Samuel Barber

[Carolina Classics Fan]

Would some erudite scholar please explain to me the fascination many seem to have with Barber's Adagio for Strings?<P>Admittedly, of late I have not been much of a musician, but, and this is only my response to it, the Adagio seems to me to be insipid and quite the most boring piece of music I've heard in a long time.

[treebeau]

CCF: I agree, it is a very dull piece of music and I can't understand why it's so popular. But now and then these folks play a choral version called "Agnus Dei," which is not as painful. At least I don't take the headphones off or click the mute box.<P>Regards,<BR>Tim B.<BR>

[ReedMan]

You Carolina boys haven't lived long enough yet to appreciate the piece. Be patient.

[Carolina Classics Fan]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ReedMan:<BR><B>You Carolina boys haven't lived long enough yet to appreciate the piece. Be patient.</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>How long is long enough? I'm well past five decades and cut my teeth on classics.

[ReedMan]

Another 2 or 3 decades should suffice. A few personal tragedies should speed things up, but I wish you no hurry !

[sherouse]

ReedMan, I agree. I didn't used to think too much about this piece until after my father was held as a political prisoner in a foreign country about 7 years ago and it took me 3 months of non-stop stress and activity to get him released. Since then, I've had a few tragedies including this same father piloting a DC-3 in the Bahamas last July and crashing into the forest killing him and the co-pilot. So yes, I would say a few personal tragedies help endear this piece to so many people more than others. And I'm not even 30 yet <P>- Sherouse <BR>Founder & President, Nicole Marie Fan Club<BR>Van, Beethoven USA<P><BR> <BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by ReedMan:<BR><B>Another 2 or 3 decades should suffice. A few personal tragedies should speed things up, but I wish you no hurry !</B><HR></BLOCKQUOTE><P>

[shostakovich]

Hi Carolina. Aaron Copland once wrote about 3 "planes of listening". The most basic is the "sensual plane". This has to do with how your nervous system reacts to music. Next was (forgot what he called it) the plane on which you get mental images. If the music tells a story, hopefully you will be able to follow it. The most difficult plane is "sheerly musical". That has to do with analysing the music. That takes too much effort for most people, including me, most of the time. The Adagio is fairly simple on plane 3, says nothing on plane 2. It's (nearly total) appeal is on the sensual plane. And there you either like it or you don't. With 5 decades plus, you may NEVER get to like it. Not liking things is definitely common in this bulletin board. I don't think we CHOOSE to like or dislike, especially on that sensual plane. <BR>I listened to Shostakovich's 5th symphony once a day for 2 weeks before I "liked" it. I like the Adagio. If I listened to it every day for 2 weeks, I probably wouldn't want to hear it again. For some things, including music, familiarity is the key to enjoyment. For others "familiarity breeds contempt".<BR>Finally, give yourself permission not to like the Adagio. You may SOME DAY like it. Or you may not. I think it was Gershwin who wrote the song that applies here: It's Just One of Those Things.<BR>Shos (also 5 decades +)<BR>

[Carolina Classics Fan]

How one feels about any piece of music is very subjective, and not very objective. Rating composers and their works is a lot like judging a baking contest. There are certain points one awards based on objective criteria, but the final ranking is pretty much based on the tastes of the judges. On a blah day, when life is dull, listening to most of John Williams work will arouse positive feelings of "truth, justice, and the American way" in me. When I am down in the dumps, I prefer the second movement of Beethoven's Tenth aka Brahms First. When seeking spiritual uplift, Mozart, Laudate Domine. But I can be transported to lovelier, more congenial locales by the work of MacDowell, Rachmaninov, Bartok, Pachelbel (heard his Canon in D done by the Berlin Philharmonic, in Philharmonie Halle, conducted by Karajan, lovely), Danzi, Schumman, Schubert, Mendelsohn, Janacek, Copland, Elgar, Ludwig himself, Huemperdinck, Tchaikovski, Haendel, Verdi, Bach, and too many more to think of at the moment. Some times I think there is too much out there to take time to develop an appreciation for something that not only did not excite, but did annoy. I was just recently listening to a cd of Mendelsohn's Midsummer Nights Dream and admiring the Tuba. Then, again, a couple of them singer-storytellers frum Texas sound good, too.<P>All of that to say: Like what you will. Listen and enjoy. If I tune out, just means that selection did not touch me enough to hold my attention. But you go on and enjoy it.

[shostakovich]

Hi again, Carolina. Your list of transporters is impressive. By some serendipity the Pachelbel Canon was playing on a tape as I read your note. What a smash hit that became, from an otherwise (practically) unknown composer. <BR>Shos.

[lliam]

Hi Sherhouse,<BR> Hey buddy that was a very sad story. I do hope you are <BR>O.K. I only wish I lived closer to you I could maybe give a little support, in your time of a very sad loss, they say time Heals, I don't think it does, it just gets a little less painful. Keep your chin up young man.<P>Lliam.<BR>

[ReedMan]

Your reaction to a piece is also highly dependent on the interpretation. If a conductor gets his team to perform in a meaningful way that communicates, then that piece may click with you. Some compositions seem to be more dependent on interpretation. Perhaps Barber's Adagio is one of those ?<P>I know that some Beethoven symphonies sound pitiful under the treatment of poor performance - which is unfortunately recorded and released for consumption.<P>Condolences to all dealing with their tragedies. Life is full of surprises - pleasant and unpleasant. May the pleasant help you overcome...