Talk:Classical music

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Modernist?

How did this label come about? Is there any source, please? And is it reasonable to use it - or should it be called something else? Judging from the quotations that allegedly critisize the modernist view the authors mentioned here do not use that terminology...

For instance - a quotation ascribed to Beethoven is that of "what do I care about his lousy violin when the Spirit speaks to me". Could modernism then start with Beethoven? In that case we should definitely call it something else. "View of the modern ages" would, however, be very different and maybe suitable, but maybe not handy either. Carl Bergstroem-Nielsen (talk) 15:57, 5 January 2012 (UTC)carlbn

Improvisation

I often see in western music related articles (and not only in Wikipedia) that there's little or no room to improvisation in classical music. For the sake of the argument, I won't consider what happened to classical music up to Liszt, but what about the French organ school? There is a firm, stablished and abundant amount of improvisation in that school which can be traced to César Franck and the 19th century, and whoever goes to a mass in France will eventually hear an improvisation. Bruno Gripp (talk) 20:13, 28 March 2010 (UTC)

Western?!

Is this article called classical music or western classical music? 125.19.28.2 (talk) 15:13, 2 February 2010 (UTC)

It should be western classical music. 199.76.166.139 (talk)

Major cut

I've cut the following paragraph which had opened the section 'Instrumentation':

Classical music is often distinguished by its wide use of instruments of varying tones and pitches to create a deep, rich sound. The different movements of classical music were affected largely by the invention and modification of instruments throughout time. While classical music has no "set" of instruments required to fulfill certain standards, composers wrote for orchestras, wind ensembles, or various combinations of instruments for chamber music. Not to be forgotten is the human voice, which has invented its own series of classical music, the Opera. It was not uncommon for classical composers to also write solo pieces for a specific instrument, accompanied by piano or whatever group the composer deemed fit.

The first sentence is meaningless (it could equally apply to prog rock, for instance); the second sentence is entirely contentious; the third verges on illiteracy; the fourth is both irrelevant and misleading (what about the cantata, or Lieder, for instance?). So it goes on, without any citations to be seen: I think it better junked, and have gone ahead and done so. Alfietucker (talk) 21:01, 20 February 2010 (UTC)

Impressionist

Should "Impressionist" really be part of the table at the top (entitled "Periods of European art music")? I see it more as a school of music - and really a school of just two composers: Ravel and Debussy - and not a period. If we included it, wouldn't we also have to include the Twelve-tone or Serialist schools as well? Squandermania (talk) 18:42, 22 February 2010 (UTC)

I agree. Which 'impressionist' composer was writing until 1940 anyway?!Matt.kaner (talk) 02:59, 25 February 2010 (UTC)

so,what mean classical music? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.49.207.110 (talk) 13:06, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

I don't understand, yet! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 77.49.207.110 (talk) 13:07, 2 April 2010 (UTC)

Link-farm clear-out

I've just removed a load of external links which in my view and per WP:External links don't belong here. The sites are full of ads and add nothing to the reader's understanding of the topic. These are the ones that have been removed (complete with blurbs):

• Classical Composers Database – Classical music composers of all periods and countries, with biographies and work lists
• MusicWeb International – CD reviews, composer articles, timelines, concert and book reviews
• European magazine's selection of best classical music recordings from different time periods [Note this is not a "European magazine". It's a self-published website.]
• The Classical Music Pages
• Classical Net offers a comprehensive collection of information and news on classical music subjects including articles and CD reviews, composers and their music, the basic repertoire, books & scores, etc.]
• Classical Music Broadcast up-to-date information regarding current classical music tour dates, concert reviews, and links to listen to music from all classical eras.
• Top Classical Music Online samples of top classical music from master composers

Voceditenore (talk) 16:06, 28 June 2010 (UTC)

