University Challenge

[Vox Humana]

Few people of the Beatles generation or younger know much about classical music unless they have been brought up in a specifically musical environment or have learnt an instrument to a competent level. The majority of my contemporaries at (state grammar) school had no interest in it at all, despite the fact that we had a very good music teacher. I found the teams' cluelessness depressing but not surprising. Had the questions been on popular music I bet they would have known the answers.

[Tony Halstead]

I saw this too. I don't think I've seen University Challenge since the 1960s and since then it seems to have changed channels and chairman. I received an email to say that my old college was featuring in the Christmas series, so I've watched each episode. The lack of knowledge in the organ round was astonishing. I knew the Bach and the Brahms and could make a good guess at the other two (how many Belgian organ composers would be well-known enough to feature in a quiz like this?), so I was amazed at the cluelessness of most of the contestants.

The same has applied to numerous other questions. It's not just the young who seem to lack a general knowledge now; many of these people were almost as old as me.

Some idea of how unimportant classical music is, even to the compilers/ producers of University Challenge, can be gauged by the sheer ghastliness of the theme music and its totally execrable standard of perfomance.
It sounds like an inebriated amateur string ensemble, sight-reading.

[Don Petter]

I saw this too. I don't think I've seen University Challenge since the 1960s and since then it seems to have changed channels and chairman. I received an email to say that my old college was featuring in the Christmas series, so I've watched each episode. The lack of knowledge in the organ round was astonishing. I knew the Bach and the Brahms and could make a good guess at the other two (how many Belgian organ composers would be well-known enough to feature in a quiz like this?), so I was amazed at the cluelessness of most of the contestants.

The same has applied to numerous other questions. It's not just the young who seem to lack a general knowledge now; many of these people were almost as old as me.

We (Mrs P and I) have long been dismayed by the lack of classical music knowledge (and, by inference, interest) among the present teams in University Challenge. We did expect that these older alumni would be better versed in this field. What a disappointment.

[teamsaint]

look on the bright side, guys.
If classical music was immensely popular, tickets for concerts would sell out in seconds, concerts would be at dumps like Earls Court, and tickets would be treble the current price.
Br careful what you wish for.

[Don Petter]

look on the bright side, guys.
If classical music was immensely popular, tickets for concerts would sell out in seconds, concerts would be at dumps like Earls Court, and tickets would be treble the current price.
Br careful what you wish for.

That's a good way of looking at things.

It's just a pity that so many people are missing what we know to be a very enlightening and satisfying aspect of life.

[teamsaint]

That's a good way of looking at things.

It's just a pity that so many people are missing what we know to be a very enlightening and satisfying aspect of life.

yup, agreed.
Going off topic, access to music is so easy now that making good choices hasn't become any easier, I suspect, than when access was much more restricted.The tyranny of choice , I guess.

ok, here is a university Challenge starter for 10, for fun. (this was a question on the show some years ago).
without googling, who can name this?

[Richard Tarleton]

Jacob Epstein The Rock Drill. No googling.

Was on the cover of the paperback of Geoffrey Barraclough's An Introduction to Contemporary History (1964)

[teamsaint]

Jacob Epstein The Rock Drill. No googling.

Was on the cover of the paperback of Geoffrey Barraclough's An Introduction to Contemporary History (1964)

Correct, which rather neatly makes the point.
I was able to answer in a flash, and not because of any knowledge of sculpture, but because it was the title and on the cover of an album by Alex Harvey.
The look on Mrs TSs face as I answered a sculpture question at lightening speed was a picture.

Incidentally, RT, and what I didnt know, is that the bit I posted is in fact " Torso in Metal from "Rock Drill"", as it is just part of a larger work which was dismantled by the artist.
I'm almost certain that on the show they gave " Rock Drill",which is technically incorrect, as the answer.

[JFLL]

Few people of the Beatles generation or younger know much about classical music unless they have been brought up in a specifically musical environment or have learnt an instrument to a competent level. The majority of my contemporaries at (state grammar) school had no interest in it at all, despite the fact that we had a very good music teacher. .....

