Much of what we love musically is dependent on what we were exposed to in our formative years, imo. It could be similar to learning a language; you can learn later, but it's much harder. And I think you can appreciate, but not really love, many things. I am convinced than most of the people sitting around me at the opera are there to be seen- at least in the orchestra seats. This is born out by the snoring men and the empty seats after intermissions, although Carmen and much of Mozart and Puccini tend to stay full to the end- probably because they are more familiar and musically more accessible. Up in the cheapseats are the students in their jeans, and the unwashed masses who can't afford it but really do love opera, probably getting a lot more of out of it.
If your children are exposed to opera early, they will probably continue to enjoy it to some extent, even if they don't wind up loving it.
I know you are close to a city with a terrific opera company. If they do Hansel and Gretel, or Carmen or Magic Flute, try to get the kids there. The spectacle of the productions makes it even more exciting. Ours loved it and Ammo, as you know, even goes on his own now and his ear- maybe because of rock music and strange teen things- is more appreciative of modern opera than mine. He adored Wozzeck while I sat there tensely searching for a melody- any melody.
Our western ears have learned to hear and appreciate certain harmonies over others. Eastern music is so totally alien to us that we can't even distinguish between the pitches. Where we are raised on semi-tones, they divide into microtones that we can't begin to reproduce and would hear as just being "off"- if we could hear it at all. I think growing up on Bach and Mozart left me permanently attached to very tonal, organized music. When I want to be comforted, to feel safe, I put on Baroque or Classical period.
By the way, I don't know if you all realized it, but there actually IS a Gothic musical period around 1200-1500- when polyphonic music began, and contrapuntal and fughal styles also developed, obviously influencing our JSB. So if he reminds you of Gothic, there is a reason. Plus he did wear a lot of black.
My favorite Bach is PDQ. We used to play him while driving carpool and the kids loved it- I bet yours would enjoy him if you haven't already got some. Missa Hilarious was a favorite, along with Oedipus Tex, and The Short-Tempered Clavichord.
We alternated these with Weird Al Yankovik.
Now you know why my children grew up so musically precocious. :) |
