Musical taste -- a small rant [View all]

Last edited Sun Oct 5, 2025, 12:30 PM - Edit history (2)

I do not have what one might call a classical background in music. I know a number of the big names and famous pieces, but my knowledge is superficial and scattershot.

I recently became aware of a certain piece that really affected me. I spoke with a trusted, knowledgeable friend about it, and he was happy that I'd discovered it. I confessed that I was afraid that people in the know might consider it the equivalent of a breakfast cereal jingle, but he assured me that, no, it's the real deal.

So I went on YouTube to listen to other recordings and maybe watch a few reactions. Good stuff! Then I ventured into the comments.

The hugely overwhelming majority of posts were from harrumphing curmudgeons clutching their pearls and looking down their collective noses at the great unwashed, essentially asking "how could anyone ever hear this for the first time? People of quality have heard it since the womb, and all other appreciation is facile and trite." (that's a slight paraphrase)

Their reaction reminded me of one of the reasons why people are reluctant to try new things: the rabid gatekeepers are far too ready to pounce and humiliate, so the prospective viewer/listener basically says "fuck it."

I'd prefer not to reveal the piece that so struck me; suffice it to say that it's very well known.