Little things that annoy you

[Sammy]

I strongly agree in principle, but in practice, as a 24-year-old who's just receiving his first salaried income and spent his youth mostly discovering music from Naxos/NML, these gigantic doorstop boxes are a fortuitous way for me to fill in the gaping gaps in my collection with 'classic' recordings I wasn't raised on. Up until today I owned zero Perahia; til last month, only the stereo Chopin from Rubinstein; til that dirt-cheap white box rerelease line came up, nothing from Vivarte.

Understood.  Being 42 years older than you, my situation is different.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

Full priced CDs. PERIOD -- I can buy some pretty nice (pristine!) used or or even new LPs (plural) for that price, or can get some huge CD boxed sets with tons of interesting stuff for $2-3 per disc. I can't remember the last time I paid $17.99 for a single disc.

Wannabe music experts in audiences: This seems very common amongst late middle-aged men. I love it when the SQ says they will play the finale Beethoven Opus 59, No2 as an encore, and some old corvette-driving wannabe connoisseur exclaims, "Oh! Oh!"

Riiiiiight. Like you really have all the Beethoven Opus numbers memorized you fatuous a--hole. Why don't you start prattling on about hearing the "inner voices" like the two old farts across the aisle.? 

Full liner notes available on the website: Really? Even the crappy tiny print CD liner notes are now too expensive to produce?

Classical music radio stations I get really tired of three minutes of Mozart, six minutes of Telemann, eight minutes of Resphigi. How about playing the entire piece? Something from the 20th Century? Or something in a minor key for once? Are they afraid of a mutiny in the Sunday brunch crowd, or the Lexus and Mercedes dealerships that play their station in the background? 

[Sammy]

Full priced CDs. PERIOD -- I can buy some pretty nice (pristine!) used or or even new LPs (plural) for that price, or can get some huge CD boxed sets with tons of interesting stuff for $2-3 per disc. I can't remember the last time I paid $17.99 for a single disc.

Wannabe music experts in audiences: This seems very common amongst late middle-aged men. I love it when the SQ says they will play the finale Beethoven Opus 59, No2 as an encore, and some old corvette-driving wannabe connoisseur exclaims, "Oh! Oh!"

Riiiiiight. Like you really have all the Beethoven Opus numbers memorized you fatuous a--hole. Why don't you start prattling on about hearing the "inner voices" like the two old farts across the aisle.? 

Full liner notes available on the website: Really? Even the crappy tiny print CD liner notes are now too expensive to produce?

Classical music radio stations I get really tired of three minutes of Mozart, six minutes of Telemann, eight minutes of Resphigi. How about playing the entire piece? Something from the 20th Century? Or something in a minor key for once? Are they afraid of a mutiny in the Sunday brunch crowd, or the Lexus and Mercedes dealerships that play their station in the background?

1.  Acquiring full-priced new cd's is my usual regimen.

2.  I agree about classical music stations.  What I find odd is that classical music fans are supposed to have a fairly long attention span.  Yet, most stations treat their audiences as if just the opposite holds.

[Bogey]

Outside of music, being late.

Music wise, the demise of places to browse for music. 

[jut1972]

Grumpy from Snow White and the 7 dwarves.

Rereleased / repackaged CDs which don't tell you which mastering it is.  Or worse, use an old inferior one when better ones are available.

[Ten thumbs]

While I usually appreciate and enjoy that, say, Rachmaninov's Paganini Rhapsody is broken up into one track per variation, it gets annoying on Naxos Music Library where the streaming software loads each track separately and there's often a 4-5 gap between them.

I too find gaps particularly annoying where the music is either specifically marked attacca, or where it is, from the harmonies, clearly intended to be almost continuous. You would expect people in the music industry to understand these things.

[XB-70 Valkyrie]

1.  Acquiring full-priced new cd's is my usual regimen.

2.  I agree about classical music stations.  What I find odd is that classical music fans are supposed to have a fairly long attention span.  Yet, most stations treat their audiences as if just the opposite holds.

I have actually come to suspect that most classical music stations are not really catering to classical music lovers. In fact, it would not surprise me if the market for people who like "some nice soft music" or "something relaxing" or "something for the background" is actually far larger than the market for true classical music fans. Those poor souls need something flaccid to go with their Thomas Kinkade paintings, white zinfandel, and "country style" interior decorating. 

