Classical music is not relaxing!

11237 Views 80 Replies 40 Participants Last post by Nate Miller, 7 mo ago

Carnegie

Discussion Starter · Aug 21, 2009

"John Brunning presents our brand new programme - two hours of relaxing classics to help you wind-down at the end of each day."

"un-wind "

"Annie-Marie Minhall presents the perfect blend of classical music to make your weekend a relaxing one."

etc etc etc...

I'm sick of Classic FM, and how it has shoved a flippin' great syringe in to the heart of Classical music's image and sucked out of all the passion, vigour, bombast, fireworks, dazzling virtuosity and thunderous power.

There 's always that poxy woman, the one with the really annoying "smiling while talking" voice constantly wittering on about "relaxing and unwinding" with the world's most "beautiful music".

They could have focussed on the great dramatic power, the profound nature of much of the music, the darkness, the light, the endless nuances, the incredible complexity, vibrancy, the awe inspiring genius behind the greatest compositions.

But no.

It's about how "relaxing" it is.

What they are saying is they think that your brain is too small to buy in to all the passion and the huge emotional scale of classical music, so we're going to concentrate our marketing on the bits that will put you in to a stupor, or help you "clear out your mind" while doing your homework.

The best music stirs the soul. It doesn't give it a blanket and hot water bottle.

(BTW - hello!)

Reactions: 5

1 - 20 of 81 Posts

Dim7

· #2 · Aug 21, 2009

This annoys the hell out of me too, especially because I like the more aggressive and noisy side of classical music. I don't of course want it to be that all the time, but I need at least some kind of intense climax in a classical composition. If something is just called "relaxing" I usually don't waste my time with it. I usually like to think symphonies as some kind of heroic journey, as an adventure, and I'm not big fan of classical music that has little sense of struggle and drama (baroque and the actual classical-period classical).

Reactions: 4

nickgray

· #3 · Aug 21, 2009

Classical music is not relaxing!

Of course it's not. Stop listening to crappy radio stations

Reactions: 3

kg4fxg

· #4 · Aug 21, 2009

Vivaldi

I guess they don't play much Vivaldi as that has such forward push, I can't think of the word but his music really pushes you along with such drive.

I listen to classical to divert and de-stress for work. Relaxing? No, it is my passion.

I agree, this makes classical sound like milk toast and elevator music

I wonder what the wonderful composers would say or the artists that perform these works?

TresPicos

· #5 · Aug 21, 2009

Some classical music is relaxing, some not. I don't understand why stirring the soul should be considered better than soothing it.

Reactions: 4

Sephron

· #6 · Aug 21, 2009

Sadly, I think the classical music and relaxing become synonyms when a lot of the marketing "experts" tried to hit some larger demographics. While some of the classical music is relaxing, such as this piano only piece, but when you incorporate a full booming orchestra the emotions that can evoke are anything but relaxing usually.

mueske

· #7 · Aug 21, 2009

You should check a youtube video of a performance sometimes. A Karajan interpretation of Beethoven's ninth symphony is littered with people (young adults) saying "This helps me do my homework, thanks!". I just don't get it, how can you do homework to that music?

It's like they're missing the point of the music, not getting it. It's a shame.

Reactions: 3

Weston

· #8 · Aug 21, 2009

If this goes on all day I can see the annoyance. If it's just an hour or two I think it's perfectly cool to have a show dedicated to the relaxing side of classical.

I remember in the early to mid 80's when "new age" music was becoming popular, our household was glued to public radio for "Music from the Hearts of Space" on Sunday evenings I now find that kind of music quite tedious, but at the time it served its purpose. I still use it to unwind or create an ambience sometimes. And that is its purpose. Music doesn't have to be great or life changing all the time.

Look on the bright side. Imagine the shock of someone buying an album of Alberto Ginastera music for example, thinking it's going to be relaxing.

chillowack

· #9 · Aug 21, 2009

Sephron said:
this piano only piece

This link led me to a guitar piece, which, while not exactly "turbulent," wasn't necessarily what I'd call "relaxing" either.

Then I clicked it again, and it led to a Franz Liszt piece.

Then it was some other piece....

Rasa

· #10 · Aug 21, 2009

mueske said:
You should check a youtube video of a performance sometimes. A Karajan interpretation of Beethoven's ninth symphony is littered with people (young adults) saying "This helps me do my homework, thanks!". I just don't get it, how can you do homework to that music?.

Beethoven 9 IS my homework

G

· #11 · Aug 22, 2009

TresPicos said:
Some classical music is relaxing, some not. I don't understand why stirring the soul should be considered better than soothing it.

I quite agree, what on earth is wrong with being soothed by music especially after a grotty day?

