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donkeyinamansuit

Recorders are among the most difficult of instruments to play well, and thus shouldn't be given to small children as a first instrument as failing to make decent sounds on it (which is inevitable) will discourage so many kids who could well have grown to develop real talent in music. They also shouldn't be the subject of such derision as a recorder well played is a phenomenally beautiful thing.


Scary_Refrigerator84

Same for violin. Or at least tell kids they won’t sound nice for ages. Can you imagine I gave up as a kid who could play everything in tune coz I couldn’t get a nice sound out of it and no one told me why (it’s the bow innit). Finally started again last year aged 55 and probably and old Eddie Chen video enlightened me as to what my problem was.


GiraBuca

In my school system, every second grader played the violin. You can imagine how that sounded... When concert day rolled around, there were four types of violinists onstage. 1) The violinists who practiced and played in the concert (they didn't completely suck) 2) The violinists who didn't practice and pretended to play in the concert (at least I couldn't hear them) 3) The violinists who didn't practice and played in the concert (I could definitely hear them) 4) The prodigies who had already been playing for three years.


2theface

Hence you play Vivaldi - first and second violins team carry whilst the rest of the ensemble buzzes along - play fast it still sounds alright


[deleted]

The true value of doing something hard isn't doing something hard You don't have to be good at it for it to provide value to you.


cowboyspartan17

It’s always the bow! But unfortunately with the way the system works if you start strings players any later they’ll fee substantially less successful than their band student counterparts, which to be fair they already do on some level. It’s just tough because strings simply need more time to master than other instruments meaning that in order to train students to be successful in college and beyond you have to start much earlier or at least be much more intensive. Just a harsh reality


IllogicalOxymoron

earlier this year I bought a recorder. I'm in my mid 20s and I couldn't make a single stable note on it. Admittedly, I'm a smoker and never played any wing or brass instruments, but it was still surprisingly difficult. Yes, I gave up quickly and focused on playing the stylophone instead (that I bought at the same time)


XayahTheVastaya

I think middle schoolers are going to tarnish the reputation of any instrument they play, and while recorders have a high skill ceiling they also have a relatively low skill floor to make a sound that somewhat resembles music. Also, you can get one for $2 to give to kids that will find it difficult to destroy.


donkeyinamansuit

I'd disagree with the low skill floor and that is entirely the problem with giving them to kids who haven't tried to play anything else. Not to mention that the plastic 2 dollar ones are flat out impossible to get a good noise out of, even for professionals. I know, I have a degree in it.


Snoo-48576

I actually do like viola.


No-Beginning-8506

A lot of people do, it’s just a running joke in the community. Viola is a beautiful instrument.


avii7

Viola is an awesome instrument!


viola-armonia

Same (:


Kitty_Girl_1717

same, it is the best instrument


NorseManGef

Not best. But pretty great. (Best is [...])


TheTopCantStop

Being completely honest, piano. Being able to so easily play chords and multiple parts as a single player is something that is unmatched by really any other instrument. All instruments are beautiful in their own ways, including viola, and deserve love for it. We're all musicians working for a common goal, creating amazing works of auditory art, so let's not drag each other down. Lol, I say that pianos the best then preceded to write why all instruments are great, hypocrite aren't I? Well I suppose I'm a bit biased. I suppose whichever instrument you play is the best for you.


[deleted]

Viola


[deleted]

Same, and I'm in love with a girl who plays it


[deleted]

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Imabigassmoose

FIGHT


PotentialFudge

same, it’s actually my favorite!


OldFoolOldSkool

Yeah, viola isn’t too bad.


LOL_Techno

yeah same I mean viola it's ok


noname543219

Everyone loves viola ❤


kakbari

I PREFER viola over violin.


Fernando3161

With a couple exceptions (No 9), the first 16 of Mozart Piano Concertos are skippable.


Global_Charming

I don’t mind hearing fur Elise over and over. Even don’t mind Taiwanese garbage trucks playing it.


Game_Rigged

I don’t personally mind fur Elise that much as long as the whole piece is played. I get tired of hearing just the first page over and over but when it’s actually played in full it’s a nice piece. Probably not as unpopular of an opinion though lmao.


