Theoretical question

[phil13]

Let's say there was a piece that was more overplayed than any other piano work. Ever. More than Fur Elise, more than Fantasy Impromptu, more than Pachelbel's bloody Canon in D.

What would it take for you to not get sick of it? Subjectively, what sorts of qualities do you look for in a piece of music? Why does certain music become tiring to our ears? I have friends who HATE overplayed works that they used to love. Is it just the butchery that goes on with these pieces that makes us dislike the pieces themselves? Or is there something more to it?

Phil

[mephisto]

I LOVE Beethoven's 5th symphony and Bach's Toccata and Fugue in d minor, and a lot of other people share this oppinion. I do not think people disslike famous pieces because they are famous. These pieces like Fur Elise, may get us into classical music, but after we have learned about this great "tradition" of classical music, we discover more and more and music such as Fur Elise seams so dull against something like the Liszt Sonata(and I know it was never composed to be a profound masterpiece). liszt's sonata is of course famous amonf pianists but not towards the general public. So we get mad at a piece like Fur Elise. If a piece is great like Beethoven's 5th we will love it no matter what.

[phil13]

Well, I never said it was true for all pieces. However, that's a really good answer, and one I hadn't thought of beforehand. It makes a lot of sense.

Phil

[invictious]

Well before I started learning piano, I loved things like Rondo Alla Turca and Fur Elise.

Once I got into the world of music, I found out there was so much more.
Now I love things like Scriabin Sonatas.

[jlh]

I think it is directly related to the phenomenon experienced by many food service workers. 

Let me explain:  Say you are in LOVE with brand X food (like pizza, burgers, fries, etc.) so much that you decide to work there at that restaurant just so you can eat the food all the time at a discounted price.  What happens in a few months time?  You are so sick of that same food you used to love, and now you don't want to see, taste, smell, touch it at all...

Moral: Too much of a good thing is not always good.

[piano_ant]

I think it mostly varies on the nature of what we are listening to and the nature of the person listening. For example there is only so much we can listen for in Fur Elise or the first movement of the Moonlight Sonata, but with more complex music, we understand more upon each hearing. Music that constantly challenges our minds appeals to the people that like this sort of music. They can listen to it repeatedly because they hear more each time. Music that challenges, inquires and inspires. But sometimes a simple Mendelssohn piece brings just as much joy to another person on the 100th hearing as that Medtner concerto does for someone else. It's always a matter of taste.

[jlh]

Well, for something to be overplayed, it must be played by a LOT of people all the time.  The fact is that complex music like you're describing is not as readily accessible to the vast majority of people learning to play the piano and the general public. 

Why is pop music so "pop"ular?  It's simple and accessible to the public. 

The people that would listen to Mendellsohn 1000 times greatly outnumber the people that would listen to the Medtner concerto 1000 times.

[keyofc]

I agree with "too much of a good thing is not always good"


Even popular songs - take one you like (if you do) and think about how many times you heard it on the radio before you started switching stations.

You're just ready for something new.