"Beautiful" abuse

[kernelbogey]

[...] if only they would shut up about football then I could grab a bit for a piece) NOT entirely serious

"I hope the Beethoven[?] did not interfere with your enjoyment of the pips' - Tom Crowe, of blessed memory

[Flay]

" Beethoven[?]

Mendelssohn (Hebrides Overture)

[kernelbogey]

Ta.

[mercia]

of course I don't know what sort of music ff's neighbour was listening to whilst walking down the street, but would it be blasphemous to suggest that some 'types' of music require more concentration than others to fully appreciate ? or should I give as much rapt attention to ABBA's greatest hits as Verklaerte Nacht lest I be accused of debasing the former ?

[french frank]

of course I don't know what sort of music ff's neighbour was listening to whilst walking down the street, but would it be blasphemous ... ?

Of course it would, wash your mouth out with soap and water :-).

I don't know what he was listening to either, but he was merely produced as Witness A to represent a generation (c. 32, I should think) which, rings on fingers and bells on toes, must have music wherever it goes.

[ahinton]

of course I don't know what sort of music ff's neighbour was listening to whilst walking down the street, but would it be blasphemous to suggest that some 'types' of music require more concentration than others to fully appreciate ? or should I give as much rapt attention to ABBA's greatest hits as Verklaerte Nacht lest I be accused of debasing the former ?

Of course some music requires greater concentration on the part of listeners than other music does, but I don't think that this is the issue here, which seems to me instead to be that of an almost obsessive need to cover speech and visuals with music of one kind or another in broadcasts when it doesn't materially contribute to what's being broadcast and might well detract therefrom.

[Flay]

a generation (c. 32, I should think) which, rings on fingers and bells on toes, must have music wherever it goes.

Well I like to listen to something when walking the dog (only the one now )! This morning I listened to a recording of Discovering Music about Mahler's Resurrection Symphony, a work I don't know. When I got home I duly played it (Bernstein LSO).

I agree about background noise/music. I especially object to its presence when trying to listen to travel news when in the car and I cannot hear what is being said because of the overpowering din in the background!

[mercia]

I don't know what he was listening to either, but he was merely produced as Witness A to represent a generation (c. 32, I should think) which, rings on fingers and bells on toes, must have music wherever it goes.

I see, I obviously completely missed your point (which I thought was that listening to music requires our 100% attention and shouldn't be an accompaniment to other activities (even if you can still give it your 99% attention whilst performing those activities))

[french frank]

I see, I obviously completely missed your point (which I thought was that listening to music requires our 100% attention and shouldn't be an accompaniment to other activities (even if you can still give it your 99% attention whilst performing those activities))

Yes, that wasn't really my point there - though I do think some music, for example a late Beethoven string quartet, repays 100% attention ...

I supposed it started off with 'in-car entertainment', so what more logical than Music While You Walk, as well as Music While You're At Work, music when you go to sleep and wake up? Music has never been so constantly on tap and constantly 'consumed'.

[Alain Maréchal]

I have no objection to a statement such as: "Well, I'm sure you heard the audience roar of approval for what, in my opinion, was indeed a wonderful performance by X."

Its only a few months since I heard a presenter on France Musique, relaying a BBC concert, and thinking his microphone was off, react to such a remark by the BBC announcer with "elle est devenue critique?".

[french frank]

Its only a few months since I heard a presenter on France Musique, relaying a BBC concert, and thinking his microphone was off, react to such a remark by the BBC announcer with "elle est devenue critique?".

Interesting but I think the difference is (or it's what I intended with my invented example!) that the opinion is supported by evidence if the listeners can hear the enthusiastic roar of the concert audience.

[Alain Maréchal]

Interesting but I think the difference is (or it's what I intended with my invented example!) that the opinion is supported by evidence if the listeners can hear the enthusiastic roar of the concert audience.

That assumes a critical ability on the part of the audence, or that those with sufficient critical ability are given to roaring.