Music you "ought to" like but just aren't that into, .. help me like it? Options

[Pixie*Porsche]

I enjoy Poulenc. Totally agree with Dawn about the Romanza, it's haunting. I actually think the music is very emotional if played in a certain way - not a "notes on page" type way.

My mum used to HATE me playing it, I just thought she didn't "get" it...as not a musician etc. but my partner I don't think he likes it either, then again he's an Organist who studied Bach ... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) who I'm not a massive fan of!! He HATES Mozart with a passion too ... I absolutely adore Mozart (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Barry - any events not too far from Derbyshire on this year ... or perhaps I'll just have to organise one? I would love to start playing in public again (OT, I know!) You seem to have so many great events in London (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[viola-mad]

It's the most fabulous sort of group to play in, but I can't see the attraction of sitting quietly and listening without being allowed to join in. I absolutely love playing quartets, but I can guarantee that if you sit me in a chamber music recital, I'm going to be asleep in no time.

I feel similar, and have always felt incredibly guilty about it too! I can't explain why I would enjoy playing it so much and yet have so little interest in listening to it.

Well - unless the performers are either stonkingly good, or people I know, or I've had several strong coffees first.

Or if one of them is really nice-looking (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

I can also relate to a lot of the comments about opera on this thread. But it's not so much that I feel I "ought to" like it and more that I ought not to write it off. I'm perfectly happy to be open to it, but I just don't think I've found the right way in to enjoying and/or appreciating it. The one thing I have decided is that concert opera is not for me. I can't see the point in taking the visual aspect out of it.

[Solari]

On the subject of operatic stuff... I was never really into it until I recently bought a CD with Elizabeth Watts singing some of Schubert's songs. So many of her renditions are beautiful - I'm lacking sufficient superlatives to explain how much I enjoy listening to her, so now I'll be going to some operas for more of the same sort of thing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[BerkshireMum]

On the subject of operatic stuff... I was never really into it until I recently bought a CD with Elizabeth Watts singing some of Schubert's songs. So many of her renditions are beautiful - I'm lacking sufficient superlatives to explain how much I enjoy listening to her, so now I'll be going to some operas for more of the same sort of thing! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Elizabeth Watts is incredible! She is just amazing live. I heard her in Newbury a few years ago at a lunchtime recital and was absolutely stunned by her singing. Don't pass up any opportunity to hear her live! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[Cyrilla]

Strangely, for someone who sings every day of her life and loves it, I really, really dislike listening to a lot of singing.

I can't stand the sound of an over-produced voice, or vibrato - I don't like most opera or lieder - and I loathe the sound of a big choir.

However, just a very naturally sung and heartfelt folk song has me mesmerised and often in tears...

Odd.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

[Seer_Green]

It's interesting to note that this thread has really turned into a discussion about which composers we like and which we don't like (nothing wrong in that of course), but for me, it's always been about the music itself. Just because I like one piece of music, it doesn't mean I like the entire output of that composer.

[Dugazon]

Strangely, for someone who sings every day of her life and loves it, I really, really dislike listening to a lot of singing.

I can't stand the sound of an over-produced voice, or vibrato - I don't like most opera or lieder - and I loathe the sound of a big choir.

However, just a very naturally sung and heartfelt folk song has me mesmerised and often in tears...

Odd.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif)

No, not one bit. I am exactly the same, and I used to work as a professional singer for quite a few years. I loved being part of a production, be it operatic or musical theatre, but I honestly can't listen to it at home (apart from for study purposes).

I have a massive collection of vocal music for reference, but I have to admit that I almost never listen to it for recreational purposes or sheer enjoyment - I definitely enjoy instrumental music more (and I also like listening to all sorts of contemporary songs, be it pop, rock, folk etc - but whole operas or art song cycles - almost never).

I really shouldn't admit this, should I? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

[Mad Tom]

Music you "ought" to like ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Any sentence including the word "ought" (also "should") is to be treated with suspicion. It is usually an attempt by someone to make you feel that you are in some way immoral if you don't agree with their view of things.

I call it a weasel word (Which I "ought" not to, as it is probably unfair to weasels).

[corenfa]

Music you "ought" to like ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Any sentence including the word "ought" (also "should") is to be treated with suspicion. It is usually an attempt by someone to make you feel that you are in some way immoral if you don't agree with their view of things.

I call it a weasel word (Which I "ought" not to, as it is probably unfair to weasels).

