Challenges in Approaching Classical Music

Music creator Son Ssap aims to make classical music more approachable and fun for people by exploring the lives of classical composers.

### Understanding Classical Music with Music Creator Son Ssap
* 🎵 Son Ssap is a music creator majoring in classical music who aims to make **classical music more approachable and fun** for many people.
* 😕 Many people find classical music distant and difficult due to its **long and complex song titles**, the **formal atmosphere of concert halls**, and the **overwhelming amount of content with hundreds of years of history**.
* 🎶 Music has been present since the days of primitive people, and it began to show clearer colors from the Middle Ages, **blooming completely during the Renaissance period**.
* 🏛 The Baroque period, known for its **flamboyant and magnificent style**, was followed by the Classical period (around 1750-1820), which sought **more regular and standardized beauty**.
* 💕 The Romantic era, which followed the Classical era, focused more on **expressiveness and originality**, and it is currently the **most loved genre by the public**.
* 👗 "Just like wearing too many colors in fashion doesn't look good, in the Baroque era, there were **elaborate melodies upon more elaborate melodies**, making the listeners feel tired."
* 🕰 "Don't worry too much about memorizing the years. Just search a few years on the Internet, and you'll find the **era that follows the Classical era**."
* 🎵 "In the latter part of the lecture, Romantic era figures like **Mendelssohn, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, and Wagner** will be introduced."

We have [MUSIC] Oh, yes, [APPLAUSE]. Woo, 5, uh, uh, [APPLAUSE], uh, uh. And my major is music, specifically in classical music. In today's era, where it's quite minor, I think it's not easy to approach. It's like a woman who came back from working in the fields, it's a lesson. [APPLAUSE] First, you need to know about the hardships of the second album. Uh, [APPLAUSE]. This is a question. When it comes to classical music, I started from the moment I was born, without missing a beat. It's a bit embarrassing to package it as the story of my life, but still, it's always been there, a presence, and an interesting fellow. Since people don't know much about it, I hope I can be a bridge and make them think, Ah, there's a person like this in between. Just like having a beer or a cup of tea at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, there are people like that. And, um, this...

Once I tried to blow it, it seemed okay, but I hope that at least one composer I like or one that I hope will emerge, so I prepared the lecture diligently. [APPLAUSE] [MUSIC] Ah, [MUSIC] Hello, I am music creator Son Ssap, who creates various contents to make classical music more approachable and fun for many people. From today, through Class 2, for 15 days, we will explore the very charming and secretive private lives of a total of 14 classical composers. When you think about it, classical music is often criticized. They have been active in a country far away, and even hundreds of years ago, they were people from the old days. So, it may be unfamiliar to some and may not be of interest at all. On the other hand, I have listened to classical music in my heyday, and even those who

We may not know much about who the composer was, and some people may only be familiar with the name and song titles. However, we all tend to be like that, right? It would be great if we could just fall in love at first sight and dive into love right away, but when we try to go on a blind date and receive a photo, it's like, Hmm, not really my type. It's a bit ambiguous. However, when we actually meet the person and hear about who they are, we sometimes find them quite nice, different from what we initially thought. Curiosity arises, and we want to get to know them more. So, the stories I have prepared this time are not rigid and serious, like what they did in a certain year, what the song titles are, what form, how many beats, and all those complicated and stiff stories. I will put those aside and properly introduce classical music to you.

I'm going to order it. I only knew the name, but this person had a behind story. Various contents like this will appear. Today, instead of introducing a composer directly, I'd like to talk about why we feel distant and awkward with classical music, why it feels difficult and stiff. Shall we talk about what classical music is, where it has changed from, and how it has evolved? I recently visited a subsidiary with a feeling of a 7th grader. I gave a lecture to children and teenagers about classical music based on a book I wrote. I still vividly remember the children's expressions when I first entered there. As soon as we entered about 10 places, it seemed like they were not in a good mood. They were called out for a special lecture on the weekend, so even from a distance, they seemed tired and just wanted to go home.

That was the expression, so I asked. I knew this was a classical music event, but when I asked, they couldn't answer properly. Recently, among the people here, when I asked who has been to a classical music concert, about half of the friends raised their hands. So I asked when they had been there. By asking this, it turned out that they had gone before the operation. If it was before the operation, that friend was probably in the first or second grade of elementary school at that time. They said they went because the teacher was performing at the concert. The next question I asked was if anyone had more than three classical music pieces in their music playlist the day before. No one did, and even the parents who were there observing didn't raise their hands. Lastly, I asked who has more than five classical music pieces in their playlist right now, and as soon as I said '5', their expression changed.

I asked if there was anyone who could immediately name three or more songs and composers that have become worse, and a friend mentioned Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, Pathetique, and Passionata. He said he received this gift from me, and only one person could answer like that. From my perspective as a classical music major, I thought this could be the future of classical music in Korea. In fact, even though people of my age group don't prefer classical music much and don't listen to it much, at my university, even in general education classes, just by listening to music, the professor gives an A+. There may be some people who have heard it to some extent for some reason, or maybe because of music teachers who made them memorize the prelude of the middle and high school performance evaluations in the past. However, these days, music is passively enforced.

