Ludovico Einaudi ???

[patterson]

Hi

Before i begin, this post is not intended to offend any budding fans but just simply to express one's opinion, at the same time I'm aware their will be those in support of this post and those who are not, the post is regarding the so called great maestro himself "Ludovico Einaudi" no pun intended.

I think it is fair to say that Einaudi has long been a target of criticism by people who believe he unethically markets himself as a modern day great classical composer, misleading naive listeners who don't know any better, and impeding the intellectual and artistic development of any poor sap who happens upon his music.

It's also fair to say it's common knowledge when mentioning Einaudi to othere fellow musicians about how they perceive his music, and the common response is that his music is bland repetitive inarticulate, lacks any meaningful substance virtuosity and harmonic conservatism.

Mainstream critics have been generally less than complimentary about his music and the performer, describing it variously as unmemorable and humourless soulless unpalatably synthetic and cheap, and is clearly an overrated accomplished musician than he is given credit for.

So what are we to make of this so called great contemporary minimalist who's music is regularly criticized by people for being bland unchallenging unsophisticated or simply bad.

In contrast it would also be fair to say his music is pleasant as much as ambient background music can be.. but that's it.

So how did this man reach such musical success? with such an insipid mediocre talent.

Many have attested after listening to Einaudi in concert they couldn’t wait for it to end. Bland, stupefyingly uninspired, uninventive, shallow, witless, humourless drivel.

In despite of Einaudis ridiculously overrated musical success, it can only be perceived by the more serious musical artist, that Ludovico Einaudi is no more then a new age ambient minimalist, who has superseded to a status which far surpasses his mediocre talent.

A cheap branded composer, who attracts a cheap branded audience.

This critique has been to express the opinion and merits of Ludvico Einaudis artistic works and nothing more, in contrast i wish the man well.

Comments welcome.

[lelle]

Hi and welcome, and interesting topic you've posted!

Regardless of how one personally feels about Einaudi's success and if it is "deserved", whatever that means, the fact is that clearly there was an Einaudi shaped hole in the market that Einaudi stepped up to fill. Whether one likes it or not, there is a large audience of people who want to hear Einaudi's music, and that fact + some clever marketing = success for Einaudi. I do not think it is undeserved. It's like saying that the popularity of superhero movies is underserved because they are not "real" cinema like Citizen Kane or what have you.

I think calling audiences cheap for liking Einaudi is doing everyone a great disservice. No music is objectively better or worse than any other, and that kind of snobby gatekeeping just drives people away from you and the music you want to represent. Einaudi is not for me either, but that does not make him any worse than the kind of music I like. I think that instead of driving people away by calling them "cheap" for liking the kind of music they like, we can invite them to listen to our music, and either they will connect with it, or they will not. It's fine either way, nobody's better or worse because of it.

[thalbergmad]

To satisfy a friend, I bought a book of his hits and played through them. I even posted a recording here. If it attracts people to the piano then I am happy and it is a source of repertoire to those with mediocre mechanical abilities.
My main criticism is that he has effectively composed the same piece of music 500 times and after a while it just becomes tiresome. Peder B Helland is cut from a similar cloth.
As with much of modern music and modern pianists, marketing is everything and talent is a distant second.

Thal

[ranjit]

Some of his tunes aren't bad, but there's certainly nothing sophisticated about them. I think, however, that appreciating sophistication in music usually comes about through extensive listening experience. For someone who's hearing a minor scale the first time in their lives, Einaudi's music may well sound awesome!

[dogperson]

When I read a post labeling s composer as ‘cheap branded’ and the audience as ‘cheap branded’, I quit listening or reading. I don’t care for Einaudi at all— but so what?  Let’s get over the implied superiority by denigrating any music that is not strictly classical.  That attitude doesn’t win any converts.

Einaudi has done a lot to increase the interest in music; that shouldn’t be dismissed as insignificant.  Maybe his followers will only listen to him, or maybe they will begin to explore other music. Listening to any music is a good beginning.

[anacrusis]

Who is this Einaudi, and what have I been missing out on? What should I listen to to get familiar with what you are talking about?

[dogperson]

Who is this Einaudi, and what have I been missing out on? What should I listen to to get familiar with what you are talking about?

A search by his name on YouTube will provide a lot of options

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2DLnhdnSUVs
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uffjii1hXzU
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq_x_7vA2kE

[patterson]

My main criticism is that he has effectively composed the same piece of music 500 times and after a while it just becomes tiresome.