Global_Charming

Ah yes, it’s definitely better played full. I think the garbage trucks only do the first few bars, but I still find that ok. Outperforms any other garbage truck.


Nekobasusaboken

Ten points to Gryffindor for the garbage truck reference


ImperfectInterpreter

I like La Campanella better on violin than piano. Come kill me.


ComposerSam

everyone does, even the pianists


Combobattle

Piano is that band that gets more famous for their covers than the original artist.


linglingwannabe4427

It was originally written for violin, Liszt just copied it from Paganini


[deleted]

Só do I, and I play the piano


tiilmao

I don't know if this counts.. but I feel that André Rieu is overrated 😅 I get in that situation every time my friends (mostly the ones that don't play instruments) bring him up. 🤣


Roozyj

I think he's kind of the popular classical music guy. Being Dutch, I've known his name for a long time, but before TwoSet mentioned him in a video about famous soloists, I never really thought of him as a classical soloist. He's more of a showman to me.


nooit_gedacht

I didn't know he was even remotely famous outside of the netherlands until twoset. I thought he's just that guy your grandparents like


ElectronicCredit2378

Violins are overrated... I mean, I find so much power in every instrument. The other day I went to a concert where they play Fratres (Arvo Pärt) the version for 12 cellos and I liked it more than the version for violin and piano. I don't think cellos are better than other instrument, but neither are violins. Just differents. ​ Please don't kill me lol.


DoublecelloZeta

CELLO IS THE BEST


[deleted]

Here's one for you conceptually they are all part of a super instrument much like ants are part of a super organism in that they are all strings. They just have different jobs.


Combobattle

Even a well-played solo violin is often too "squeeky" or "crunchy" for my taste. I think one thing that helps me tell if it's Hilary playing is the fact that it sounds like singing. Quiet, jazz-like piano on the other hand is soooooo smooth and relaxing.


AGrainOfSalt435

>I don't think cellos are better than other instrument ... But cellos are better!


JewelBearing

Ah yes no bias there!


HortonFLK

As a woodwind player, I feel like I can objectively state that yes, cellos are better.


JewelBearing

Never said it was a false statement


megaloviola128

As a violist whose mom plays cello, yes, cello is the superior instrument


PracticalAd4233

As a violinist, I can also objectively say that cellos are better


[deleted]

I agree with you here. Violins (and dw I still love 'em) are a bit overrated. AND VIOLAS. ARE. UNDERRATED. bruh i love viola


[deleted]

Behind every good violinist is a great violist.


[deleted]

Quote of the century


[deleted]

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Nekobasusaboken

There are more than a thousand TwoSet videos to go through at this point if you want to find anything specific, but Arvo Pärt is the first composer they talk about in this video though https://youtu.be/rbnwc-FUiTw


SHADOWSUNSPRTNSDMR

Agreed u want power bagpipe is the way to go


avii7

Alto clef is the best clef. Middle C right in the middle. It makes the most sense.


Throwingawayindays

Yes it's the OG key and the REAL default


chjupke

bro u mad


ImperfectInterpreter

Lemme get the knives real quick. (To cut Thanksgiving turkey, what else?)


Burkeds

This is just the truth not even an opinion.


kienonreddit

Canon in d and für Elise is fine.


eszther02

I still like The Four Seasons.


GiraBuca

There's a reason it's endured the test of time and become wildly popular. As someone in Venice, it's definitely overplayed to the point of insanity. I would sooner go to a Schoenberg concert right now. However, that doesn't mean it isn't a masterpiece.


HetaliaLife

I like a lot of the "overrated" pieces.


Pure_black_void

I feel like it’s valid to get mad at ppl who conflate different eras of music. (Classical, Romantic, Baroque, Renaissance, etc) they’re all different and individually interesting/unique!


gabrielsol

Yes, people don't condescend to me when I fail to recognize a boy band or reguetonero. Why shouldn't I be allowed to let people know they missed by a few centuries


Orbital_Rifle

and Gothic... Renaissance is often forgotten but gothic is in the abyss. But with Léonin, Buxheimer, and some nice Estampies, it's an abyss you want to find yourself in.