People rarely come across it because music applications are so well developed that when I listen to something and think Wow, this is so good, and listen to it for a long time, the app recommends similar things that I might like. As a result, my music preferences become clearer, and many people who don't want to explore unfamiliar worlds that seem boring are increasing. But nowadays, are people falling behind the trend just because their friends don't listen to music or don't listen to classical music? Recently, trot, which the younger generation doesn't particularly like, has been gaining immense popularity, and the enthusiasm for it is still strong. Not only that, but recently, retro fashion or things that were popular in the 2010s are regaining popularity. However, it seems difficult for classical music to take the main stage.

It's hard. What could be the reason? So one day, I kept thinking about why it's so hard to make a living with classical music. Why don't people succeed in classical music? Actually, when you dislike something, the biggest problem is you. When someone asks you, What is classical music? If you just become like this, you can't find the problem, so you can't make corrections. Fortunately, classical music has a few prominent reasons. The first is the long and complex song titles. Let me give you an example. Recently, BTS's first album cover, which topped the Billboard Hot 100, is very high-quality just by looking at it. The title is Butter, so you might think, Oh, the song is about butter. Since butter is not a food, it's not a food description. What is butter trying to describe? Thanks to such intuitive titles, it's easy to infer and understand the meaning.

The titles are clear and easy to remember. Everyone around the world can quickly understand and communicate with BTS's Butter screen. On the other hand, there are many difficulties in classical international titles. For example, when you hear Piano Sonata Op.5 Moon Ver. S. Lee 1st Movement, you may not even know what was said. Imagine you are standing in a cafe trying to order coffee, and you see a menu with titles flowing by that you really like. So, you want to ask the barista about it. You go up and ask, What is this classical music title? Then what happens next? It becomes a big deal. Not only is it confusing for the person who needs to read the title, but even if someone tells you the title of the piece, you may not remember what was said, making it difficult to understand. Also, you don't have to go to a cafe specifically. It's okay. What was the title of the piece I just mentioned?

Just a minute hasn't passed, and I can't remember. That's because the entry barrier is too high. Of course, since the late Joseon Dynasty, difficult terms like this have been more important than the song titles. So, many customers who accurately know the names are impressed. But you might wonder what it is. It's difficult, but actually, once you know it, it's not that difficult. Usually, the names of instruments like piano and violin come at the beginning of the song title. Then it means a piece played on that instrument. Next, following that pattern, things like sonatas, suites, and nocturnes come. After that, there's op. which stands for opera, indicating it's a published piece. So, in simple terms, if we talk about it in book terms, it means which book it is. It shows how many editions of sheet music have been published. And the letters written on the left side are No. This means the sheet music collection.

It's not about that, it's about writing down which number among those vowels it is. The first movement is a movement, like the first, second, like that, tell us which number movement it is in. So, as I mentioned earlier, in the piano sonata op.5, number three, the long title contains all the information about the piece. It's a piano piece, probably in sonata form, and it's the third piece in the fifth published collection, so it must be the first movement. But now, besides these unnamed pieces, if we talk about the Moonlight Sonata, it becomes somewhat familiar. The name for this is Moonlight Sonata, 1st movement, 2nd movement, like that. The Moonlight Sonata's original title is Piano Sonata op. 27, again this is number 14, not the first movement. You must feel a considerable distance, so this is why, like the Moonlight, there is no accurate title.

No, it has a big influence on ordinary people. The second reason why it is difficult to get close to classical music is probably because of the stiff appearance of the concert hall during the playtime. This is something that many people would probably empathize with. Nowadays, popular songs take up about 3 minutes, so you can easily switch to a different tempo and atmosphere by listening to various songs. For example, if you want to listen to a piece like Moonlight Sonata, it takes about an average of 40 minutes for the entire piece. Before closing the first movement, it's not just about casually giving it a try, but it feels like you need to make a huge mental preparation, gather your thoughts, and then listen. Also, classical concert halls are the culture enjoyed by the European nobility in the past, so there is a certain etiquette regarding attire.

To some extent, it is necessary. Well, these days, as long as you're not just dragging your slippers too much, casually dressing doesn't really lead to being kicked out or causing problems. Still, you feel like you should dress up a bit unnecessarily and come out, right? You also have to be careful about clapping at the wrong time for no reason, and if you try to stand out even a little, you feel like you might get caught, right? This kind of thing doesn't really suit me now, so it becomes a factor that distances me. Let's delve a little deeper into the third reason. If you are someone who has a slight liking for classics beyond the first and second reasons, you may want to know more, but then, so the third reason I picked is, but why is it a bit strange to say, but something a little more interesting than the first and second issues.

