Taste

[zhiliang]

Would like to ask whether taste in music can be acquired? For example the aristocratic performances of Zimmerman in his Chopin Piano Concertos, Cortot's Chopin's Fantasy in F, Rubinstein's Chopin's Nocturnes....

I mean all of these performances i mentioned above can be considered really elegant and aristocratic, and ever so tastful and full of style. Can all these be acquired? Can they be taught to a student? Can they be learned or developed without imitation of interpretation? Or are these in-born?

Would love to hear your views....

Zhiliang

[Rob47]

That is an interesting question, um but what i dont understand is why people often say it was a performance was "aristocratic".  Are they saying the pianist played like a stuck up snob who didn't care about the peasants?

Rob47

[zhiliang]

That is an interesting question, um but what i dont understand is why people often say it was a performance was "aristocratic".  Are they saying the pianist played like a stuck up snob who didn't care about the peasants?

Rob47

I guess what they mean is like a grand, authoratative playing, always aware of the full structure and the composer's intent. And of course also inclusive of a noble feeling though all this can be quite subjective.

Zhiliang

[Daevren]

I think 'taste' is limiting, build on artificial illusions and overrated.

I noticed that you don't develop your taste but you deconstruct it.

Every human has the intellectual ability to like any style of music(and all qualities music can have are present in every genre/style).

[Bob]

I've been wondering about that too.  I noticed when I studied with a person really into Baroque music, I developed a sense of what was stylistically correct -- a taste for the style.  I think part of it has to do with just thinking about whether it (being any aspect of the music) is of quality -- Does it fit the style?  Does it contribute to the point of the piece (if there is one)?  

I think improvisation might help develop this sense.

Of course, once you develop taste in one style, other styles can a little off.

[gaspard]

I believe your description of the performances to be vague. I have heard those descriptions applied to the music of Chopin and other romantic period composers. In particular their larger works or compositions.

[trunks]

Taste is to me quite synonymous to preference, which clearly cannot be taught, but is somehow acquired (or developed) through exposure to and appreciation of the object in question. And preference is such a subjective thing it cannot be explained, and needs not.

Such is the joy of the diversity of art, and the good thing is to enjoy our own tastes and sharing them with others, while respecting other tastes different from ours.

[donjuan]

Taste is to me quite synonymous to preference, which clearly cannot be taught, but is somehow acquired (or developed) through exposure to and appreciation of the object in question. And preference is such a subjective thing it cannot be explained, and needs not.

Such is the joy of the diversity of art, and the good thing is to enjoy our own tastes and sharing them with others, while respecting other tastes different from ours.

I agree!!  I didn't come to love classical music until I actually opened up my ears, ignored the ignorance of my school friends, and got in touch with the music.  Now, I firmly believe classical music is more interesting than Pop, Rock, or anything.  Appreciation comes with time, and when it comes, you will wonder why you never appriciated it before.  

[trunks]

I agree!!  I didn't come to love classical music until I actually opened up my ears, ignored the ignorance of my school friends, and got in touch with the music.  Now, I firmly believe classical music is more interesting than Pop, Rock, or anything.  Appreciation comes with time, and when it comes, you will wonder why you never appriciated it before.  

Hi donjuan,

I used to sneer at pop, rock or any music other than classical. Now I've learned to respect the tastes of people who like these music - although I still loathe rock and similar music that always sound to me like pounding my heart off my chest . . .

[donjuan]

Hi donjuan,

I used to sneer at pop, rock or any music other than classical. Now I've learned to respect the tastes of people who like these music - although I still loathe rock and similar music that always sound to me like pounding my heart off my chest . . .

Hi PeterHK

I also still dislike Rock because many people - "average" people with no musical ear at all are interested in it.  Where I live -North America- people of all ages have WAY, WAY too much self esteem.  They listen to people singing on CD's and force themselves to believe they can do the same.  Today, because of these people, North America is full of Sh**y rock and Pop groups, spearding stupidity and ignorance throughout generations to come.   Rock is very bad as the "music " lacks range, dynamics, or intelligence.

I know we were just discussing accepting others tastes, and making these comments makes me somewhat of a hypocrite.  However, I have difficulty respecting something created out of popularity, peer pressure nad conformity.  

[trunks]

Hey donjuan,

Oh well, then everybody is entitled to his/her preferences, and that is the easy part to pay respect. Only that way would every party remain happy.