Brahms - fit for children?

[Tapiola]

explains a bit !Lucky it wasn't ..well...some of the others... (Shosty needs careful selection for the young I suspect !!)
Mind you lucky its not Brahms 2. STILL struggling with that.

14 ? it was more Blondie than Blomstedt for me at that age.

But seriously, that is the point.Kids find that stuff exciting, I'm certain. Listen to the other stuff they choose...metal etc....

When I was 14, I think I was starting to get into Pink Floyd, orchestral Liszt and Ravel. My son is at that happy age where he will give any music a go (though I would draw the line at exposing him to C&W, boybands, Michael Nyman...)

[Tapiola]

Music concerts AND Mars Bars - wish you'd been my dad, Taps

Haha. He also knows (and enjoys) the other type of Mars Bar (the one in 5/4).

[Nick Armstrong]

explains a bit !Lucky it wasn't ..well...some of the others... (Shosty needs careful selection for the young I suspect !!)

14 ? it was more Blondie than Blomstedt for me at that age

Shosty 15 was perfect for me - the first movement blew my mind.

I got into Genesis "Wind & Wuthering" the same week

But from then on it was definitely Ormandy rather than O....errr..... QuattrO? for me...

[teamsaint]

When I was 14, I think I was starting to get into Pink Floyd, orchestral Liszt and Ravel. My son is at that happy age where he will give any music a go (though I would draw the line at exposing him to C&W, boybands, Michael Nyman...)

A man who doesn't introduce his kids to Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline has failed in his duties, and should have child benefit withdrawn, IMO. Although, in general, I take your point .

[amateur51]

Haha. He also knows (and enjoys) the other type of Mars Bar (the one in 5/4).

Great stuff Taps

The only musical encouragement I received from my dear old dad was when he happened upon my humming (and tooting and braying!) Ravel's Bolero when I was about six. So convinced was he of my nascent genius that he insisted that I should put on a display for my dear old mum - who was not overly impressed, but then her dad was a hymn-writer

[gurnemanz]

About 30 years ago when our daughter was 2, the BBC showed the Ring Cycle on the telly (those were the days). She was riveted by Rheingold, I remember (golden apples, giants a rainbow bridge etc). I'd recently been reading Robert Donington's Jungian "Wagner's Ring and its Symbols" and at the time, pseud that I no doubt was, I convinced myself that she was somehow "getting" it at the deep unconscious level of psychological archetypes.

[teamsaint]

Shosty 15 was perfect for me - the first movement blew my mind.

I got into Genesis "Wind & Wuthering" the same week

But from then on it was definitely Ormandy rather than O....errr..... QuattrO? for me...

Oldfield? Orbison?

[Tapiola]

A man who doesn't introduce his kids to Johnny Cash ... has failed in his duties

Oh how remiss of me teamsaint. I'd forgotten about the Man in Black!! Essential for any child's musical education. My dad was a big fan and saw him live in the late 70s. Johnny announced at the start of the gig that he did not want anyone to smoke in the hall - in those days a very rare request!

[Tapiola]

About 30 years ago when our daughter was 2, the BBC showed the Ring Cycle on the telly (those were the days). She was riveted by Rheingold, I remember (golden apples, giants a rainbow bridge etc). I'd recently been reading Robert Donington's Jungian "Wagner's Ring and its Symbols" and at the time, pseud that I no doubt was, I convinced myself that she was somehow "getting" it at the deep unconscious level of psychological archetypes.

Gosh gurnemanz. I reckon my 4 year old daughter would also be enthralled (for a while anyway, until she remembered about Peppa Pig). Would this have been the Chereau/Boulez?

[gurnemanz]

When I was about 14 I was taking a bath (occasionally this was necessary) and for background entertainment I was tuning my transistor radio to Radio Luxembourg or some pirate station - pre Radio One, when I by accident tuned to Radio Three (it must still have been the Third Programme). It was the last movement of Beethoven's Ninth which bowled me over so completely that I stayed listening to it. The fact that this memory has stuck with me seems to indicate that it must have been a significant moment for me.

[Stanfordian]

Depends entirely on the child... (which makes me think that on the same basis, it could be audience abuse too )

But I'm certain you wouldn't be doing it if that were a real danger.

What else is on the programme?

Hello Caliban,

During my frequent concert/recital visits on numerous occasions I have seen many parents taking young children/young people along. Almost invariably they get fidgety after a few minutes and fed up after ten minutes or so. Many children quite often disrupt other audience members; as all that sitting still and not talking is clearly difficult to observe. Often the children don’t reappear for the second half. As you asked for views: well I certainly wouldn’t take a child along to attend a longish symphony such as the Brahms. I think our well meaning actions could actually put a child off attending concerts for life if we are not very careful. I have seen several times in Germany in particularly schools taking children along to youth concerts (Jugendkonzert) who seem to cope better when they are with their school mates/friends. Children seem to cope better with four or five shorter works that two long ones; which I suppose is obvious really.

[Tapiola]

well I certainly wouldn’t take a child along to attend a longish symphony such as the Brahms.

Stanfordian,

Apologies to you (and Caliban) for jumping in. I think it does depend, as Caliban has stated, upon the child and indeed its age. I would not dream of taking my 4 year old along, as her attention would wander and she would undoubtedly disrupt proceedings. The 8 year old though is a different matter, and he is a quiet and thoughtful lad who can conduct himself (no pun intended) in such environments. I suppose the fact that the Brahms is in four movements would of itself allow a natural break in his concentration. If the worst comes to the worst I can take him out in between movements. These breaks are inevitably long enough at such student concerts (to allow for re-tuning etc.).

[Serial_Apologist]

he is a quiet and thoughtful lad who can conduct himself (no pun intended) in such environments.

Lovely!

Thank you for that, Taps - it goes well with statements about people being instrumental in gaining commissions, etc...

[Tapiola]

Lovely!

Thank you for that, Taps - it goes well with statements about people being instrumental in gaining commissions, etc...

We must make a concerted effort to stop this discussion going OT.

[Serial_Apologist]

We must make a concerted effort to stop this discussion going OT.

But anything too orchestrated should be avoided!