Amusing Encounters With Non-Classical Listeners

[Florestan]

Also doesn't sound like someone I'd like to spend time with. I understand how important and personal music is to individuals, but when the music of others is looked down upon, it suggests possible overall conceit. ( BTW Ernesto Lecuona's Andalucia is a favorite of mine.)

I wouldn't put it that harsh. The guy was simply not interested in any music that he perceived had no connection with Cuba. I doubt he ever heard Lecuona's music, or Brouwer's --- and I can assure you that plenty of Romanians have never heard about Enescu either, let alone a single one of his works. It's got nothing to do with conceit but with plain, good old ignorance.

FWIW, Lecuona is one of my favorite non-European composers.

[Szykneij]

FWIW, Lecuona is one of my favorite non-European composers.

He was a big favorite of Desi Arnaz, too. Arnaz, extremely well-known thanks to the "I Love Lucy" televison show, introduced Lecuona to the American public during the 1950s.

[Mirror Image]

I wouldn't put it that harsh. The guy was simply not interested in any music that he perceived had no connection with Cuba. I doubt he ever heard Lecuona's music, or Brouwer's --- and I can assure you that plenty of Romanians have never heard about Enescu either, let alone a single one of his works. It's got nothing to do with conceit but with plain, good old ignorance.

FWIW, Lecuona is one of my favorite non-European composers.

The newer generation of Romanians probably have no idea about Enescu, but the older ones will probably, at the very least, have heard his name before. The situation here in the States isn't much different. I doubt there are many people nowadays who even know who Copland or Bernstein is. I was exposed to Copland at a young age (around 11 yrs. old or so) as his Hoe-down from Rodeo was used in a commercial about beef (i. e. Beef, It's What's For Dinner):

https://www.youtube.com/v/Q08OTOa3qic

[Szykneij]

The newer generation of Romanians probably have no idea about Enescu, but the older ones will probably, at the very least, have heard his name before. The situation here in the States isn't much different. I doubt there are many people nowadays who even know who Copland or Bernstein is. I was exposed to Copland at a young age (around 11 yrs. old or so) as his Hoe-down from Rodeo was used in a commercial about beef (i. e. Beef, It's What's For Dinner):

I remember that commercial! You're probably too young to know this one, but it introduced me to Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez and the phrase "Corinthian leather".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0diMFShiUU

[Mirror Image]

I remember that commercial! You're probably too young to know this one, but it introduced me to Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez and the phrase "Corinthian leather".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0diMFShiUU

Very cool. Not so much the commercial but for the exposure to a gorgeous work from Rodrigo.

[Florestan]

The newer generation of Romanians probably have no idea about Enescu, but the older ones will probably, at the very least, have heard his name before.

Well, I could put it this way: if as a Romanian you know who Enescu is, then you are most probably 50 or older. 

[Mirror Image]

Well, I could put it this way: if as a Romanian you know who Enescu is, then you are most probably 50 or older. 

This certainly makes sense.

[Szykneij]

Very cool. Not so much the commercial but for the exposure to a gorgeous work from Rodrigo.

That was during Ricardo Montalbán's pre-Mr. Roarke and Kahn days.

[Mirror Image]

That was during Ricardo Montalbán's pre-Mr. Roarke and Kahn days.

Yes, indeed.

[DaveF]

"I love the song by Mozart called Requiem."

John, you should have directed your colleague to VW's Toward the Unknown Region:

https://stainer.co.uk/shop/hl223/

[relm1]

Here is one of my funny experiences.  I'm a bass trombonist and was practicing with the window open.  The downside is everyone hears everything you play even boring long tones or pedals you do as a warmup.  So was practicing Star Wars theme and hit a wrong note.  Someone walking by on the street sang back the right note.  It made me laugh that this damn music is so famous that you can never practice it and get it wrong otherwise some random person will know your mistake and correct you. At least when practicing modern music, no one knows you made a mistake. 

