From: gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Gabe M Wiener)
Subject: Re: Alternate FAQ memo for rec.music.classical
Reply-To: gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu (Gabe M Wiener)
Organization: Columbia University
Date: Sat, 25 Jul 1992 05:35:27 GMT

In article <1992Jul23.235551.16251@newstand.syr.edu> jmwobus@spider.syr.EDU (John M. Wobus) writes:
>
>I have read  Gabe Weiner's FAQ Memo for rec.music.classica{
		    ^^

I don't know who this "Weiner" person is, but I personally prefer
Gabe Wiener's FAQ much better than Gabe Weiner's.
      ^^                                 ^^

>(1) Why do 20th century composers write music that no one wants to
> listen to?

Everyone loves 20th century music.  Where have you been?   Ask
Springsteen, Sting, and Madonna if people like 20th century music.
Oh, you mean 20th century *classical* music?  Well, no one listens
to classical music anyway.

>(1A) How come no 20th century composers write music like the old days?

Because all those old people are deaf and wouldn't appreciate it.

>(2) I am interested in learning more about classical music.  What should
> I listen to?

Listen to Pachelbel's Canon....again.

>(3) I heard a version of Mussorgsky's "Night on a Bald Mountain" that
> sounded different.  What goes?
>(3A) Is it "Bare Mountain"?  or is it "Bald Mountain"?

Bear mountain

>(4) How come no one recognizes Glenn Gould as the great pianist that he
> was?

Because with all these Yamaha Disklaviers selling, who needs pianists?

>(4A) Are those grunts I hear on my Glenn Gould record?

Oh, that's the recording engineer grunting over the BAD PERFORMANCE
taking place in the studio.

>(5) Was Vladimer Horowitz a fake?

A fake what?

>(6) Why are we letting the pushers of period instruments take over?

Because Christopher Hogwood has this magnetic personality...

>(7) Which Bach piece is "Lighter Shade of Pale" taken from? 

Choral cantata:  "Wachet auf, und riechet den Kaffe!

>(7A) Which Chopin piece is "Color My World" taken from?

The two impromptus:  "Greyscale my world" and "Black and White my world"

>(8) What are the 10 best pieces of classical music?

	1. The Paillard recording of the Pachelbel Canon
	2. The Hogwood recording of the Pachelbel Canon
	3. The Galway recording of the Pachelbel Canon
		etc...

>(9) Wasn't Schoenberg conceited to think he could ruin music like that
> and we'd let him?

He thought he could get away with it while everyone was arguing over
how to pronounce his name.

>(10) I am interested in learning to play a musical instrument.   Which
> one should I learn?

Whichever one you can find in your attic

>(11) Why should music majors have to learn Music Theory?

So that we can keep up with the Philosophy department with Socratic
dialogues of our own.....one's life would be incomplete without the
joyful experience of curling up by the fire with Gradus ad Parnassum.

>(12) Wasn't Schenker crazy to think that all music is basically
> variations on the same little piece?

It *IS* all the same piece.  I-IV-V-I.

>(12A) Who the hell is Schenker?

Some Indian guy with a sitar.

>(13) How can people listen to (some type of music)?  It all sounds alike.

I don't know.  Maybe you have your CD player on repeat?


--
Gabe Wiener - Columbia Univ.     "This 'telephone' has too many shortcomings 
gmw1@cunixa.cc.columbia.edu       to be seriously considered as a means of 
N2GPZ in ham radio circles        communication. The device is inherently of
72355,1226 on CI$                 no value to us." -Western Union memo, 1877