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Discover Classical Music for YourselfFeb 25 '02 Write an essay on this topic.
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The Bottom Line This music has endured for centuries and will endure for many more. Whatever you do, don't miss out on this wonderful music.
What is classical music exactly? Why is it so very important? Why is it still popular? "Classical music is the music composed in the Western Hemisphere over the past few hundred years. It is generally composed for an orchestra or combination of orchestral instruments, keyboards, guitar, or voice." "Classical music is one of the few living arts. It continues to exist by being constantly re-created, live, before an audience. Unlike the visual arts, classical music envelops you in real time and comes to life before you; unlike literature or theater, it can be understood equally by speakers of any language--or no language; and unlike dance, you don't need to look good in a leotard to perform it." Classical Music for Dummies by David Pogue and Scott Speck Page1-2 The authors of Classical Music for Dummies insist that classical music is as entertaining as it ever was. "Until very recently, people didn't make such big distinctions between "popular" and "classical" music. In the 1700s and 1800s, it was all just music, and people loved it. People would go to the latest performance of a symphony, concerto, song cycle, or opera just as you might go to a rock concert today--to have fun! They were enticed by the prospect of seeing their favorite stars, schmoozing with their friends, and hearing their favorite tunes. They came in casual clothes; they brought along food and drink; they even cheered during the show if the spirit moved them. Classical music was pop music" Classical Music for Dummies by David Pogue and Scott Speck Page1-2 Four years ago I developed a love for classical music. I had always been interested, but I knew nothing about it. One day I happened across a CD named The Idiot's Guide to Classical Music from RCA Victor. This CD features short excerpts from the greatest and most recognizable themes in classical music. It has a booklet that identified each piece, its composer, and what movie, commercial, or popular television show featured this piece. This is where I started. After listening to this CD many times, I finally rated each song on the CD from 1-10. In the little booklet I put a 10 beside the songs I had to own and 1 by the songs I hoped to never hear again. Then I took the booklet that comes with this CD to the library. There I would check out CD's that featured whatever piece or composer I was interested in. After a few months doing that. I started buying what I liked. I still use the library to decide what I want to buy. The library's CD collection gives me a chance to explore new composers or new pieces of music. I would strongly suggest that anyone with a budding interest in classical music but no knowledge begin this way. Now I buy CDs of certain composer’s that I love. For example I am working on owning everything Beethoven wrote. Sometimes I just decide that I don’t have very much by this or that particular composer and when I find something of his on sale, it comes home with me. I have found many treasures that way. I am addicted. Some may say, "I don't like this or that piece." That is okay. Do you like every piece of rock and roll or jazz that has ever been written? Of course not. You won't like everything you hear in this genre either. After listening to many different pieces, I have found some things that I don't like at all. I have even found that there are some pieces written by some of my very favorite composers that I don't like much. There is nothing wrong with that. Some classical music has beautiful melodies. Some pieces don't seem to have any melody at all. Some pieces appeal to the emotions more strongly than others will. Some pieces will appeal to you most because of the time of year or time of your life that you hear them. You just need to explore this world for yourself. The authors of Classical Music for Dummies recommends that if one piece really appeals to you, then listen to other pieces like it or other pieces by the same composer. That is one of the paths I took to discovering new composers and new music. I decided that I liked Beethoven's Symphony no 9 in D minor, Opus 125 "Choral" This is the "Ode to Joy". That led me to try other symphonies of his. From there I started listening to symphonies by other composers which is how I discovered Mozart's Symphony in C, No. 41, "Jupiter" A friend of mine told me that I needed to add some chamber music to my listening. Since Beethoven was fast becoming one of my favorite composers, I started with many of his compositions. From there I began listening to chamber music written by other composers. This is how I discovered Debussy. Another path into this world is the 'Favorite Instruments" road. I love the piano. I found a CD in the library that had nothing but piano pieces by famous composers. I took it home and listened to it again and again. I checked out other CDs that featured the piano. This is how I discovered Chopin and Liszt. I also checked out a CD titled Mad About Violins. That led me to many other beautiful pieces and a love for other wonderful composers. Reading is also important in this quest. I like to read the inside covers of the CD’s I buy. I also read old textbooks from music appreciation classes. Those are great sources and can be found in used bookstores, flea markets, and garage sales. Some come with accompanying CDs. I wanted to know about the composers. When did they live and who were their contemporaries? What was going on in their lives when they composed this or that piece? Why is this composer considered great? That isn't all I wanted to know. I also wanted to learn why some pieces were called sonatas and others concertos. What was the difference between a concerto and a symphony? Why do symphonies have three movements? Classical Music for Dummies was a good start to finding those answers. My handy dandy textbooks were also very helpful here. The more I learn the more pleasure I get from this music and the more I understand the great genius behind these compositions. I am still learning about classical music all of the time and there is a lot more for me to learn. The most important thing is that you do begin. This music has endured for centuries and will endure for many more. It is time you and your family discovered why for yourselves. Explore the web, get the library, and start your own voyage of discovery. All you really need to do is begin. What ever you do, don't miss out on this wonderful music.  |
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