# Why doesn't classical music ever stay intense for more than a minute or so?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-classical-music-ever-stay-intense-for-more-than-a-minute-or-so/814704>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [May 23, 2018, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-classical-music-ever-stay-intense-for-more-than-a-minute-or-so/814704 "2018-05-23T21:56:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\
**Post date:** [May 25, 2018, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-classical-music-ever-stay-intense-for-more-than-a-minute-or-so/814704/41 "2018-05-25T20:54:12Z")

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Ok, let’s get intense!

[Grande Tarantelle for Piano and Orchestra - Louis Moreau Gottschalk](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpCdWErJWiQ)

[A version with video of the pianist!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=theeQ595ljM)  
And yes, I have the music. It’s eye-wateringly intense to try and play.

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**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-classical-music-ever-stay-intense-for-more-than-a-minute-or-so/814704/42 "2018-05-31T03:30:29Z")

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[Unable to sustain the intensity, you say?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRBdP8GepyQ)

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**Author:** ![drad\_dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/aeb1de/32.png) [@drad\_dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drad_dog)\
**Post date:** [May 31, 2018, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-classical-music-ever-stay-intense-for-more-than-a-minute-or-so/814704/43 "2018-05-31T17:19:11Z")

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This is a problem with modern listeners confronting classical music. I have a problem with the Firebird Suite. You love the theme and it’s famous. But if you listen to the piece you might miss the part you recognize completely. It’s just the climax. The rest doesn’t sound like it to me, at least until I acclimate to it, if I can.

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**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\
**Post date:** [June 4, 2018, 11:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-doesnt-classical-music-ever-stay-intense-for-more-than-a-minute-or-so/814704/44 "2018-06-04T11:10:01Z")

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> [@drad\_dog](#):
>
> This is a problem with modern listeners confronting classical music. I have a problem with the Firebird Suite. You love the theme and it’s famous. But if you listen to the piece you might miss the part you recognize completely. It’s just the climax. The rest doesn’t sound like it to me, at least until I acclimate to it, if I can.

Fun fact: [that ubiquitous Fairlight orchestral stab](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orchestra_hit)used in countless 1980s and 90s pop songs was sampled from the “Infernal Dance” movement of the Firebird Suite.

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