Seeing Music Performed

[gradus]

Having recently attended a performance of the Mendelssohn Octet it occurred to me that there are pieces where seeing the musicians perform adds tremendously to the excitement or intensity of the musical experience, not all music admittedly but seeing the players in the last movement of the Mendelssohn does it for me and were I trying to interest someone in attending classical music performances I'd probably choose a piece where I felt they might experience the same. Do others have pieces where seeing the performance adds to musical pleasure?

[Richard Barrett]

Yes, every piece I've ever heard!

[ahinton]

Yes, every piece I've ever heard!

Same here.

[ardcarp]

Having recently attended a performance of the Mendelssohn Octet it occurred to me that there are pieces where seeing the musicians perform adds tremendously to the excitement or intensity of the musical experience, not all music admittedly but seeing the players in the last movement of the Mendelssohn does it for me and were I trying to interest someone in attending classical music performances I'd probably choose a piece where I felt they might experience the same. Do others have pieces where seeing the performance adds to musical pleasure?

I remember Mendelssohn's Octet assembling in our drawing room (my Dad and 7 others) when I was a small lad and being blown away by it...as much for the geography of the piece as anything else. I would add Brandenberg 3 to the list of 'spatial' string pieces. I agree with RB that almost everything benefits from being seen. Youngsters in particular are invariably blown away by their first close encounter with a symphony orchestra, even if they have not yet become tuned in to classical music

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Same here.

And here.

[kea]

Almost always detracts from it for me, but I think I'm well-established as a weirdo round here already so that should come as no surprise :P

[verismissimo]

... I think I'm well-established as a weirdo round here already...

Taken a look around recently, kea?

[Padraig]

I don't think every piece does it for me, though that was my first reaction. On reflection I think small is best. I can better feel part of the performance if it is a singer and a piano, or a string quartet, rather than a full orchestra. That's probably because I prefer chamber music anyway, whether it's Classical or Jazz. Folk music doesn't usually present a choice in this respect.

[ahinton]

And here.

As a matter of fact, a record producer and record company owner of my acquaintance once told me that, when asked for purchase recommendations for × number of dollars (I can't now remember the exact amount) advised the enquirer to blow the lot on concert tickets.

Apart from any other considerations, it was not until the days of Mr Edison et al (i.e. very recently indeed in the greater scheme of things as exemplified in the title of Jacques Chailley's Forty Thousand Years of Music) that it even became possible to listen to any music without also "seeing" its performance (unless one was playing it oneself alone)!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Taken a look around recently, kea?

- you're among your own people, kea!

[pastoralguy]

I went yo hear the RSNO play Stravinsky's 'Symphony in 3 Movements ' on Friday night. It was very interesting watching the pianist, who was sitting centre, play since the visuals helped me appreciate the piano part more than I had noticed on recordings.

[oddoneout]

Some singers don't improve the experience, due to facial contortions, but otherwise watching the performers is very much part of the enjoyment. If it proves too distracting there's always the option not to look.

[MrGongGong]

Yes, every piece I've ever heard!

So you don't go for acousmatic music then?
I've heard some wonderful music in almost total darkness

[Tapiola]

I've heard some wonderful music in almost total darkness

Moi aussi.

And to misquote Thomas Beecham, I have given some of my best performances in almost total darkness...

[Richard Barrett]

So you don't go for acousmatic music then?
I've heard some wonderful music in almost total darkness

I include that in "seeing music performed" as opposed to listening to it at home.