Why do a lot of people not like classical music?

Question

Why do a lot of people not like classical music?

Answer 1

The difference is not so much between the classical music style and the popular music style. Movie producers and TV advertisers know the consumers better than they know themselves. If popular music lovers objected to the classical music style, the media producers would stop using and abusing classical music.



The real difference, rather, is between absolute music and program music. Popular music lovers usually need song lyrics to keep their attention. And if that's not enough, add swirling lights and dancing girls.



It is all right for a cello player to play the Bach G major prelude so long as it is followed by a dialogue or a scene change. It is all right for Mozart to play a Salieri composition on the piano so long as he follows it with a joke. It is all right for Mickey Mouse to cast the wrong magic spell while the orchestra plays The Sorcerer's Apprentice. But it is not all right for a symphony orchestra to stay in one spot and perform for two hours.



Of those classical compositions which a music appreciation student will willingly listen to, most are program compositions. It is easy to imagine the sun rising in a Norwegian landscape. It is easy to imagine a beautiful princess arriving in a market place. But it is not easy to imagine g minor modulating to Bb major for the second theme.

Answer 2

I'll agree with the others that its primarily due to lack of exposure.

But if I might elaborate a little... if it weren't for the greed of radio, tv, and record producers pushing lower and lower budget Rock 'n Roll productions fewer people would have been exposed to Rock n Roll than even classical. Its a lot cheaper to pay the salaries of 3 guitarrists, a drummer and a lead singer than an orchestra. And it doesn't help that the traditional symphony orchestra has been growing ever since its inception by Haydn, many of whose early symphonies were little more than a glorified string quartetts with acompaniment by 1 or 2 woodwinds and timpani. Later Hadyn and Mozart incorporated fuller woodwinds, trumpets and horns, beethoven added the trombone. By the time Wagner was perfecting opera, the tuba had been included as well. And many many contemporaries of Wagner expanded the percussion section as well.

In the days before radio and television many free concerts were provided by the wealthy noblemen in Europe to celebrate festivals, coronations, etc etc. The musicians in these orchestras were mostly very poor. Contrast that with today where there are a lot fewer musicians, but even the more successful ones are only slightly better off financially (popular rock band members may earn a hefty sum while they are still popular.... but today its very much like professional sports.... a downturn in the market, a change of taste, etc can end your career early and without a retirement plan...). The exevutives of course keep getting richer and richer.



So the long story is the reason why more people don't like classical music is because classical music is more expensive to produce and influential people in the media industries, wanting to pinch and save every penny don't want the masses to be exposed to classical music. This in turn will lead to a decline in demand for classical music, which means there will be less and less need to hire symphonic orchestras. And so on and so forth.

Answer 3

Because of misconceptions that it's only for rich, boring people. I have a feeling that a lot of people already like a lot of classical music and don't even realize it. Buy any compilation of "The World's Best Classical Music" or "The Most Relaxing Classical Music" or "Powerful Classical Music," etc., and most people can recognize the music as music they've heard before and enjoyed, even if they can't identify the title or composer.



Another misconception might that it's only for intellectuals, such as mathematicians. But even though musicologists can get into some very advanced mathematical and scientific stuff, it's not necessary to understand any of that to enjoy Beethoven's Ninth Symphony or the Pachelbel Canon.

Answer 4

People tend to like what they have been exposed to most, and not many folks get exposure to classical. As a professional musician of many years I am a little ashamed to admit that I really don't care for classical either. I try to be open minded to all types of music, but just can't enjoy classical. Maybe it's because I'm a drummer and classical is often times void of the type of percussion I enjoy.

Answer 5

There's a saying: "You can not love what you don't know"

That's the principal reason for people not liking classical music, not the only one, though. And of course there are some exceptions.

Classical music has to reach your heart. Once it's settled there, nothing is capable of removing it.

Answer 6

Because they don't. Some have better reasons, other worse. None of that matters.



There is no unity of "classical music", some kind of quality or character all "classical music" from all periods and composers posesses that makes you "love it when it's settled in your heart", or makes people "dislike classical music" as well.



A void answer to a void question. Moving on.