Image for Page

Can an image be added to represent Classic music? Facebook is linked with and uses Wikipedia, and when there's no image a generic one is used that is unrelated to music. If an image of sheet music or a music note graphic were added to the top, it would be automatically added to Facebook as a thumbnail/icon. An image at Wikimedia Commons would probably work. J-klem (talk) 22:05, 4 November 2010 (UTC)

I like the new image with multiple composers J-klem (talk) 05:14, 30 November 2010 (UTC)

The problem is now solved again. --Peoplefromarizona (talk) 23:57, 16 February 2011 (UTC)

Changes to Classical music

I've reverted these two edits by two different IPs [1], [2] but someone might wish to check if any of the changes were in fact valid ones. Voceditenore (talk) 08:47, 22 February 2011 (UTC)

This leaves less room for practices...

Not only is this partially incorrect (or at the least misleading), since improvisation (see the cadenza for example) was prominent in classical music up to the 19th century, but also has a slightly derogatory tone. If any comparison should be made with the music of other cultures, more care should be taken to offer a balanced view. While admittedly the structure of Western classical music is more structured (rigid, even), it should also be argued/presented that its complexity, richness, and theory is (in general) significantly greater than any other historical form of music. Noldorin (talk) 03:54, 13 April 2011 (UTC

Snorting music

Can anyone identify this piece of classical music, played as an accompaniment to cocaine snorting buddies from Russian series Brigada in this episode [3]? — Preceding unsigned comment added by Tigerjojo98 (talk • contribs)

Yep, it's "Anitra's Dance" from Grieg's incidental music for Peer Gynt. (By the way you can ask general questions like this at the Reference Desk (Humanities) where there's a lot of people whose hobby it is to answer stuff like this -- sometimes you get a faster response that way). Antandrus (talk) 04:36, 26 June 2011 (UTC)

The external link contents has limited availability outside Europe.

For full disclosure, it must be stated that link contents for EU use only, together with the link. Ideally frustrated links must be avoided. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.115.17.83 (talk • contribs) 13:35, 13 September 2011

Classical music and the Liberalization of the Arts, 1965-

In 1965 with the establishment of The National Endowment for the Arts, and consequent Liberalization of the Arts, it was expected that Classical music will also re-invent itself, just like the Visual Arts, and will become part of the Industrialization of the Arts. In the attempt for re-invention and becoming to be part of the Industrialization was overlooked the fact that there is a major difference in the consumption. While the Visual Arts supported by the NEA, with public money grew by the use of again public money from the cultural milieu on all levels, and as such, it was not dependent on the support of public at all. Public had no say in the Visual Arts.

Quite contrary, the Classical music depended very much on the paying audience, and as such on the public approval. Any attempts to re-invent the Classical form has failed due to the fact that any new form presented to the public 'en force' have reflected in empty auditoriums. The appearance of success was tried by shuffling the new form(s) placing them at the beginning, in between or at the appendage of the main event. The later, resulted in massive early leaving of attendees. These facts were presented to me in the past by my wife Danica Betakova, an ardent attendee of Classical performances at the National Art Center in Ottawa for many years, herself educated in Classical music, piano teacher, church organist +++ Rasto Hlavina 74.210.37.164 (talk) 14:39, 5 January 2012 (UTC)

Upper-Class

I'm surprised this hasn't rankled anyone:

classical concertgoers and CD buyers are not all upper class

Any thoughts on how better to refute the misperception of classical music and high society? Greg 22:34, 10 February 2012 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Dwegowy (talk • contribs)

It might also be a good idea to mention that many famous composers came from poor backgrounds, and that concerts with classical music are not overpriced, unlike many concerts with popular music. --Toccata quarta (talk) 16:00, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

That's true. One could also mention that top popular performers make way more money than top classical performers, and certainly composers. One thing that would be useful, and on a quick google I was unable to find it, would be demographic data on those attending classical concerts. Not age data, which is easy to find, but income data. Antandrus (talk) 16:24, 11 February 2012 (UTC)

The following looks interesting: http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09548960109365147#preview --Toccata quarta (talk) 18:10, 11 February 2012 (UTC)