Music Banter - Why is classical advertised as relaxing?

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- - Why is classical advertised as relaxing? (https://www.musicbanter.com/classical/84938-why-classical-advertised-relaxing.html)

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopinisawesome (Post 1664816)

I'm sorry, I really have no idea what you mean. :confused:

See signature....

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy (Post 1664817)

Those are people selling a product, not supporters or fans.
They sell this product as a kind of functional music. They do this because a lot of classical music works really, really well that way.
It just does, no matter how it's advertised.

To see beyond this deceptively bland, relaxing facade, people would have to pay close attention to the details of the music. Much closer than with most pop/rock etc., since those usually have a simpler, immediately catchier compositional structure and therefore require less attention to appreciate.
Wait, didn't someone already say all that somewhere in this thread?

Well. That's kind of a cynical, depressing way to look at it. It doesn't exactly make the future of classical music look very bright. But I suppose it's true, sort of.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopinisawesome (Post 1664830)

Well. That's kind of a cynical, depressing way to look at it. It doesn't exactly make the future of classical music look very bright. But I suppose it's true, sort of.

I'm pretty sure there was no point in history where classical music was the predominant and most popular form.
It still prevailed unfazed, having a steady stream of dedicated composers, performers and fans.
Nothing depressing or cynical here, unless you really try to bend it that way.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy (Post 1664834)

Well... not really. It wasn't that long ago when other musical genres started to take hold. Before then, classical was the big thing. I'm pretty sure classical music spans more centuries than all other musical genres combined. Of course, by classical, I am referring to all periods (baroque, classical, romantic, etc.) not just the classical period. I wouldn't say that classical "doomsday prophets" who predict the death of classical are right, but there has been a decline in popularity in the last century or so.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chopinisawesome (Post 1664898)

Even in its heyday it was the music of the upper classes. A pretty thin slice of a population which mostly still prefered simpler, catchier folk music.
And even those upper classes probably listened to it more because it was hip and trendy, or as functional music for socializing (crowds at concerts back then were notoriously chatty and rowdy), relaxing and dancing. And you, as we know, wouldn't approve of that.
I'm not saying there aren't fluctuations in popularity, but the music is going nowhere. So sit back in a comfy chair, put on some relaxing Chopin and stop worrying about ridiculous stuff.

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy (Post 1664903)

So sit back in a comfy chair, put on some relaxing Chopin and stop worrying about ridiculous stuff.

I suppose it's not that big of a deal, and not worth arguing or getting mad about.

To be honest, putting a thought process into listening to classical music only makes the music a little worse for me. I enjoy symphony 1 by Beethoven just by listening to it, and not trying to pay too much attention to it. A lot of music requires more listening and focus. Classical never really required much focus for me. I just listen, and enjoy no matter what I'm doing.

I find some classical very relaxing. Or maybe I should say some classical music relaxes me. I bought an Einaudi Ludovico album a few weeks ago and when I play it, my thoughts slip away and I feel very relaxed. And the more realxed I feel the more I'm able to focus on and appreciate it. I feel similarly listening to goa trance music too. I think it's the lack of lyrics. Lyrics tend to distract me and set my mind a-thinking and a-feeling.

But that's just me.

I think if they found that putting blue monkeys holding string cheese while playing the accordion sold product, you'd see them (the monkeys) all over the cover art.

The thing I immediately think of, though, is how that sounds to the artist/composer - "I like your music because it puts me to sleep."