Negative Threads

[Petrushka]

There seem to be one or two threads currently on the go, or resurrected, that are decidedly negative in tone.

I'd much rather hear about people's enthusiasms instead of 'Bassoonists I Can't Stand' or 'Tuba Player's You Don't Care For' etc.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

There's a wonderful philosophical paradox in starting a negative Thread against negative threads

But I agree with you, Pet. To be introduced to repertoire that I hadn't previously known about (or even "had known about but hadn't at all had any enthusiasm for") by Forumistas who love it and can discuss and communicate their enthusiasm is just about the best aspect of the Forum. (I'd probably never have discovered and/or explored the work of William Alwyn, had it not been for Edgey's infectious enthusiasm, for example.)

The "I don't like ... " Threads is that they rarely get beyond a basic declaration of dislike, with no attempt to explore why this is so. It can be a bit of fun, and sometimes an informed/intelligent negative comment can be thought-provoking, and guide us to new insights into the works we love - but because the Arts are so personal in the way that they affect us, any criticism of a work that is particularly scathing of something that is very important to us can affect us (even if only temporarily) as if we ourselves are being ridiculed.

Posts which introduce composers and performers new to us, on the other hand, can be positively life-enhancing.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

To be introduced to repertoire that I hadn't previously known about (or even "had known about but hadn't at all had any enthusiasm for") by Forumistas who love it and can discuss and communicate their enthusiasm is just about the best aspect of the Forum. (I'd probably never have discovered and/or explored the work of William Alwyn, had it not been for Edgey's infectious enthusiasm, for example.

Posts which introduce composers and performers new to us, on the other hand, can be positively life-enhancing.

Ah! I see kernelb has expressed similar sentiments on the "can't stick" Thread.

[gurnemanz]

There's a wonderful philosophical paradox in starting a negative Thread against negative threads

The only letter I ever sent to Private Eye got published. I wrote:

"If you publish any more letters from readers threatening to cancel their subscription, I'll cancel my subscription."

[ahinton]

The only letter I ever sent to Private Eye got published. I wrote:

"If you publish any more letters from readers threatening to cancel their subscription, I'll cancel my subscription."

But did you receive a reply and did you cancel it?

Reminds me somewhat of whichever Marx it was (albeit not Joseph or Karl) that declared that he'd never join any club that would accept him as a member...

[gurnemanz]

But did you receive a reply and did you cancel it?

Reminds me somewhat of whichever Marx it was (albeit not Joseph or Karl) that declared that he'd never join any club that would accept him as a member...

No reply. Not really expected. Still subscribing.

[LMcD]

But did you receive a reply and did you cancel it?

Reminds me somewhat of whichever Marx it was (albeit not Joseph or Karl) that declared that he'd never join any club that would accept him as a member...

It was Groucho.

[Serial_Apologist]

There seem to be one or two threads currently on the go, or resurrected, that are decidedly negative in tone.

I'd much rather hear about people's enthusiasms instead of 'Bassoonists I Can't Stand' or 'Tuba Player's You Don't Care For' etc.

I well remember Keith Tippett saying how infuriating it was to hear or see people say or write that his music was "rubbish". In what way was it rubbish? - he would demand to know. To admit to not liking it was another matter. I've often pondered that difference...

[cloughie]

I well remember Keith Tippett saying how infuriating it was to hear or see people say or write that his music was "rubbish". In what way was it rubbish? - he would demand to know. To admit to not liking it was another matter. I've often pondered that difference...

Yes...and then I listen to modern pop music 1980odd onwards, and think ‘I don’t like that rubbish’!

[ahinton]

It was Groucho.

Indeed; thanks for the reminder!

[vinteuil]

.

... sometimes one cannot explain one's dislike. As Martial put it [Epigram xxxii] -

Non amo te, Sabidi, nec possum dicere quare;
Hoc tantum possum dicere, non amo te

English'd by Tom Browne [1662 – 1704] as

I do not like thee, Doctor Fell,
The reason why – I cannot tell;
But this I know, and know full well,
I do not like thee, Doctor Fell

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I well remember Keith Tippett saying how infuriating it was to hear or see people say or write that his music was "rubbish". In what way was it rubbish? - he would demand to know. To admit to not liking it was another matter. I've often pondered that difference...

I think I know what he meant - I dislike a lot of Messiaen's Music (basically, I think, I'm repelled by the sound of his chords) but derive a great deal of pleasure from taking it apart to see how it's put together. I admire the craft of his composition, and can see why it appeals to so many people - and the aspects I dislike I regard as irrelevant to the quality of the Music itself: I wouldn't dream of calling it "rubbish".

(Essentially, what I don't like is my "problem", not Messiaen's. There are other composers - whom I won't mention here, for the reasons I suggested in #2 - whose work is the problem, not my response to it! )

[french frank]

There are other composers - whom I won't mention here, for the reasons I suggested in #2 - whose work is the problem, not my response to it! )

I should add that if I don't like something - anything - I can generally find better things to do than ponder the reasons why I don't like it. That said, if I don't like something I can generally find better things to do than share that fact with other people.

[Serial_Apologist]

I think I know what he meant - I dislike a lot of Messiaen's Music (basically, I think, I'm repelled by the sound of his chords) but derive a great deal of pleasure from taking it apart to see how it's put together. I admire the craft of his composition, and can see why it appeals to so many people - and the aspects I dislike I regard as irrelevant to the quality of the Music itself: I wouldn't dream of calling it "rubbish".

(Essentially, what I don't like is my "problem", not Messiaen's. There are other composers - whom I won't mention here, for the reasons I suggested in #2 - whose work is the problem, not my response to it! )

In one sense I can respect, for example, composers who express specific likes and dislikes, because unlike us who enjoy the privileged luxury of indulging in whatever can take our fancy, they have probably had to pick and select their way through innumerable influences in order to establish their own distinctive creative identities. But in another, I have great admiration and respect for the likes of MrGG, Richard Barrett and Alistair Hinton, who write on here of their respect and appreciation of composers and musics far removed from their own. To me, that must take a considerable amount of open-mindedness.

[Ein Heldenleben]

I think I know what he meant - I dislike a lot of Messiaen's Music (basically, I think, I'm repelled by the sound of his chords) but derive a great deal of pleasure from taking it apart to see how it's put together. I admire the craft of his composition, and can see why it appeals to so many people - and the aspects I dislike I regard as irrelevant to the quality of the Music itself: I wouldn't dream of calling it "rubbish".

(Essentially, what I don't like is my "problem", not Messiaen's. There are other composers - whom I won't mention here, for the reasons I suggested in #2 - whose work is the problem, not my response to it! )

Thank God some one has said it. I can't face another Turangalia . Like the piano music tho'