Ever since I got into this hobby, most reviews of equipment in Stereophile and elsewhere is done using 95% Classical music. Many demos and shows use classical or female singers. In reading all the reviews over the last 20 years, I could never get a sense of how good something is/was because almost no reviewer listened to the same music I do.
How does the Bass sound on Marcus Miller's M2?
How clean is the guitar shredding on any disk by Morglbl?
Anyway, just curious as to how many people listen to rock, jazz, fusion on their big systems and how many now listen to only or mostly classical music.
I have never been big on classical tunes that are all over the place and without a melody or something that flows nicely. I have a few disks but always looking for something to float my boat. I do have a cool disk of the Russian Symphony - Afred Shnittke.
Good question. It certainly seems that way. I have a few classical CD's, SACD's, etc. - but I just can't get into it. People talk about how classical music invokes such strong emotion. Well, not for this guy. I have a Yo Yo Ma solo LP that's good, but again, even it doesn't get a lot of play. I have several Mozart, Bach, Beethoven, etc. CD's. I enjoy them maybe once or twice a year - but I have to be in the mood - and that's rare. I'm a vocal guy for the most part, love a great singer/song writer. That's my hot button - if you wrote it, I want to hear you sing it. I have a huge respect for singer/song writers. James Taylor is one of the best talents on both accounts IMO. Dylan's song writing is unparalleled IMO.
I love Jazz too. I used to be into a lot more classic rock, but most of it sounds like sh!t on high end gear - so I prefer it in the car only now.
My daughter takes piano lessons, and the piano school insists on the driest, most boring classical music. I just don't think you can energize most kids with classical music, and dry depressing sonata's at that. I studied music in school and didn't become energized myself until my music teacher plopped a pile of Jazz records on my lap, with some of the best saxophonists ever (Parker, Coltrane, Sanborn, etc.) I went home, spun the albums and was hooked. I practiced and practiced (Alto, Tenor, Soprano Sax) for years - 4-6 hours a day - I wanted to be good, no, I wanted to be great. I wanted to sound like those guys, with my own spin. In 1988, I worked my way through the regionals, provincials and nationals to win Senior Musician of the Year. I still play a little, but the serious chops are gone.
My point is, that my daughter is "air playing" the piano and really into the music when Diana Krall is on, or Oscar Peterson or even Elton John. Put on a Beethoven Piano Sonata and she runs from the room! I think these music schools just don't get it. Classical music in small doses is fine, maybe to help with some fundamentals (sort of like eating your broccoli). But many of them only teach classical piano - because, well, that's what they've always done (what's the definition of insanity?) My wife won't let me go to my daughters piano school anymore, apparently I argue too much with the uppity, very European, music teachers. Give the kids a little pop music, a little jazz, etc. and just watch how much they want to practice. But...what do I know...?
What was the question again? Oh yeah...not really a fan of classical.
Mike