[Sammy]

I have actually come to suspect that most classical music stations are not really catering to classical music lovers. In fact, it would not surprise me if the market for people who like "some nice soft music" or "something relaxing" or "something for the background" is actually far larger than the market for true classical music fans. Those poor souls need something flaccid to go with their Thomas Kinkade paintings, white zinfandel, and "country style" interior decorating. 

You're probably right.  At any rate, the classical music station here in Albuquerque is something to avoid - mostly made up of short pieces, fractions of larger works, guitar all over the place and show tunes.  Where's the classical meat?  For that, I have to go to my own collection.

Forgot to mention that when the local station plays Bach, it's usually modern instruments.  That really sucks!

[Szykneij]

Studies show that most on-line listening occurs at home or work, while most broadcast listening takes place while driving. Unless people have an incredibly long commute in the morning and are lucky enough to turn the radio on just as a piece starts, they're not going to listen to complete symphonies or other extended compositions on the radio.
Classical on-air stations need to program to meet the realities of today's world, especially commercial enterprises that have to make money to survive. Anyone who's going to sit down to listen for an extended period of time is going to listen to their own library or make selections from an on-line site. If I happen to catch a short piece or snippet on the radio I enjoy during my 5 minute drive to work, it's a nice way to start the day.

[springrite]

What annoys me is that BIG things that annoys me are considered LITTLE things by others!

[vandermolen]

Inability to remove the cellophane packaging from a CD when I am desperate to hear the music, then discovering that there is an equally impossible-to- remove added 'security' sticker. Then, in my desperation, snapping one or both hinges off the CD 

[Sammy]

Studies show that most on-line listening occurs at home or work, while most broadcast listening takes place while driving. Unless people have an incredibly long commute in the morning and are lucky enough to turn the radio on just as a piece starts, they're not going to listen to complete symphonies or other extended compositions on the radio.
Classical on-air stations need to program to meet the realities of today's world, especially commercial enterprises that have to make money to survive. Anyone who's going to sit down to listen for an extended period of time is going to listen to their own library or make selections from an on-line site. If I happen to catch a short piece or snippet on the radio I enjoy during my 5 minute drive to work, it's a nice way to start the day.

A 5 minute drive is real good, but 30 to 60 minute drives to work are not unusual in metropolitan areas.

[Gurn Blanston]

A 5 minute drive is real good, but 30 to 60 minute drives to work are not unusual in metropolitan areas.

Or in rural ones either. I drive 30 minutes each way. If I didn't have an extensive library on my MP3 player (which plays through my car stereo) I would have been without traveling music for the last 12 years.

[vandermolen]

I have a 50 to 60 minute drive both ways - it is usually the only time I can enjoy uninterrupted listening to music between the mayhem at work and the mayhem at home. I have been known to pull into a lay-by in order to hear the end of something on the radio.   

[Mirror Image]

The fact that I can't make up my damn mind about Delius!!!! This man's music has such a powerful hold over me!

I wrote to Greg (on FB) about how I'm going to write an article on my emotional journey from loving Delius' music to giving in to all of the criticisms that plague his music and how these criticisms and overall negative perceptions helped me realize how important this composer has been to me in my life.

[kyjo]

The fact that I can't make up my damn mind about Delius!!!! This man's music has such a powerful hold over me!

I wrote to Greg (on FB) about how I'm going to write an article on my emotional journey from loving Delius' music to giving in to all of the criticisms that plague his music and how these criticisms and overall negative perceptions helped me realize how important this composer has been to me in my life.

Great, John! Since I'm currently making my way through that EMI set, we can compare and contrast opinions better know that you've come back around to Delius' music. I've had La Calinda (used in the Florida Suite) stuck in my head for days! Delius doesn't always write memorable melodies, but when he does, they sure are memorable!

BTW John, are your three favorite composers still Shosty, Schnittke, and Hartmann? Just checking!

[Mirror Image]

Great, John! Since I'm currently making my way through that EMI set, we can compare and contrast opinions better know that you've come back around to Delius' music. I've had La Calinda (used in the Florida Suite) stuck in my head for days! Delius doesn't always write memorable melodies, but when he does, they sure are memorable!

BTW John, are your three favorite composers still Shosty, Schnittke, and Hartmann? Just checking!