The use of the word "ought" is somewhat tongue-in-cheek on my part.

I have a music degree - I feel as though I "ought" to, having that, have enough musical knowledge to appreciate opera, but I don't. I am wondering if the fact that I don't is due to lack of knowledge on my part. In fact, reading through the responses I get, I think that it is.

I have also noted above that I don't like atonal music but I feel no guilt whatsoever about that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) I don't even feel like trying to like it, so I'm not going to.

Besides which, I don't like kidney beans and nobody is going to make me feel like I am immoral for not liking them (IMG:style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif)

[Edwardo]

Music you "ought" to like ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Any sentence including the word "ought" (also "should") is to be treated with suspicion. It is usually an attempt by someone to make you feel that you are in some way immoral if you don't agree with their view of things.

I call it a weasel word (Which I "ought" not to, as it is probably unfair to weasels).

This has been an interesting thread for me because, at some point, almost all my sacred cows have been put to the sword. I'm reminded of a chap I used to spar with on Usenet (alt.usage.english) who opined that the piano was a terrible instrument and no right-thinking person should listen to it.

At various times in my life I've disliked certain forms of music only to be reminded, years later, of why I "ought" to like them. I don't mean that there's a moral imperative so to do, but that my intellectual resistance needs to be broken down. I don't much care for lieder, for example, until I hear Kathleen Ferrier.

People should just like what they like, and let others like what others like. By all means try to persuade them of your enthusiasms, but don't become a bore about it. Plant the seed and let it grow. It will either wither or flourish, but if you overwater it, the former is more likely.

Just my 02p.

[barry-clari]

Barry - any events not too far from Derbyshire on this year ... or perhaps I'll just have to organise one? I would love to start playing in public again (OT, I know!) You seem to have so many great events in London (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

I don't think there's anything mega-close forum wise to Derbyshire planned. There is the Brum Bash in November, and that was fab last year. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm about to turn in for the night, but what I'll do in the morning is look in my latest Clarinet and Saxophone Society magazine, and I'll see if there's anything there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

[katica]

Music you "ought" to like ?? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wacko.gif)

Any sentence including the word "ought" (also "should") is to be treated with suspicion. It is usually an attempt by someone to make you feel that you are in some way immoral if you don't agree with their view of things.

I call it a weasel word (Which I "ought" not to, as it is probably unfair to weasels).

The use of the word "ought" is somewhat tongue-in-cheek on my part.

Indeed, I took as an invitation to enjoy being a bit "naughty". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[barry-clari]

but what I'll do in the morning is look in my latest Clarinet and Saxophone Society magazine, and I'll see if there's anything there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

Nothing imminent (IMG:style_emoticons/default/sad.gif)

[gedall40]

Corenfa, on opera maybe it has been already said that perhaps you haven't listened to or seen an opera which you actually like. As a result, you have listened to or seen only ones you don't really like and this has branded all opera for you as something to be missed. I became fascinated in my teens by Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries and on the strength of this one passage, listened to the whole of Die Walk?re on the radio, sung in German just to hear it in its proper setting. Needless to say I had Wagnerian indigestion that night!

However, I love to see Aida, La Boh?me, Madama Butterly, Tosca simply because the music is so gorgeous and the plots are at least understandable. If you haven't done so, then why not try one of these? But it is still true that nobody "ought" to like any music.

I see Poulenc has been mentioned a few times here. I have never known much about his music until two came to my attention. Mrs G's choir sang the Gloria and I loved every part of it. But closer to my own music was the flute sonata. I heard it played on Radio 3 and thought it was just great. The slow "Cantilena" sounded like something I might be able to play and when I mentioned this to my teacher she gave me a copy to try - saying that it was a Grade 7 piece. I had just passed Grade 4 at the time (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ohmy.gif) . I must have played it now hundreds of times and I know I have posted elsewhere that I can play all the notes in the right order, but I have still to achieve that final goal of playing it so that is sounds not just accurate, but beautiful. I have bought my own copy, of course, and I enjoy very much playing the piano part which runs through some lovely chord sequences - maybe one day I could play the accompaniment for you Barry?

[Arundodonuts]

The one thing I have decided is that concert opera is not for me. I can't see the point in taking the visual aspect out of it.

I think the point is the lower cost. I've seen a few concert performances or "semi -staged" (action but no fancy scenery) and I quite like them. It's better than the CD anyway.