to listen live enriched me. Without Mr Lowry i probably never would've
Very interesting video.
My introduction to Classical Music began when I was about 10 years old. I heard a Shostakovich Symphony on my brother's tape player. It took me some time to appreciate it, but once I did, I was hooked. I spent the rest of my childhood trying to get my friends into this music. I had to 'learn to appreciate' Rock Music in high school, and it wasn't easy, because Rock Music didn't do for me what symphonic music did.
I've often felt that if one is not exposed to this music as a child, one is unlikely to develop an appreciation for it.
Your video suggests the opposite, that this is 'music for the complexities of adulthood.' I hope that's right. Maybe I'm underestimating people's ability to pick up new things.
I never really listen to classical music. I listened to a lot of Zappa when I was in high-school. I like things that are less complex. Some truths are really simple and it's great if they're presented with one or two chords, I find.
Lol...this video is pure snobbery...
Certainly true at times!
There's lots of CM that's perfectly simply and accessible.
terrific intro to classical music. too bad few kids get music appreciation in school, it's the first part of the curriculum they cut. 🤬🤬
Thank you. Perhaps it’s not too late for us adults as well. :-)
@@arthurross2974 the truth of one point you make gets clearer and clearer with each year. Music can serve up complex emotions that the most poetic written language can't touch. Constant revelations. What a glorious instrument the centuries have built
Is this a sales pitch for classical music or a criticism of popular music? Does one have to favor one over the other?
Sure don’t have to favor one over other. Interesting to compare and contrast!
Well, interesting views, but I would add that before go to a concert and listening "live" which indisputably is the best way to listen to any genre of music (performed by good musicians) One should be familiar with the works that are going to be performed at the concert. Simply because of the complexity of "Classical Music" which Mr. Ross is talking about and the concert of 60 minutes or more is simply too long to maintain the full concentration and when the attention drops (maybe just for a second) an important detail can be missed (again Mr. Ross talks about this in an excellent manner) and the experience may be impoverished. It's like driving in a foreign city with a lot of traffic for the first time, One don't have time to admire beautiful buildings and other architecture because One's focus is on the road, where the next turn comes, a traffic light... but when all this becomes familiar after driving the same road multiple times One can pay attention to other things too.
"One should be familiar with the works that are going to be performed at the concert." Maybe you didn't mean that literally. If I'm familiar with Beethoven's work and the concert features something of his I haven't heard before? I'd argue that could be ideal