why are some pieces so popular?

[drazh]

is that ok for a piece to be very popular?

[nanabush]

Popular generally resonates with the 'general public'.  Usually a piece has a very distinct part that is so catchy (in pop music today, we call it the 'hook' haha).  Fur Elise has that opening bar that EVERYONE knows.  Beethoven probably didn't write it with the same intent as pop artists do today; but we can't deny that a piece is catchy as all hell. 

It's still the same piece it was however long ago it was written; so pieces like the Moonlight Sonata 1st movement, Fantasie Impromptu, la Campanella, Flight of the Bumblebee, Revolutionary Etude are just so well known because they just 'sound cool' to a lot of people.  These are not popular pieces because every person on the planet can play them.  It is just that they are undeniable catchy 

If you meant more for rep choices being popular... it's probably something along those same lines.  EVERYONE at my University wanted to play Jeux d'Eau.  Most people had only become familiar with playing Ravel recently, and had naturally gravitated towards that piece.  It's just got such a cool sound, so different than Mozart/Beethoven/Bach.  People are a little thrown off by Scarbo at first listen, because they don't know what they are hearing, but the sparkly quality to Jeux d'Eau just makes it easier for the average person to listen to.

I'm rambling.

[drazh]

dear nanabush
I am listening and playing piano more than 6 years. I like some pieces(eg: fur elise) and dont like some pieces (eg :picture at exibition )I forced myselef to listen to them but not helped. is that about taste? or my little knowlegde or something else? what shuold I do?

[outin]

I am listening and playing piano more than 6 years. I like some pieces(eg: fur elise) and dont like some pieces (eg :picture at exibition )I forced myselef to listen to them but not helped. is that about taste? or my little knowlegde or something else? what shuold I do?

The time you start questioning your taste is the time to ask why are you listening to/playing music. To be like everyone else? To appear sophisticated or smart? To make a career? Or is it for your enjoyment?

If it's the latter, all those questions you ask are a waste of time...

[drazh]

I mean, is that only the personal taste? or something special about that piece eg: rhythm melody etc...

[chicoscalco]

I believe the more complex the piece is (harmonically, rithmically,etc), the harder it gets for people to like them, in general. I think this is, because today listening to music is just so easy, that people don't bother listening to something they don't like. I mean, who in the world liked, say, scriabin 8th sonata the first time they heard? I don't know, I think the relationship people have with music changed drastically after the internet... Everything has to be instantaneous. If you don't like the music now, it's crap. But I'm just rambling, forgive me