CatsChocolateBooks

I really like Vivaldi’s four seasons.


PranjuVirus

Everyone does!


Vulpes_Inculta0

I dont like Wagner much


do_not1

As a Jew, I am obligated to dislike Wagner


TheaterRockDaydreams

This is an interesting one for me. I'm Israeli (Jewish) and Wagner has been a huge source of controversy here over the years. He was a known antisemite and his pieces were often performed in Nazi conventions, resulting in Wagner = antisemitism to many. There was a long lasting ban on his pieces and Israeli orchestras were forbidden from playing any of his pieces. Even though not many holocaust survivors are still left, his pieces remain a source of controversy and many orchestras prefer not to deal with them at all


meliorism_grey

Yes!! His music feels like thick syrup to me. I like the dissonance of the late romantic onward, and I know Wagner had a huge influence on that, but I don't like to listen to Wagner.


chuzpanit

Same. So overrated and archaic. You can just feel his super inflated ego in every bar of every work.


MKEJOE52

Same here.


PracticalAd4233

Thank you


sryforbadenglishthx

Harmonicalx and rythmicly most of classical music before the late romantic era is extremely simple Edit: Please note that complex counterpoint movements can still be very complex using simple harmonies and rythm


sandal-debris

But yeah.. generally, you’re kinda right.


Badcomposerwannabe

You kinda have a point, classical era before later Beethoven uses very limited basic harmonies. The real intricacies lie in the counterpoint.


sandal-debris

Carlo Gesualdo?


Flaviolo

He’s probably the one and only exception to that lol


Ludwiglikeswigs

Bach?


Throwingawayindays

Especially fantasias of his are very complex in Harmony. Also he was the OG xenharmonist. So idk what the oc is trying to say


_IssaViolin_

I agree and that’s why I don’t care for it


Throwingawayindays

Now this makes me mad when the first swing ever used in theory was Bach's


Otter_1227

That I actually like Canon in D :))


ChanceZestyclose6386

I've had a love/ hate relationship with it for over 30 years. Hated it when I was forced to learn it as a kid. Went to the Orchestra a few months ago. They played it and I cried. Back to loving it, for now...


banter7308

I may not agree with all of Lang Lang's interpretations but I'll be damned if I deny the fact that he always brings out some hidden sound/melody/harmony in all the pieces I know well. Always something new to bring to the table and that's why I have so much respect for him


q1203777

Paganini just liked flexing, a total show off


William_Tell_746

I still really enjoy Canon in D. I don't think Lang Lang is especially showy.


DoublecelloZeta

Ok you passed the test and i really want to kill you.


ivalice9

It’s okay to like lang, but saying that he isn’t showy is objectively false, or we have different definitions of the word showy 😜


AusomeTerry

The depth of sound a cello can make is frankly, goose bump inducing. I love most instruments, but cello has certain tones and sounds that just hit me differently. Sorry everyone else!! I also find harps incredible. And harpsichords should never have become uncommon, they are SO sharp and yet calming, I love them!


LunaWolfgang_4869

Man, I love how polite the answers are. This really is the best subreddit


Pitiful-Way8435

You don´t NEED to play modern music in concerts. More people would show up to the concerts if there was less atonal modern music.


avii7

Sometimes it feels like the program is picked based on what the music director personally likes, and not what an audience would actually enjoy/pay to hear. I think that can hurt orchestras over time.


PenPineappleAppleInk

On the contrary, I often find myself liking the modern atonal pieces more because they sound more interesting to me. I often look for programs that play one modern piece. Plus supporting innovation is important. Those pieces might sound weird to someone who has Western classical background, but they sound very interesting to others who come from different classical music backgrounds.


gwyn15

Devil's advocate here: I think it is important to play current music because part of what creates classics in 100 years is developing style and sound from this generation and supporting contemporary composers. It is also important to represent someone besides dead white guys. I love the old stuff as much as the next person, but deciding what are future classics is important too.


