University Challenge

[Richard Tarleton]

I agree it's not about what I like. And yes I'm familiar with the concept of composers using the same phrases a lot. My point about a particular physiological reaction to minimalism a serious one.

My facetiousness doubtless entirely out of order. I just thought it was rather a difficult question.

[MrGongGong]

They still "cheated" by having two teams from the same institution

[Nick Armstrong]

I agree it's not about what I like. And yes I'm familiar with the concept of composers using the same phrases a lot. My point about a particular physiological reaction to minimalism a serious one.

I'm with you Richard, the particular approach to repetition of that 'school' drives me up the wall within seconds.

I also agree with mercia that there was some sort of bet going on viz. the attire.

[MrGongGong]

I agree it's not about what I like. And yes I'm familiar with the concept of composers using the same phrases a lot. My point about a particular physiological reaction to minimalism a serious one.

My facetiousness doubtless entirely out of order. I just thought it was rather a difficult question.

It doesn't have to be so "serious" though

[french frank]

I thought it was a quiz where the questions were about music
not about what people like?

I agree with Richard: it's not about what anyone likes. I have a history of epilepsy and couldn't stand CotW when it played some of the pieces during the week on the Minimalists. The sensation was very similar to experiencing flashing lights and I had to switch it off.

No comment on whether it was suitable as a starter on UC.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I just thought it was rather a difficult question.

But not necessarily so for people of the age of the contestants - anyone who has taken GCSE Music in the past five or so years (which would include the age range of the university students last night) will have heard Music by Glass. It would have been more difficult to create a starter question using Britten (for example) - and not just because he didn't set an opera in Egypt! (Credit to the lass who recognized/worked out Massenet, though!)

[Pabmusic]

I agree with Richard: it's not about what anyone likes. I have a history of epilepsy and couldn't stand CotW when it played some of the pieces during the week on the Minimalists. The sensation was very similar to experiencing flashing lights and I had to switch it off.

No comment on whether it was suitable as a starter on UC.

I sympathise with you, FF. I don't have epilepsy, but I do have Asperger's, which often (usually?) comes with sensitivities to certain stimuli. The cliche is "nails scraping down a blackboard" - which most seem to find distressing. Well, one sensitivity I have is to sound-patterns, and 'typical' minimalist patterns can set me off so that it becomes physically unbearable after a while.

[MrGongGong]

I sympathise with you, FF. I don't have epilepsy, but I do have Asperger's, which often (usually?) comes with sensitivities to certain stimuli. The cliche is "nails scraping down a blackboard" - which most seem to find distressing. Well, one sensitivity I have is to sound-patterns, and 'typical' minimalist patterns can set me off so that it becomes physically unbearable after a while.

How do you find Couperin?

(Stay away from Ryoji then )

[Nick Armstrong]

I have a history of epilepsy and couldn't stand CotW when it played some of the pieces during the week on the Minimalists. The sensation was very similar to experiencing flashing lights and I had to switch it off.

I sympathise with you, FF. I don't have epilepsy, but I do have Asperger's, which often (usually?) comes with sensitivities to certain stimuli. The cliche is "nails scraping down a blackboard" - which most seem to find distressing. Well, one sensitivity I have is to sound-patterns, and 'typical' minimalist patterns can set me off so that it becomes physically unbearable after a while.

... unlike Mozart!

[Bryn]

I agree with Richard: it's not about what anyone likes. I have a history of epilepsy and couldn't stand CotW when it played some of the pieces during the week on the Minimalists. The sensation was very similar to experiencing flashing lights and I had to switch it off. ...

How do you get on with the final movement of Schubert's D. 944?

Re. Mozart v. Minimalist music and epilepsy:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1251839.stm

[Richard Tarleton]

s from me! And thank you Bryn for the link, interesting stuff.

as for Xmas jumpers and leather vests, the trouble with those UC gags (remember Manchester University in 1975 - every answer "Karl Marx"?) is that they might seem funny in the JCR beforehand but under the harsh glare etc. they just become embarrassing. If the waistcoat guy becomes famous - like David Aaronovich - that will come back and haunt him forever.

[french frank]

How do you get on with the final movement of Schubert's D. 944?

Re. Mozart v. Minimalist music and epilepsy:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1251839.stm

I've never found any trouble with the Great C major.

Mozart is a favourite - I will suggest to my GP that if I have a morning and evening dose of Mozart, I could give up the medication

But the point about University Challenge remains disputed, I presume (every UC question is easy if you know the answer)? But a starter on minimalism?

[MrGongGong]

But a starter on minimalism?

I know what you mean.
Fancy having a quiz question about one of the most significant artistic movements of the last 100 years
ridiculous

[Richard Tarleton]

I know what you mean.
Fancy having a quiz question about one of the most significant artistic movements of the last 100 years
ridiculous

It wasn't a quiz question about one of the most significant artistic movements of the last 100 years (of which musical minimalism is a part, but which also includes literature, painting, sculpture) - it was a question requiring the competitors to identify a work from a brief clip of music. Obviously some of us considered the work too obscure, the question too difficult, for UC, others don't. I'm grateful to fernie for the point about GCSE music and age demographic, perhaps it wasn't quite as obscure as I thought.

[Nick Armstrong]

one of the most significant artistic movements of the last 100 years

Mind you, Mozart can be pretty dangerous - that bloody bassoon concerto this morning with the VPO under Karl Bohm...

.... lethally dull