Why are some people utterly unmoved by classical music?

Question

It seems some people can listen to the most profound, intense, emotional passage in a musical piece and be completely indifferent to it.

Certain pieces... once I start listening to them, I have to finish because there's so much tension that needs to be resolved that stopping the music would be really unsatisfying. I mean, there have been a few times when I was moved to tears by Bach's or Chopin's works... and I'm a 39-year-old ex-military guy living with my girlfriend.

So anyway, some people that we've had over... I will play a recording for them of what I consider to be sheer musical genius, and at the most interesting part, that climactic moment that is the height of the piece, they will start talking over the music, about something utterly trivial and irrelevant, which shows that they are not paying attention AT ALL. They are completely checked out, apathetic, and unmoved by what they're hearing. I just don't understand how our brains could be wired so differently. We're all human right? This means we all have roughly the same emotions which are triggered by certain combinations of musical tones. That's why Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" sounds happy and upbeat and Chopin's "Funeral March" sounds sad and sombre, even if you've never heard them before.

How is it that I can be so focused and connected to what a composer is saying, yet the other person is oblivious... as if the composer were speaking some unintelligible foreign language? I've always thought music was the only universal language. Apparently not.

Answer 1

Music may seem like a universal language, but in fact it's a kind of language with rapidly shifting meaning and full of cultural idioms that can be specific to both time and geography. Certain broad brushstrokes like happy or sad seem to translate well, but any greater nuance is rare to understand without having studied. Ask yourself what do the first 8 measures of Beethoven's 7th mean? What does a F major chord mean? the melody of Mozart's 40th symphony? I don't think there is any sensible answer to these questions. Music is not a language in the same sense that English or French is a language, instead it is language of syntax and sound without meaning.



If you think of the the Bach cello suites as played by Casals in the 60s versus Rabbath today, versus a cellist from 1740. These are three dramatically different performances that speak to those localities of time and place for each musician. What most people today respond to today is the music of our own time and place. The other issue is that too many people have no musical training whatsoever. If you were brought up with classical music being the radio station you caught a 3 second snippet of on the way to something else you would never learn how to listen to it.

Answer 2

I have questioned the identical factor. How many could reply as derisively IN PERSON? Easy to sling insults via a track. If the query is so exasperating, why reply??? If you desire to set anyone directly on what's and isn't classical or right anyone on what's a tune and what's a symphony, then achieve this POLITELY. When I first began being attentive to classical song a few years in the past, I didn't recognise the change among a symphony and a sonata or a concerto and an overture. I went for months with most effective the primary motion of Beethoven's Violin Concerto. I didn't recognise there used to be extra to it than one motion. I readily have no longer had an schooling in classical song. One can absolutely obtain a harsh schooling in classical song from many that have had the schooling, however I have discovered that there are plenty of expert idiots in this discussion board.

Answer 3

Because those people don't pay attention to what's going on (and details) in a piece music. Meaning: they treat music as "background sound" or listen to music for just the overall mood.



I've encountered those people before.



Once I played (on CD player) to a female acquaintance the 1st movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto in A major. She said it's ok, nothing impressive. I then played the unfinished fugue from Art of Fugue, she said it's boring.



Well, we have all kinds of people in this world. Glad that I've found you to be appreciative of classical music. Keep listening, especially Bach's slow movements.

Answer 4

I think a short attention span of uninterested listeners, thinking there are "too many notes," or just thinking the music is boring with no validations whatsoever to their opinions.

Answer 5

Give it up dude, quit worrying about others and enjoy the music. Not meant to sound harsh. I am a welder and the only one in the shop who listens to classical music. None of them "get it" but I dont worry about them. Research music, listen to it, regardless what others think. You will enjoy it even more. Good luck!



@Jashua...Sorry but I have to disagree with your last statement. I was not brought up listening to classical music but I am learning to "listen" to it. And, that was not my TD