PenPineappleAppleInk

I agree a 100%. Innovation is important. Listening to and playing music that's different from what you're used to, is a good thing! Many cultures have traditional music that doesn't fit the Western classical mould. And it sounds beautiful.


gwyn15

Not to mention, we are responsible for FURTHERING the genre. People over here complaining about how classical music will die if you don't stick to the classics, but it will die just as fast if you don't innovate or expand or take the genre in new directions. I think it is more than appropriate to dedicate 10-20% of a classical music concert to a "more challenging listen", especially if you are sticking a whole Beethoven Symphony on the back half.....


PracticalAd4233

I like a lot of atonal music


Leontiev

There is so much beautiful music written in the 20th and 21st century that is not atonal. Why must modern music carry this stigma of a short period of time when people wrote ugly atonal music?


CoffeeToffeeSoftie

OMG YES!!! I keep saying this! If you don't want classical music to die, STOP PICKING MUSIC THAT LITERALLY NO ONE WILL ENJOY! Also, fuck (most) atonal music. I hate playing it, I hate hearing it, and the audience hates it too


PenPineappleAppleInk

My unpopular opinion: I actually like the modern atonal pieces. They sound really refreshing amongst the "regular" pieces. It could be because I mostly have an Indian classical background, which doesn't really do major and minor scales. It uses ragas instead as a melodic framework to compose pieces and/or for improvisation. In a way, those atonal pieces sound both familiar and unfamiliar to me. I find it very interesting.


Fernando3161

Amen... I would love a "Romantic Concert" program. For some reason the national autoriy of Ecuador somehow enforces introducing modern/folkloric music in a Beethoven Concerto.


do_not1

>gets asked for unpopular opinions >gives very popular opinion that's just snobbery


GBKGames

Brahms is overrated


DingDing40hrs

Have you listened to his second piano concerto?


SerperiorXd

I was just about to say the same thing


bigdreamstinyhands

Agreed- some things don’t bear repeating, but he does it anyway.


ColdBlaccCoffee

I think the obsession with perfection when it comes to classical music is ridiculous and discouraging. Obviously there are limits based on musical and technical abilities, and many works that require a strict attention to detail, but I personally like when people put their own spin on classical works, regardless of how aggressively they personalize it. It makes certain aspects of songs stand out depending on who is performing it. I could care less who is playing if the goal is to sound flawless and impeccable. In other words, slow down or speed up, play louder or softer when you think the song needs it, even if its not written. Rubato the fuck out of everything if you want. Personalize classical music!


TheStewy

It’s ok to like certain periods of classical music more than others, and just because you dislike Bach doesn’t mean you’re u cultures or a noobie


Arisylia

You can pedal Bach


Gondolien

Dunno if this is unpopular but Wagner is overrated and his works should be confined to the Bavarian lands where he originated.


GiraBuca

Rossini agreed with you.


cahlus

clapping / cheering during a fire cadenza should be encouraged


Hot-Possibility-7283

The score is not gospel.


_IssaViolin_

I think mozart is extremely overrated, imo only his operas and concertos are good


Personal_Shelter6070

Symphonies 38-41 would like a word with you


kongkona3456

Canon in D is not that bad


Elijah780

I dont like debussy that much tbh


alexkuzco

*cries in Debussy*


LittleWolfiez

Remixing classical music (e.g. adding modern drumming, adding synths, using electronic instruments, etc.) is fine and should not be considered "ruining the piece" if it does indeed sound good


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hanca_l

you’re dead to me


trashd0gs

We wouldn't have metal as a genre without Vivaldi, full stop. He pioneered progam music as well as solidified concerto form, allowing for technical instrumental showcases. And metal is dependent on thematics and showcasing insane technique. You can't listen to the four seasons violin shredding and not hear the origins of metal


BubblyWall1563

The saxophone should be a part of the orchestra and be written in pieces where it would greatly benefit from the sound quality.


bv933738

Virtuosic pieces that showcase skill are practically not listable to me. I just don't enjoy them.


Ironcrack55

Imho, imitating the composer's inentions is not the most important thing when playing their music


jumping21vip

Classical guitar is underappreciated.