[Mirror Image]

John, you should have directed your colleague to VW's Toward the Unknown Region:

https://stainer.co.uk/shop/hl223/

I work retail, so I'd hardly call her a colleague. Also, with her particular attitude, it wouldn't have mattered anyway. She's ignorant and acted against education. She's really no different than the hundreds of people I've encountered through the years.

[Mirror Image]

Here is one of my funny experiences.  I'm a bass trombonist and was practicing with the window open.  The downside is everyone hears everything you play even boring long tones or pedals you do as a warmup.  So was practicing Star Wars theme and hit a wrong note.  Someone walking by on the street sang back the right note.  It made me laugh that this damn music is so famous that you can never practice it and get it wrong otherwise some random person will know your mistake and correct you. At least when practicing modern music, no one knows you made a mistake. 

Hah!

[Spotted Horses]

It's story time. I'll try and make it short:

One day, I was in the break room at work and I overheard a fellow coworker mentioning she had classical music on her cellphone. I butted into the conversation as I couldn't contain myself any longer and asked her what composers she had on her cellphone. She mentioned Mozart, Beethoven, Brahms and Tchaikovsky. I said "Oh, that's nice. Any favorite pieces from those particular composers?" She looked at me for a few seconds and said "I love the song by Mozart called Requiem." Trying to be as delicate as I can, I replied "Actually Sarah, in classical music, they're not called songs. They're called either pieces or works unless you're talking about lieder, which is, indeed, a song." She just looked at me with a lot of anger, stood up and exclaimed "You're lame!" She slammed the chair into the table and stormed off. I could've let it go perhaps, but I felt that she needed to be corrected in order to understand what she's actually saying and how to use the terminology. Anyway, from this particular point forward, unless I know for sure I'm speaking with a classical music listener, I've kept my mouth shut.

Okay, your turn. Any stories you'd like to share about your encounters with the non-classical populous?

I don't understand why you seem to be proud of your behavior in this anecdote.

[SimonNZ]

A contractor at a former workplace hearing the classical music I was playing said "No wonder those guys all killed themselves". He meant composers. No wonder classical composers all end their lives in suicide because their music is so clearly depressive. I think I was playing Haydn.

[Mirror Image]

I don't understand why you seem to be proud of your behavior in this anecdote.

My behavior? What hell are you even talking about? Never mind that the person who I corrected (in a completely civll and decent manner mind you) was the one who reacted irrationally and resorted to insulting me. But with you, it always seems like I am the bad guy. In other words, I can't win. If I'm nice to someone, you would find fault with it, too.

[Spotted Horses]

My behavior? What hell are you even talking about? Never mind that the person who I corrected (in a completely civll and decent manner mind you) was the one who reacted irrationally and resorted to insulting me. But with you, it always seems like I am the bad guy. In other words, I can't win. If I'm nice to someone, you would find fault with it, too.

As you describe it, she was having a conversation and perhaps hoping to make a good impression by mentioning her interest in classical music, and you butted into the conversation and belittled her in front of her friend. That's how she seems to have viewed it, based on her reaction.

[Mirror Image]

As you describe it, she was having a conversation and perhaps hoping to make a good impression by mentioning her interest in classical music, and you butted into the conversation and belittled her in front of her friend. That's how she seems to have viewed it, based on her reaction.

I mentioned I butted into the conversation, but I didn't belittle her. That is your own mischaracterization of what actually transpired. The person she was talking to actually looked at her like she was insane when she stormed out of the break room and rightfully so I say.

[71 dB]

I don't understand why you seem to be proud of your behavior in this anecdote.

Yeah, my thoughts too. I wonder what the spirit is in that workplace if coworkers communicate with each other that way. 

[Florestan]

A contractor at a former workplace hearing the classical music I was playing said "No wonder those guys all killed themselves". He meant composers. No wonder classical composers all end their lives in suicide because their music is so clearly depressive. I think I was playing Haydn.

I had quite a similar experience many moons ago. I was at office listening to a Mozart horn concerto when this young female colleague of mine told me "This is funeral music." I wonder what she'd have said had I been listening to the Masonic Fiuneral Music.