I would second that. In my state grammar school in the mid-60s, some of us in the 6th form started a Recorded Music Society, but we never had more than a handful of members, despite the attractions of the state-of-the art hi-fi fitted in the spanking new school hall. I do remember that we introduced the classics master to Bruckner, though (probably Jochum in the 7th, IIRC). His reaction was 'Who is this chap Bruckner? He's good, isn't he?' Those were the days, when you could 'discover' Bruckner and Mahler.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

Some idea of how unimportant classical music is, even to the compilers/ producers of University Challenge, can be gauged by the sheer ghastliness of the theme music and its totally execrable standard of perfomance.
It sounds like an inebriated amateur string ensemble, sight-reading.

Yes - I miss the Harpsichord, Tubular Bells original, too. The Balanescu Quartet is the ensemble with the intonation problems, I believe.

[Don Petter]

I would second that. In my state grammar school in the mid-60s, some of us in the 6th form started a Recorded Music Society, but we never had more than a handful of members, despite the attractions of the state-of-the art hi-fi fitted in the spanking new school hall. I do remember that we introduced the classics master to Bruckner, though (probably Jochum in the 7th, IIRC). His reaction was 'Who is this chap Bruckner? He's good, isn't he?' Those were the days, when you could 'discover' Bruckner and Mahler.

Rather the same here, in my state grammar school, where I ran a 'Gramophone Club' in the fifties. The records were mainly from my collection, and I painted some weekly posters myself.

Attendance was rather small (and mainly from the boarders, who would clutch at anything to vary their regimented lives). Perhaps one or two were converted. Anyway I enjoyed it.

[ardcarp]

I was quite cross when (years ago) the original Bamber Gascoigne vintage theme tune was replaced with the SQ version. It was a silly attempt to make it 'highbrow', and I don't think we ought to blame the performers. It just doesn't transfer well to the medium, especially that damp squib of a cello pizzicato note.

Here's the original....well something like it anyway:

http://www.televisiontunes.com/University_Challenge_-_Original.html

[gurnemanz]

I would second that. In my state grammar school in the mid-60s, some of us in the 6th form started a Recorded Music Society, but we never had more than a handful of members, despite the attractions of the state-of-the art hi-fi fitted in the spanking new school hall. I do remember that we introduced the classics master to Bruckner, though (probably Jochum in the 7th, IIRC). His reaction was 'Who is this chap Bruckner? He's good, isn't he?' Those were the days, when you could 'discover' Bruckner and Mahler.

I also went to such a school during the same period and the only music I can remember listening to in the lunch break is Bob Dylan, who along with all the rest, such as Buddy Holly, Chuck Berry, Beatles, Stones etc were what it was all about for me as a teenager. I listened by preference to Radio Luxembourg and pirate radio stations, certainly not the the Third programme (Beeb had almost no pop). My father liked classical music and sang in a very good choral society, but when taken along to their concerts I found it rather staid and boring - mostly involving settings of orthodox religious liturgy which, as a budding atheist, I was just in the process of rebelling against. (Life gets back at you. I am now Chairman of of our local Choral Soc).

Shortly after I went to study German at university in 1967, (just as BBC started Radios One and Three) I flipped completely over to classical and virtually gave up pop. By 1972 I had a subscription to Gramophone. There are still a few rock singers I really like, (just spent silly money on Complete Dylan Basement Tapes and complete lyrics doorstopper) but mostly I am ignorant. My daughter often plays me new music from the rock/pop area which I really like and I try to keep vaguely in touch, knowing that there is a lot of good stuff out there that I am missing out on.

Re University Challenge. I have slightly the reverse view. Yes, shocking ignorance of classical music is often in evidence, but on other occasions I am surprised what good knowledge some 18-21 year-olds on the programme have - better than would have had at that age and I didn't take much notice of Bach organ music till I went to work in Leipzig, aged 23.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

I don't blame the students for their lack of knowledge about classical music. It's those who have denied young people the opportunity to experience it who are largely responsible. I was at school during the Beatles' era and was considered a bit of a freak for my love of classical music. But the choirs and orchestra still had a large following, and many of those who mocked and teased me were swung around over time. This can only happen when the experience of classical music is made available.

[ardcarp]

The P & F in B minor, as played at the end of Manchester's recent broadcast, is the current 'Clip' on R3's CE website.