Dumb newbie question - length of a work?

[Mirror Image]

I've been exploring this music for maybe six weeks.  With hundreds of years of history, I hardly think that's enough time for even a superficial search.  I am neither surprised nor discouraged by not finding anything that sets me on fire in that limited period.  It's early in my search; there are genres I haven't heard and probably some I haven't even heard OF yet. 

I've opened every single link and embedded video that folks have posted for me.  In retrospect, I find I may not have expressed my thanks enough, so, "Thanks, everyone."  With the exception of one work I noted, I've yet to hear anything I actively dislike.  Most of what I've listened to has been from pleasant to enjoyable.  I've learned I like brass, woodwinds, and piano more than strings.  I've learned there's are more ways to interpret a work than I imagined.  As side projects I've learned more about file formats and applications common to digitally stored media, things I've never had professional reasons to look at.  If nothing else I've learned some new concepts; that alone has been worth the time.  There just hasn't been anything I've felt compelled to replay more than a couple of time, much less purchase.

Apparently my not falling instantly in love with this music bothers you more than it does me.  I don't know "whatever the hell it is you're trying to find"; I don't know yet everything that the hell is available.  That's why I'm looking.  I'm in no hurry, and have no reason to conform to your schedules or expectations.  It may come as a shock, but many people lead happy, full lives without classical music.  I may finish this experiment and return to being one of them.  If that bothers you, I encourage you to ignore me.  This appears to be a big forum on an even bigger Internet; if you feel they aren't big enough for the both of us, I suggest you perform an anatomically impossible act of self-copulation.

I don't have time to respond completely to this post, but allow me to say a few things to you:

I don't care if you like classical music or not, but you came here for advice, which you seem very keen on dismissing. Considering your background is in Top 40 bullshit, it's no wonder you can't comprehend what you're hearing. You're looking for hooks, something that grabs your attention immediately, well if you're not willing to make the effort to understand the complexity of this music, then perhaps you should just give up and go back to listening to the music that makes you happy. The only thing worse than Top 40 radio are Top 40 listeners. Your ignorance and unwillingness to make an effort to understand classical music is what I"m bothered by, other than that, good luck to you in whatever the hell your trying to find.

[Scarpia]

I don't have time to respond completely to this post, but allow me to say a few things to you:

I don't care if you like classical music or not, but you came here for advice, which you seem very keen on dismissing. Considering your background is in Top 40 bullshit, it's no wonder you can't comprehend what you're hearing. You're looking for hooks, something that grabs your attention immediately, well if you're not willing to make the effort to understand the complexity of this music, then perhaps you should just give up and go back to listening to the music that makes you happy. The only thing worse than Top 40 radio are Top 40 listeners. Your ignorance and unwillingness to make an effort to understand classical music is what I"m bothered by, other than that, good luck to you in whatever the hell your trying to find.

He didn't dismiss anything, he simply said he didn't like it.   The fact that you take offense and become abusive or insulting whenever someone lets slip that they don't like something that you have praised is not becoming, to say the least.

We're used to your antics, but that you would pull this on a newcomer to the board is not acceptable.

[Opus106]

I don't have time to respond completely to this post, but allow me to say a few things to you:

I don't care if you like classical music or not, but you came here for advice, which you seem very keen on dismissing. Considering your background is in Top 40 bullshit, it's no wonder you can't comprehend what you're hearing. You're looking for hooks, something that grabs your attention immediately, well if you're not willing to make the effort to understand the complexity of this music, then perhaps you should just give up and go back to listening to the music that makes you happy. The only thing worse than Top 40 radio are Top 40 listeners. Your ignorance and unwillingness to make an effort to understand classical music is what I"m bothered by, other than that, good luck to you in whatever the hell your trying to find.

Apart from the comment about the Xenakis piece (which did not surprise me ) when did he say that he was not willing to put in the effort to learn? I too did not like many works on first hearing them, for whatever reason (but nothing academic) and put off listening to them until I came back to it on another day, perhaps a couple of years later, when I found it amazing. I think you're letting your impatience in dealing with a newbie who doesn't quite seem to share your tastes turn into unfounded claims. (You weren't so worked up when he moved away from the Brandenburg Concerti, were you?) Now, I don't know how long you have spent listening to Bach or Beethoven, but would you consider it fair if someone who likes these composers' music dismissed you as a hopeless case just because you don't like it now?

[Mirror Image]

He didn't dismiss anything, he simply said he didn't like it.   The fact that you take offense and become abusive or insulting whenever someone lets slip that they don't like something that you have praised is not becoming, to say the least.

We're used to your antics, but that you would pull this on a newcomer to the board is not acceptable.

You don't have to take up for this member, Daddy Scarpia. He's a big boy, he can defend himself. If he finds my post abusive or insulting then maybe he needs to get a psychologist to help him deal with whatever mental disorder he has. It's like the old saying "If you can't stand the heat, then get out of the kitchen" and this is exactly what this member needs to do.

[Gurn Blanston]

OK, well we're gonna stop this here and take a cool-down. It may be re-opened later (should be, it has things to say yet) but it won't continue in this vein in future. Let's keep in mind people's rights to like/dislike what they please. It is not a pathological character defect on anyone's part to like something different. Even if it should be...



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Now playing:
Hamburg Soloists / Emil Klein - Hob 03 10 Divertimento in F for Strings Op 2 #4 5th mvmt - Allegro

[Que]

OK, well we're gonna stop this here and take a cool-down. It may be re-opened later (should be, it has things to say yet) but it won't continue in this vein in future. Let's keep in mind people's rights to like/dislike what they please. It is not a pathological character defect on anyone's part to like something different. Even if it should be...

Indeed. Some here clearly crossed red lines.

Try to keep an open mind and have some understanding for those who are new to classical music! Those who can not or will not do so, have no bussiness posting in the Beginners board.

Q