I've had Irmerlin Prelude stuck in my head today! So infectious! Delius writes some of the most gorgeous melodies, but it is the harmonic aspect of his music that really awestruck me from the beginning. The EMI set is a great way for anyone interested in Delius to get to know his music, especially if it's just for these classic performances of A Village Romeo & Juliet and Koanga. The set does have some misfires. I'm not found of the recording containing the Violin Sonatas. I believe it's Eric Fenby on piano and Menuhin on violin. The Tasmin Little/Piers Lane is most certainly superior in every way. I also don't think much of several of the orchestral performances like the Florida Suite, Two Pieces for Orchestra, which are both conducted by Hickox and can be heard in better performances elsewhere. The same goes with works like North Country Sketches or The Song of the High Hills. The Piano Concerto is a great performance as I believe it's Piers Lane/Handley in that one. I forget who has performed the Cello Concerto in this set (Julian Lloyd-Webber?). The Violin Concerto suffers again from Menuhin's playing. Tasmin Little owns the Violin Concerto as far as I'm concerned. Songs Of Sunset exists in a better performance from Bo Holten on Danacord (his whole Delius series is worth it's weight in gold). A Mass of Life received a good performance from Groves. Paris: A Song for a Great City receives a remarkable performance from Mackerras. Of course, the Barbirolli performances are excellent as usual (his A Song of Summer is still the best on record IMHO). One great thing about this set is the inclusion of the complete incidental music from Hassan, which I believe Delius composed around 1920 or so.

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded response! Hopefully, a moderator will transfer our posts to the Delius thread.

[kyjo]

I've had Irmerlin Prelude stuck in my head today! So infectious! Delius writes some of the most gorgeous melodies, but it is the harmonic aspect of his music that really awestruck me from the beginning. The EMI set is a great way for anyone interested in Delius to get to know his music, especially if it's just for these classic performances of A Village Romeo & Juliet and Koanga. The set does have some misfires. I'm not found of the recording containing the Violin Sonatas. I believe it's Eric Fenby on piano and Menuhin on violin. The Tasmin Little/Piers Lane is most certainly superior in every way. I also don't think much of several of the orchestral performances like the Florida Suite, Two Pieces for Orchestra, which are both conducted by Hickox and can be heard in better performances elsewhere. The same goes with works like North Country Sketches or The Song of the High Hills. The Piano Concerto is a great performance as I believe it's Piers Lane/Handley in that one. I forget who has performed the Cello Concerto in this set (Julian Lloyd-Webber?). The Violin Concerto suffers again from Menuhin's playing. Tasmin Little owns the Violin Concerto as far as I'm concerned. Songs Of Sunset exists in a better performance from Bo Holten on Danacord (his whole Delius series is worth it's weight in gold). A Mass of Life received a good performance from Groves. Paris: A Song for a Great City receives a remarkable performance from Mackerras. Of course, the Barbirolli performances are excellent as usual (his A Song of Summer is still the best on record IMHO). One great thing about this set is the inclusion of the complete incidental music from Hassan, which I believe Delius composed around 1920 or so.

Anyway, sorry for the long-winded response! Hopefully, a moderator will transfer our posts to the Delius thread.

Thanks for your detailed response! Yes, Delius' "bluesy" harmonies are certainly wonderful and often times haunting. One Delius work I haven't warmed to yet is the PC, which is unusual since I love late-romantic PCs. The Two Pieces for Small Orchestra, which are Delius' most popular works, also fail to engage me, ironically. One more random comment: That moment when the a cappella chorus enters near the end of Appalachia is so beautiful. As I've stated before, I'm usually not one for a cappella music, but there's something about an unaccompanied chorus entering after half an hour of orchestral music that is really special.

BTW you didn't answer the question in my above post!

[Mirror Image]

Thanks for your detailed response! Yes, Delius' "bluesy" harmonies are certainly wonderful and often times haunting. One Delius work I haven't warmed to yet is the PC, which is unusual since I love late-romantic PCs. The Two Pieces for Small Orchestra, which are Delius' most popular works, also fail to engage me, ironically. One more random comment: That moment when the a cappella chorus enters near the end of Appalachia is so beautiful. As I've stated before, I'm usually not one for a cappella music, but there's something about an unaccompanied chorus entering after half an hour of orchestral music that is really special.

BTW you didn't answer the question in my above post!

Let's take this to the Delius thread, shall we? Oh, and I refuse to answer that question!

[kyjo]

Oh, and I refuse to answer that question!