Something different!

I have used the Saturday Post, for quite a while now, to simply share music that I really like. Whereas a large proportion of  my music loves are from the popular music genres, I do have a significant number of classical pieces.

The majority of people I know claim to not like classical music. Some base that view on experience of a piece that did nothing for them, but many have no basis because they have never been introduced to it.

I can understand the reasoning for not liking classical music. If you look at popular music, it’s structure is very simple (i.e. verse – chorus – verse – chorus), and it tends to last 3 to 4 minutes. Many classical pieces are of a complex structure and may well last for 15-20 minutes (or more!).

I cannot relate to many classical pieces after only a single listening because nothing appears to make sense. Six listenings later may be very different but, after the first listening, why would I want to? It is usually because some small part of it aroused my interest, sufficiently enough to listen a second time (and a third time etc.).

The link below is a compromise! It is most certainly classical music, and lasts for just over 2 minutes. It is lively (I like lively), and it starts with a very short and simple melody (let’s call that home). Just in case you were not familiar with home, it is repeated. You then go off on a small adventure, but soon return home again. You then go off on other adventures but, after each one, you return home and, after the most complex adventure of all, you return home to stay!

Give it a chance. Who knows, you might also really like it!

Francois Couperin (1668 – 1733) wrote it in 1713, so it is really old!

42 thoughts on “Something different!”

  3. That’s wonderful that you are sharing some classical music and I think it is very true what you wrote why people may not like classical music. Then again, classical music (right because it is “more detailed”) can reach much deeper without words and without us understanding why. It has this essence of the soul that expresses without modern technological effects.
    Btw. the link you shared about Benjamin Zander inspired me so much. I wrote a Monday post about it. I scheduled it for the 26th. I really thank you so much that you let me know about it!!

    Liked by 2 people

  5. Very nice! Classical music hasn’t even gone through my mind when I was thinking about what song you may post today.
    There is a beauty in classical music, thanks for sharing. Now I am looking at my piano saying Hmm…it may need played today. 🙂

    Liked by 3 people

  6. And Close Encounters is known mostly for the simple melody of five notes but the entire piece whilst communicating with the mother-ship is one of the most superb compositions in the world. Again without this it would just sound like an extended version of someone playing “Simon Says”

    Liked by 2 people

  7. I’ve heard many people fob off the idea of classical music and turn up their nose at the idea of watching a full live orchestra perform at local venues. I’m a pianist and taught my daughter to play from when she was just a toddler but neither of us care much for traditional classical pieces similar to the one you’ve posted. Many seem too disjointed, varying and jumping from one part to another and it just doesn’t rest easy on the ears for me.

    That said classical music is something every person on Earth will find enjoyable, inspirational and without it, movies wouldn’t be as powerful or emotional, video games wouldn’t be “epic” and warrant the creation of Video Games Live, a full orchestra performing the best of video game soundtracks and sells out every venue without exception.

    If you didn’t have the beautifully simple music accompanying the scene of a plastic bag rustling in the wind during “American Beauty” it would just be a carrier bag rolling round and everyone would be “WTF are we watching?”

    Same with ET when he was saying toodle-pip to Elliot. Without the soundtrack all we would hear is the sound of wind, sniffing and snotting and distant sirens. Not the same or as emotional really!

    We took the kids to see VGL a few years ago and it absolutely blew their minds. The whole atmosphere; live orchestra and gameplay shown on huge screens with loud cheers and applause from fellow gamers left them with a lump in their throat and hairs everywhere stood on end.

    The soundtracks to many popular video games are increasingly brilliant. My music collection includes soundtracks from games I’ve never even played. My kids occasionally send me links to the odd track from some random game they think I’ll like (I’m big on brass – love a big beefy brass booming out at me)

    Hearing the theme from Halo, Skyrim and World of Warcraft played live is immense. If you get the chance to see a live performance of movie themes or video game soundtracks – snap it up you’ll love it.

    There’s a lot to be said for dogs generally enjoying music too. Every dog I’ve had has loved music and all drift off to sleep once they hear the piano or soundtracks.

    My daughter recorded a video of my Springer fast asleep listening to me play piano the day before she died last year. *Collie appears towards the end stretching out cos she’d fallen asleep with her head on my feet and got annoyed when I used the pedals.

    Liked by 2 people

    • Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts. So many people who don’t like classical music, do love movie themes and, as you note, there are distinct similarities! It seems to come down to a perception of what classical music is. The Moody Blues album “Days of Future Passed” which had a full orchestra accompany them was a great success in England … but did it increase interest in classical music? I suspect not.

      Liked by 1 person

      • My son first pricked his ears at music I was playing one day and said “Hey that’s Imperial March from Star Wars.. I didn’t know you liked music from Star Wars?”

        It was “Mars” from The Planets but I got how and why he thought it was the Imperial March..

        Then another time “Hey that’s Alton Towers music! I didn’t know you liked music written by Alton Towers!!” (In the Hall of the Mountain King)

        I created a monster though they keep ruining some of my favourite pieces of music by pointing out the blatant lifting and similarities.

        The first two tracks from Ori and the Blind Forest always makes me think what it might be like when I die and walk into my own Heaven. The first one – “Lost in the Storm” brings to mind feeling fear as I’m walking into an unknown but then bursts into “Embracing the Light” which makes me imagine my Springer suddenly bursting out all “Hi!! Oooh yay you’re here!! Come on come with me I’ve loads to show you” and we’d go on long walks, endlessly roaming, wandering and picking apples until everyone catches us up.

        Then my son casually mentioned the first track sounds like “Spaceman came travelling” by Chris De Burgh.. and it sodding well does!! 😦

        Followed by me and my little friend picking apples in Heaven 🙂

        Liked by 2 people

      • I forgot what I was originally going to post in my reply!! Re your points about “Days of Future Passed” I wonder the same about bands and albums featuring orchestral pieces and contributions from brilliant musicians and composers.

        Out of all of Pink Floyd’s albums the one I have always disliked to the point of hated is “Atom Heart Mother” the only decent thing about it being the use of brass from Michael Kamen. Makes me wonder if there are some people that now associate Kamen more with the responsibility for creating a crap album rather than anything else.

        Liked by 1 person

          • Oh no I’m not flat out slating the album and all that defend it or anything!! I just think for a band whose music I really do love, that one was (for me) vastly out of whack in a way I wonder whether it might even have done Michael Kamen an injustice if that makes sense. There’s no such thing as good, bad, right or wrong as you rightly say it’s subjective but it has always struck me that one of my least favourite albums featured one of my favourite composers with heavy use of brass – also a favourite.

            Liked by 1 person

  8. I took piano lessons as a child and learned many classical pieces along with contemporary. It has helped me to appreciate classical much more. As in any genre, there are composers I like (a lot) and others I don’t listen to at all.

    Liked by 3 people

  11. I have been a lover of Classical music forever, my Father’s piano concerts are among my earliest childhood memories. You have chosen well, a marvelous timeless piece of music. Also, love the video as it transports me back in time to watching my Father’s fingers performing magic on the keyboard. Thank-you!

    Liked by 1 person

Comments are closed.