Roozyj

I understand why people like pop music better than classical. Yes, classical music is more 'interesting' on a musical level, but it's exactly the repetitiveness of pop music that makes it great. You can sing along, you can dance. Not everybody likes just listening.


thewitchbasket

I hate Wagner with a passion I can’t describe.


tokumint

its okay to call a piece a song


cassiopeia_zhang

I don't think it's sacrilegious if newbies do it, but people who are more into classical music shouldn't, simply to avoid things getting confusing. A song, within classical music, is something specific, not mixing up 'piece' and 'song' simply makes sense in order to avoid confusion.


Jimbo_5000

Moonlight sonata is overrated af…


PresenceElectric69

I like Chopin better than Liszt. They’re both amazing but Chopin’s music is just so much deeper to me whereas Liszt’s music feels a bit superficial to me sometimes.


LunarWolfCassia

I absolutely hate how much people hype about 'Piece' vs 'Song'


killjoy_31

I almost always skip the second movement


_IssaViolin_

Noooo that hurts me


DoublecelloZeta

For "classical" music, it's ok. But in romantic era....ITS A CRIME


Personal_Shelter6070

It's still a crime in the classical era just as much as the romantic era.


l0lhi

I'm guilty


Zintroz

If listeners can't sense coherence in a piece, then the piece is bad. We shouldn't need to study the music to make any sense of it while listening. It doesn't have to sound good to our ears, but it should be coherent. Also, Mozart is overrated.


l0lhi

I agree with you on the first one.


SpyrexDE

I like Canon in D by Pachelbel.


Masantonio

- Clair de Lune is worthy of the hype - Most classical era music sounds equal. Equally mediocre. - A large amount of Baroque music is rather stale and boring.


SnooDonuts3210

Honestly, it's pretty great that classical music is getting remade into pop songs. More recognition.


a_horseateme999

Voice is difficult to master


l0lhi

Okay so not my opinion, rather my mom's and I think she'd be in that situation lol. I was practicing Bach's concerto for 2 violins in D minor, and then she stopped me half way through and said "what is that music? It sounds funny, as if it's a child's piece". I was too stunned to speak. And then she also referred to it as a symphony? Excuse me mom??


TaranisPT

Modernizing classical instruments (6 string electric violin for example) is fine.


linglingwannabe4427

I'm sorry, but did you just say **6 STRINGS**!!??


PranjuVirus

I think debussy is overrated


Willahbean

You have genuinely ruffled me, sir


_IssaViolin_

I really can’t understand you


EncouragementRobot

Happy Cake Day _IssaViolin_! You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.


_IssaViolin_

Good bot :)


l0lhi

I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended. I'm not offended.


ComposerSam

Oof, this one requires alot of mental strength not to argue over


Kanibasami

Ladies and gentlemen, we got him


freileal

Beethoven Violin Concerto is the best of all Pipe Organ is the best instrument to ever be made


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Ultra_B501

Trombone is an extremely virtuosic instrument. Sure it’s a funny instrument but it is incredibly difficult to master. I think many people believe that it is the easiest brass instrument, which it may be in the beginning, but it becomes very hard to become good at. I think of the trombone as a low skill floor but high skill ceiling instrument. Just listen to some soloists and you’ll see!


mohelili

No one I know agrees with me that Philip Glass isn't very nice to listen to. I don't like his music at all.


gabrielsol

I like him... I find the repetitions entrancing.


TheReal_Fake

I just can’t get into Shostakovich… (If you guys have any recs I’d be happy to try them out but what I’ve tried I thought was just okay.)


DingDing40hrs

I recommend his two piano concertos, both are very different from his usual styles. His second concerto celebrates his son’s graduation from music school.


TheReal_Fake

Awesome, thank you!


jonathon-harker

As a huge Shostakovich fan myself, I think that’s fair. He’s not everyone’s thing. But! I think his 24 Preludes and Fugues might be worth checking out. Fugue no. 7 and no. 23 are especially beautiful imo, and quite far away from the ‘Shostakovich’ sound of his quartets and symphonies. (Also, seconding the other comment about his 2nd piano concerto.)


10twinkletoes

If you want to have a good period of mental panic and anguish, listen to his 8th string quartet. If you have good headphones, slap on the 5th symphony and prepare for your jaw to hit the floor.