That in itself is effectively so true..

[anacrusis]

A search by his name on YouTube will provide a lot of options

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=2DLnhdnSUVs
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Uffjii1hXzU
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Oq_x_7vA2kE

Ah, I see. Well, it's not my cup of tea, but if lots of people enjoy it, I think that's great. Means more ears interested in piano music, who might discover the joy of playing the instrument or even discover some classical composers!

Minimalism and simplicity has its place in music, why does everything have to be sophisticated?

[patterson]

Minimalism and simplicity has its place in music, why does everything have to be sophisticated?

It doesn't.. and i concisely agree with your opinion, i guess some artists are just more lucky then others in achievement, however I'm not easily convinced over such cheaply bought nobility.

[andrewuk]

This is quite an amusing read.

[tannic monster]

I consider Ludovico Einaudi a sort of pop music artist.  It's not complex and doesn't inspire an emotional response for me...but neither does most music.  You could basically assert the same criticisms about most of the newer artists being played on the radio today.  They all pretty much sound alike, have mediocre talent, and have huge followings.  I don't have any interest in criticizing these artists, and I certainly don't want to criticize their fans...that's their business.  I suppose your point boils down to: "What a strange world we live in where someone like Ludovico Einaudi can become so successful given so little talent".  Yes, we live in a strange world.  Agreed.

[patterson]

I consider Ludovico Einaudi a sort of pop music artist.  It's not complex and doesn't inspire an emotional response "What a strange world we live in where someone like Ludovico Einaudi can become so successful given so little talent".

Not to exacerbate on this topic but rather maintain a sense of decorum with respect to the artist himself, however your quote is most true.

[andy spark]

Hello, just joined.

Just to say, on the idea of Einaudi being maybe a “pop music artist” strayed into the classical music world: if pop music was currently exhibiting different and more sophisticated pianistic accompaniment tendencies then would that kind of cross-cultural pollination still be reviewed negatively by critics?

[timtim]

Some of his tunes aren't bad, but there's certainly nothing sophisticated about them. I think, however, that appreciating sophistication in music usually comes about through extensive listening experience. For someone who's hearing a minor scale the first time in their lives, Einaudi's music may well sound awesome!

Actually some versions of minor scales are more interesting than Eindaudi's music 

[andy spark]

Actually some versions of minor scales are more interesting than Eindaudi's music 

I guess you won’t be buying his “first solo piano record of new material in twenty years”, as heavily advertised on Classic FM and other worthy classical radio stations. I’m guessing there might be a new Sorabji recording out sometime to rival it in the charts.

[alexf26]

I just view him as a new age / contemporary classical composer. I don't compare him to piano composers from other eras. They are different genres just utilizing the same musical instrument.

I really think is unfair to call it cheap just because it's different. If he got the success then it's deserved. Overrated? Well, depends on the taste. I prefer to think many great talents are underrated compared to it.

This is the same as saying "oh Adele is overrated, technically she is not that great vocalist, I'd rather listen to Whitney forever". I don't like Adele for example (I find it too mainstream, all songs sound similar) but I admit she has something that catches the public, unique timbre maybe.

This thread is nothing but a classical (pun intended) philosophical question. "What makes something beautiful and why"

Some can argue it's the complexity of harmonies in Liszt compositions, the intricate details in Chopin's melodies or the ingenious counterpoint in Bach's work.

Others might say: "the simplicity and easy to listen chord progressions that make me feel nostalgic or at peace" of Einaudi.

Personally I'm more a fan of the former but...
You know sometimes I really crave for a burger and fries after a few fancy meals.

Music is organic, not a set of rules.

[swede1]

I giorni, is nice. Einaudi sings with the piano, soft touch, and he uses strings in some music. He want to crewte different timbre and uses dynamics good. Can you play it as well? Yes repeated harmonic progression, minimalistic style. He makes sense to me, humble, makes me think. I guess he improvised much and polished and then the song is ready. He likes to build up to forte and then subito piano. Why dont we have an Einaudi competition/recital? Take one of his songs and make your own version….. better. Ok I got tierd of listening to him now, shouldnt analyse his music to much. Time for Bach Goldberg variations Aria, but JS Bach was the greatest, unfair to compare with the father of music.
 