Rondo

· #12 · Aug 22, 2009

I agree wholeheartedly. Moreover, I'm glad someone has finally brought up this issue. Classical music has the effect of being 'relaxing', but it is problematic when many listen to classical music for the sole purpose of relaxing. Too many people cherry-pick classical music for this very reason, and ignore the many, many wonderful works which do not aid in alleviating their own personal anxieties. I, for instance, listen to classical music because (like some have said already) I like it. I believe it has a lot to do with how classical music is marketed.

Yoshi

· #13 · Aug 23, 2009

I can understand when people call, for example, a simple piano melody 'relaxing'. But for me, most classical pieces aren't relaxing at all. I can't listen to Bach when I'm tired. When I listen to his fugues, I can't help but being focused in the different melodic voices that the polyphony consists. And for me that's tiring, not relaxing.
I don't know, maybe it's because classical music requires full attention to understand it. For people who aren't really into classical music, it might sound relaxing.

Artemis

· #14 · Aug 23, 2009

There's a heck of a lot of confusion in this thread. No one is arguing that all classical music is relaxing. If you go back to the opening post, the new member (who hasn't yet made any re-appearance) was simply letting off steam about the persistent adverts on the UK music station CFM for certain evening programmes on their regular schedule in which the presenters attempt to feature "relaxing" music. Most of the discussion on this thread has got the wrong end of the stick by debating whether or not classical music in general can be considered to be relaxing or otherwise. That is entirely a separate issue, but I doubt that anybody (including those on CFM itself) would dispute that classical music comprises all sorts of moods, both relaxing and non-relaxing.

Reactions: 1

jhar26

· #15 · Aug 24, 2009

TresPicos said:
Some classical music is relaxing, some not. I don't understand why stirring the soul should be considered better than soothing it.

That's very true, but I think that what people object to is the idea that Classic FM is putting forward an image of classical music as background muzak.

Sid James

· #16 · Aug 24, 2009

This hasn't happened on Australian classical radio stations, not to my knowledge anyway. Even the most popular programmes, like the morning slot & drive time, have a variety of music. Depending on the station, you might get a program of shorter works or excerpts from longer ones, or the whole work. It sounds like the radio stations were the first poster is from are going down a much more commercial route, which I agree can be pretty bland & unengaging for people who want a bit of variety...

Mirror Image

· #17 · Aug 24, 2009

I don't listen to Classic FM, so it doesn't really matter to me what they play or what they do. That said, anyone who thinks classical music should be beautiful all the time is either a: misinformed, uneducated because they listen to too much classical radio or b: doesn't really think much of the music to begin with.

If I want to hear something beautiful, then I know what composers to turn to. If I want to hear something dark, brooding then I know what composers to listen to. It's all a matter of knowing what composers to turn to when you want to hear something to satisfy whatever mood your in.

I don't listen to radio for the simple reason that I don't have any need for it.

Sid James

· #18 · Aug 24, 2009

I must add that perhaps the first poster should listen to the radio outside of the peak morning, lunch or drivetime spots. Like on a classic fm station here in Sydney there's a weekly program, on Tuesday evenings, called New Horizons in which they play classical music composed since the 1930's. I think programs like this are an excellent way to discover types of music & composers that one is not familiar with. You don't expect to do that during the peak radio times, where they play more of the standard repertoire type thing. But generally, I think classical radio offers quite a good mix here in Australia, maybe it's different where the original poster is from?

Mirror Image

· #19 · Aug 24, 2009

Andre said:
I must add that perhaps the first poster should listen to the radio outside of the peak morning, lunch or drivetime spots. Like on a classic fm station here in Sydney there's a weekly program, on Tuesday evenings, called New Horizons in which they play classical music composed since the 1930's. I think programs like this are an excellent way to discover types of music & composers that one is not familiar with. You don't expect to do that during the peak radio times, where they play more of the standard repertoire type thing. But generally, I think classical radio offers quite a good mix here in Australia, maybe it's different where the original poster is from?

Boy, I'll tell you Andre in Georgia (United States), they don't play anything outside of the norm at all. Not only that, but the station's audio is terrible.

I'm thankful to have the classical collection I do, because I still have so much to listen to. It makes listening like a new adventure. Now granted I've heard a lot of music, but I'm nowhere near caught up yet.

Sid James

· #20 · Aug 24, 2009 (Edited)

Well that's too bad about Georgia (USA), it's a bit surprising since the USA is such a leader in producing first rate performers of classical music. They should really showcase their local talent, as we do here in Australia on classical radio. I think maybe here in Australia we're spoilt for choice, no matter what type of classical you like - orchestral, opera, instrumental, chamber, different periods, repertoires, performers - there's sure to be some radio program that caters for your taste. As I said, I like that program which showcases C20th music, but they have programs dealing in the same way with early music, Baroque, Romantic, etc. I suppose we're lucky here in Australia, even though the former Howard government made huge budget cuts to the Australian Broadcasting Commission, they seem to have weathered the storm (thank goodness for that)...

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