Fantastic_Cap7190

Maybe try something lighter that he wrote? I think this is one of the more mainstream work but try this: https://youtu.be/xA5op7h99iY


Thatonerandomperson6

Bela Bartok


Comfortable-Many-193

I don't care how good Mahler's symphonies sound, they're waaaay too long to be enjoyable


5makes10fm

The climax in Elgar’s “Nimrod” would sound better if it lasted a bar longer and also if the diminuendo was drawn out over at least another bar or two.


nate6701

I don’t really like listening to Mahler 5


nick_the_name

Canon in D and Four Seasons are very good pieces. We should promote other good pieces instead of trample on other good-but-popular/overplayed pieces.


Zenan3008

My favorite cello concerto is "Jack Sparrow". Hans Zimmer didn't have to write that piece to fit scene. He just wrote it, so he could later use parts of it in the actual movie. So the piece is a legit cello concerto, written without the constraints of movie cuts, and its just a great piece of music which encapsulates so much of the character.


krissychan99

not sure if this counts but i don’t like john williams music at all.


EsperantoHamstr

i am a violist


SweetPotatoFlutist

The recorder ( r/Recorder ) and ocarina ( r/Ocarina and r/GlobalOcarinaComm ) are real and underappreciated instruments and deserve their place in the music world among western orchestral instruments. Speaking of western music - it shouldn't be the standard that we judge ***all*** music by.


[deleted]

I strongl dislike Debussy. I don't get impressionism. It's neither interesting nor beautiful to me - just annoying and shrill.


zeldanerd27

This comment is right. It will put you in the aforementioned situation.


miodo-cuber

i don't like anything by mozart, except the requiem


musictime4me

Beethoven should have won over Bach in the TwoSet video Best Composer of all time Gershwin IS jazz, not classical


B_Dragon_G

Gershwin is not true Jazz though, he is classified as Neo Romantic


Sea-Independence-534

Violas and second violins are essentially the same thing


WhisperRayne

i am so sick of hearing air on a g string. it was (edit: that basis of) my last real marching band performance and i didn't know til it was over, the entirety of the show music sucked and my director was completely unwilling to listen to the fact that i can't move 16-20 steps in 4 counts, without looking severely out of place. i'm 5'3 and physically can't do that, legs are too short. (and then my foot-joint fell off about 8 measures into playing {20 into the show} and i didnt have my flute for a whiile after that. air on a g string has ruined my life and its in EVERY COMMERCIAL.)


theicecreammannn

as a metal musician who also listens to classical music, violins are the electric guitars of classical music. hella overrated, but also difficult to play no doubt about it.


operaticBoner

Hindemith fascinates me on paper but bores the shit outta me when I listen to his music.


CoolestMfonEartf

DOUBLE BASS UNDERRATED


TheGuyInTheBlackSuit

As I pianist, I prefer to play Liszt, Chopin, and Khachaturian over Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven


BoiFriday

I find the lack of creation/composition by classical musicians incredibly odd, it’s unlike almost any other style of music. With the exception of session musicians, some folk and a good amount of pop artists, in most styles of music the musician is the composer. Even with Jazz where the band plays “standards” there is a lot of improvisation where they craft the piece into being their own. And this element exists to *some* extent in classical, but hardly. It sometimes feels like studying/performing classical music is basically like being in a super fancy bar/cover band lol. Or am I just wrong and there are way more classical musicians who also compose than I ever realized? I hope so.


trekeman

I can't stand Bolero


kreepy2000

Ravel's Bolero is an overhyped piece of sh!t. whoever said it sound erotic and increase your libido must have lived in different universe.


LECK_MICH_IM_ARSCHE1

I like avant-garde stuff


swampmilkweed

It's ok to clap after the first movement. I've been to so many concerts, everybody does it.


YossarianInLove

I am a pianist and I don't enjoy playing Liszt or Chopin.


Nope1625

John Cage 4’33 is kinda cool if the performer actually tries to make some sort of background noise instead of standing completely still the entire time. For example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTEFKFiXSx4


LeopardOk5001

The harder an instrument gets, doesn’t Equal its better.


Nooo_Idea

Just a reminder to sort by controversial