[swede1]

What car does Ludovico drive?  Oder welche auto fahrst Ludovico?

[ranjit]

It really doesn't sound interesting, it feels like a generic pop song on piano, almost. I prefer Yann Tiersen or even the Minecraft soundtrack for a chill vibe.

[transitional]

Just heard of this guy. He kind of reminds me of one of my other least favorite composers, Satie. Also similar to Clayderman, Yiruma

My thought on seeing the gymnopedies the 1st time (https://s9.imslp.org/files/imglnks/usimg/7/75/IMSLP03213-Satie-GymnopediesOrEd.pdf): Wow such sophistication!!!

Seeing this (

): Wow such sophistication!!!!

Why not just go on musescore and find much better not established composers? No need to get so hung up on modern junk!!

https://musescore.com/user/22267676/scores/6644042
https://musescore.com/user/28939644/scores/6735936
https://musescore.com/user/31849092/scores/6826324
https://musescore.com/user/52207316/scores/12964846

... or go write your own music instead of relying on generic chatgpt style compositions. If you want "relaxing" "simple" music at least listen to something by an established + capable composer!

Tell me that simplicity is better in this case! Why not take a further step and make it even simpler?? Here, I will write a piece for you now to demonstrate. We do not even need sheet music.

4
 ||   A  B  C Db | F B C Ab | C# D# E# G | A B E G :||
4

(possibly even a nursery rhyme if you stretch english out far enough !!  )

let's look at this piece, experience. C# c# d c# c# c# d c# cmon even mary had a little lamb is more interesting by this point! a bit more variety please? And does it expand?? no, all 16th notes! if you want vast potentially relaxing but also musically deep go listen to a bruckner symphony please.

I am by no means trying to prove that my point is correct or the only argument, as I have only just heard of this guy. This is just an honest 11 pm ramble about being confused how he is even considered *famous* in the first place??

It really doesn't sound interesting, it feels like a generic pop song on piano, almost.

Precisely. what makes the difference between two alternating notes written to sound relaxing vs 4'33"? and when that transcends sound what is there left? we have a blank palette for any music. And that is how rap is created. People, here's a great idea I just got for a new recording if you want to get really popular: recording your computer static, adding random tapping on the mic and swishing sounds and you should be good to go. Now slow it 50% to make it sound relaxing.

perhaps it is his name? Einaudi sounds like it fits with the composers. How catchy is a name such as Brown against bach, mozart, beethoven, chopin, schumann, schubert, liszt, debussy, ahem einaudi. it fits right in. Which makes me wonder, where do all those interesting last names come from?

tl dr: there are three ways to get famous with piano: 1) hard work, 2) visualized midi piano videos, and 3) einaudiesque minimalism-pop music

[ego0720]

Just heard of this guy. He kind of reminds me of one of my other least favorite composers, Satie. Also similar to Clayderman, Yiruma

...

tl dr: there are three ways to get famous with piano: 1) hard work, 2) visualized midi piano videos, and 3) einaudiesque minimalism-pop music

You sound very charged.  I had a conversation with one of my non-musical family member (some time ago, not recent).  And one thing they commented was that music doesn't really have any meaning for them unless its attached to something else (I believe they were referring to tv shows and movies).  It can be extrapolated to other things like childhood experience and whatnot.  Music -on its own- isn't meaningful and requires artificial injection of cultural conditioning to make sense, much as "i" the imaginary number (mathematics) doesn't really have a tangible value unless discussed in the context of complex arithmetics.  So the response to music is at least as varied as to the number of cultures.  For some of us, the complexity is important.  For others, simplicity is just as good.  Simplicity is definitely reflected in part of the next generation culture as they ditch desktop computers and a lot of materialism in favor of a flexible, agile lifestyle.. preferring mobility as they experience the stories of their life. So maybe thats an appeal with this artist. When it comes to entertainment, the factors involved are above our general understanding. One can only drive oneself insane by trying to analyze it.  You are better off accepting it and knowing that he will not be the last.  Embrace the influence and the technology that is reeling ppl into the art.  When they come, dont scare them off with a comment how what inspired them into this subject is what gets you. Tbh I like Yiruma for a couple of his songs. 

[transitional]

Haha, yeah I was kind of going for a highly opinionated tone so you could get how I feel about his music. And anything that gets people into piano is great, and I get that some people enjoy his music. But I don't.