Are you disturbed?

[karlhenning]

Spin-off poll

[jochanaan]

That's a "rite" challenging question, Doctor! And actually, I would be more challenged if I had to PLAY the Rite!

[karlhenning]

Yes, 'twould be a blast to play! Somebody give me a bass clarinet!

[Brahmsian]

Yes, 'twould be a blast to play! Somebody give me a bass clarinet!

Too bad my ex-wife doesn't still have hers!  Love that instrument.

[westknife]

I don't think the Rite is all that 'challenging' to today's ears. We are so used to its influence at this point. It is still an immensely powerful work though.

[jochanaan]

97-98 years old and still "powerful"!  Now THAT's challenging!

[Sergeant Rock]

As challenging as Muzak. I don't mean that in a derogatory sense but rather that it's such an ingrained part of the basic repertoire now it presents no real challenges. I've heard it twice live in the last few years: it seemed as familiar as any work I know. During the performance by the SWR Sinfonieorchester, conducted by Sylvain Cambreling, I was amused, and a little peeved too, when 30 or 40 people walked out in a huff after part 1 ended. I guess it does "disturb" some still   


Sarge

[DavidW]

I hardly think that anything featured in Disney's Fantasia can be disturbing!

[Sergeant Rock]

I hardly think that anything featured in Disney's Fantasia can be disturbing!

Exactly 

[DavidW]

I'm still looking forward to Fantasia 3: Mahler's Kindertotenlieder

[karlhenning]

I hardly think that anything featured in Disney's Fantasia can be disturbing!

Exactly 

That's okay, dudes, 'cuz, like, they edited it! Smooved out some of the scoring, too!

[Grazioso]

It's deep culture, but entertaining too 

[eyeresist]

I hardly think that anything featured in Disney's Fantasia can be disturbing!

Plenty of kids are still freaked out by Night on Bald Mountain, I'm guessing.

I ticked the last option because, to be honest, I find the Rite a bore. I'm not a Stravinsky fan in general anyway.

[Mirror Image]

I don't find The Rite of Spring challenging or disturbing. I do feel, however, that it's a revelatory work. It tore many walls down and I think it's one of the keystone works of the 20th Century. A fan of 20th Century music cannot deny it's influence.

[CD]

Are you disturbed? Well, I am.

[some guy]

What this mock thread shows most clearly is the fundamental flaw in most other threads--they don't address any qualities of the music itself but of its listeners.

Any piece at any time will strike different listeners differently. All we seem to be able to do in online discussions is reveal the different experiences of different listeners. We certainly don't end up actually saying anything about music, much, although we always do think that that's what we're doing.

It's fine to talk about ourselves, of course. People are interesting to other people. But the pretence that we're doing something else is a trifle tiresome.

[ibanezmonster]

Actually, the first time listening to it, I found it disturbing. I guess I wasn't used to listening to music like this at the time (my first listen to Mahler's 6th and Johann Hammerth's Percussion Concerto had the same effect, but I think I listened to all 3 within a few months of each other).

I got to know all three very well, and now they are all some of my favorite works. Usually, my favorite stuff only has no effect or a negative effect on me for the first listen.

[Florestan]

I'm rarely talking about myself when I'm discussing music ..

On the contrary, you're talking of nothing BUT yourself and your bankrupt and uninformed views. 

[Grazioso]

This is bullshit .. the more you listen to a piece the more familiar it becomes, IF it has enough going for it to sustain a high mileage fascination in the first place. So no Cage, turntable farting or pouring water into (or onto) instruments off of step ladders and 'crap' of that nature.

Some Guy, don't worry: "crap" of a Boulez or Stockhausen nature is acceptable, so you'll still have something to listen to

And I'm rarely talking about myself when I'm discussing music ..

"Discussing music" must be code for "reiterating one's likes, dislikes, and biases, with a hefty dose of condescension and insults thrown in."

[Grazioso]

What this mock thread shows most clearly is the fundamental flaw in most other threads--they don't address any qualities of the music itself but of its listeners.

Any piece at any time will strike different listeners differently. All we seem to be able to do in online discussions is reveal the different experiences of different listeners. We certainly don't end up actually saying anything about music, much, although we always do think that that's what we're doing.

It's fine to talk about ourselves, of course. People are interesting to other people. But the pretence that we're doing something else is a trifle tiresome.

A discussion related to this phenomenon here: http://www.good-music-guide.com/community/index.php/topic,18348.0.html