What’s the worst piece of classical music?
And why that’s probably not the right question.
On the r/classicalmusic thread on Reddit there’s a post asking for people’s “least favorite pieces of music.” Comment sections like this are notoriously bad places to get serious opinions, yet at the same time incredibly effective at getting a pulse check.
I could have guessed a lot of the pieces people wanted to hate on, but some really surprised me.
Pachelbel’s Canon--this is the one I saw coming a mile away. It’s super repetitive for the lower strings, and non-musicians LOVE it, which sorta makes it easier for musicians to hate. Yes, classical music people be snooty like that sometimes. But Eine Kleine Nacht Musik, really? Bolero, Fur Elise, Pomp and Circumstance and Finlandia, too? Man, Reddit is a tough crowd. (For the record, I think this recording of Pachelbel’s Canon is beautiful.)
The main criticism people gave was that each of these has become cheap, mundane, repetitive and overused, like the music lost credibility when it was embraced by society at large. I guess I get it, it can be hard to notice the musical intricacies of Pomp and Circumstance when it’s the graduation song, or Pachelbel’s Canon when it’s the wedding song. But what I’m also hearing is the idea that classical music retains its value by creating an exclusive product that only a few appreciate. The problem with this kind of snobbery is that if only a select few really enjoy our concerts, the fact that everyone else doesn’t even want to come is only creating an illusion of exclusivity.
Does this mean that orchestras should only play music that the majority of their city likes? Definitely at some point, yes. But I’m also wondering aloud what would happen to our artform if the us vs them, classical vs pop, upper vs lower class paradigms disappeared and playing music people liked wasn’t a one-off pops concert. I think there is a way to have the best of both worlds: a combination of high art and popular/familiar music that musicians and the general public can get behind. American classical music is still in a funny place, emulating Europe of two centuries ago while trying to remake themselves for the next generation. There will always be a place for European music, but what about a new American sound that reflects all of the American musical influences in a complex, nuanced, artistic way? It would be very collaborative and require a very open minded artistic team, but I’m optimistic orchestras are headed in this direction.
I’m getting so far afield from the question. What’s the worst piece of music to play? Definitely anything that has the bass section sitting quietly for more than a few bars!