Great music that's not memorable

[DavidW]

I've been listening to Carter's 5th String Quartet over and over.  When I'm listening to it, I really like it.  But after it's done I don't recall it at all, even after several times.   Anyone else have that happen to them?

What music do you think is great but gosh darnit! it just doesn't keep in your head?

[Renfield]

"I don't remember."

Besides the joke, I seriously do not presently remember a notoriously hard-to-keep-in-mind piece of music, that I however do remember myself enjoying; and noting how I did not remember it, after it had ended. Perverse, isn't it?

Oh yes: I remember! Mahler's 7th Symphony. It took me a year to finally remember it!


(I would not advise counting the occurrences of the word "remember" in this post.)

[hornteacher]

Much of Mahler, and the 1st Piano Concerto of Brahms.

[DavidW]

Yeah I never remember that Brahms concerto, but I can recall with ease the grandiose opening of the 2nd pc.  But when I listen to the 1st pc, I like it just as much as the 2nd.

[greg]

Schoenberg's String Trio

[SonicMan46]

What music do you think is great but gosh darnit! it just doesn't keep in your head?

David - just as a sideline, I think another issue here relates to individual human senses, i.e. some people are likely more visual or more aural - as an example, I'm a radiologist (probably picked that field because I was good @ remembering 'visual imagery'), and I have a very 'visual' impression of the world - I can look at a map, get an image in my head, and then pretty much get to a location; OTOH, my aural memory just STINKS!  I've listened to classical music for decades, and then if I hear even famous works on the radio (e.g. NPR), I'll sit there and say GOD I know & own this, but what is it!  It's really irritating, and age is a factor, but I also think that much is inherent in you, e.g. perfect pitch, improvisation, Mozart hearing Allegri's Miserere at the Vatican and then writing the music down later (a story that likely is true?).

However, my wife is just the opposite, i.e. her visual attributes are horrible - she fails to see 'things' along the road as we are driving, can't read a map, can't pictured locations in her head, but her 'aural' & 'music' abilities are phenomenal - she sings beautifully & plays a number of musical instruments; can sight read most music on the piano, and often can hear tunes off the radio and start just playing them on the piano (as a teenage 'accordion' player myself who struggle to get through some Tin Pan Alley standards, I was astounded) - many people are just born w/ certainly abilities, whether related to eyes, ears, athletics, etc., and I'm not sure that listening, reading, or other attempts will provide that 'superior' skill in any particular area - well, maybe a some BS in there?    Dave

[imperfection]

Schoenberg's Violin concerto

[ChamberNut]

and the 1st Piano Concerto of Brahms.

Oh my God, you have got to be kidding me! 

[Diletante]

Schoenberg's Violin concerto

Oh, it was kind of the opposite for me, after a few listens the main melodies kept popping into my head throughout the day.

[Brian]

I have a very hard time trying to remember Joplin's Maple Leaf Rag...

No problem with the Brahms First Concerto, even though I dislike it!

[Bogey]

This entire disc, David.  Love listening to it in full each and every time (especially the Ravel), but hard to recall much if any:

[Guido]

Mahler certainly and much of Brahms. I know I love the fourth symphony (of Brahms), but I couldn't sing a single tune from it! I haven't listened to it quite as much as I should have done though!

[karlhenning]

I know I love the fourth symphony (of Brahms), but I couldn't sing a single tune from it!

But . . . you astonish me, Guido!

[Dr. Dread]

But . . . you astonish me, Guido!

Me too! Not even the opening theme?

[Kullervo]

David Diamond's music sounds gorgeous when I'm listening to it, but often (mostly in the later pieces) I can't willingly recall any of the music — but once I hear it again, a switch clicks in my brain and I say, "oh, I remember this."

[Renfield]

No problem with the Brahms First Concerto, even though I dislike it!

[Off-topic]

Which recording(s) have you listened to? We need to give that early-symphonic Brahmsophobia the best chance it can get to resolve itself!

[Bogey]

Brahms wrote a 4th Symphony!?

[bhodges]

Brahms wrote a 4th Symphony!?

This Brahms is a composer?   

--Bruce

[Dr. Dread]

Fiends.

[karlhenning]

Brahms . . . Brahms . . . cotton merchant?