Even if you have it, you might be confused about what you should listen to or where to start. Who is this composer, and where does he come from, what does he do? Even if you try to approach it this way, many people are confused because there are hundreds of years' worth of data accumulated, not knowing where to start. That's why I'm here. After these 15 lectures, I hope you will have listened to various good music and picked up some good habits. You don't need to take notes, and you don't need to do any calculations. Just listen in the most relaxed state with interest. Where does music start? What is music, and how should we explain the origin of music? Just like when we talk about the origin of language and find it in ancient murals, many music scholars say that primitive people.

Music has existed as music itself since the days of hunting life. So when I just asked question 1, Where did music begin? It is accurate to say that it started from that time. Probably, there may not be many people who can answer, It started from here. However, after finding musical instruments or scores in ancient murals or artifacts, we can only speculate that music might have existed even at that time. But in fact, humans have carried music in their bodies since birth. The heartbeat in our bodies plays the rhythm from the moment we are born until we die. Going back further, we listen to the rhythm of our mother's heartbeat from the fetus stage and grow up. So, maybe even without looking for the origin of music, we might be in music itself. It is said that the time when music begins to show clearer colors is usually from the Middle Ages. Many people say this. This story is again like me, a major in [MUSIC].

People are all bored and tired, so they will just pass by. And then, including the history of music, art, architecture, all the history of arts walk together, so it was a time when art blossomed completely, naturally, during the Renaissance period. Of course, music also developed at an incredibly fast pace. This time, we will move on to the Baroque period. The reason for starting with the Baroque period as the first story is that it is the oldest period among the ones we will learn in the next 15 lectures. Also, composers like Bach and Handel, who we have heard of somewhere, emerged around this time. The culture of the Baroque period pursued magnificence not only in music but in all areas of art. They couldn't stand empty spaces, so they were filled to the maximum and loved things that moved brilliantly and flamboyantly.

The flamboyant Baroque era is fading, giving way to the Classical period. During this time, some of the most famous figures in music history emerge. Just hearing the names Mozart and Beethoven might put you at ease. If you think you haven't heard of them, then let me introduce one more person. He is the one who taught Mozart and Beethoven, and composed the Surprise Symphony - Haydn. I will introduce these three individuals. What color of clothes do you like? Today, I am wearing a sky blue outfit. Lately, I have been obsessed with sky blue, so when I opened my wardrobe, I found a lot of sky blue clothes. Anyway, everyone has different preferences for colors and tastes, but there is one immutable rule that resonates with people who are not familiar with fashion - don't mix too many colors. Today, I am wearing a sky blue dress, and also, I have a red one.

Because you like it, wear a red scarf, put on pink shoes, wear a yellow jacket, and then carry a green bag. If you do this, it becomes too much. No matter how pretty the colors are, if there are too many colors mixed, it won't look good. Just like that, in the Baroque era music, there are elaborate melodies on top of more elaborate melodies, and then even more elaborate accompaniments. This starts to make the listeners feel tired. So, people start to crave artificial beauty less and begin to desire more regular and standardized things. This is when classical music came into the picture. Classical music refers to the music era from around 1750 to 1820. I will mention years like this frequently, but don't worry too much. When I teach students, I often talk about this, but you don't have to memorize it unless you are taking a test.

Just search for a few years on the Internet and you will find the era that follows the classical era, which is the most beloved music era for Koreans, the Romantic era. If we interpret romantic, it means giving romance. Since we compared the classical era to clothes, let's talk about this now. Let's imagine a person next to us who is very neat, tidy, and elegantly dressed. Most people find stability in a consistent appearance rather than a carefree one. At first sight, you might think, Wow, that looks cool, but if that person wears the same clothes every day and sits next to you, you might feel a bit bored after a while. Therefore, the Romantic era breaks away from the objective and standardized framework of the classical era and starts from now, focusing more on expressiveness and originality.

Emphasizing subjectivity in musicians and highlighting romance as the name suggests, it touches people's emotions a lot. That's why it's currently the most loved genre by the public. In the latter part of the lecture, the Romantic era will be introduced, and you will encounter figures like Mendelssohn, Schubert, Chopin, Liszt, Schumann, Brahms, and Wagner. In addition, two impressionist composers and Russian composers will also be introduced. Because they are grouped in a different way, I will briefly touch upon them again when they appear. How was today? Suddenly a classical lecture came up, and you might already feel sleepy, right? Please say no. Instead, in the remaining time, I will help you get closer to classical music, so let's delve into the charm of composers in earnest.

Please come visit us next time for a chat in the car. That's all for the story I prepared today. I'm Song Sa-bee. Thank you for being with me.

[1강무료보기] 클래식이 어려운 당신에게ㅣ클래스e - 송사비의 《클래식 뮤직 드라마》

Knowledge and information are becoming more important in all areas of today's society. EBS provides the information to make people's lives more enjoyable and prosperous.

EBS는 다양한 교양 문화 프로그램들과 전문성을 갖춘 교육정보 프로그램들을 통해 지식 뿐만 아니라 인문학적 소양과 교양을 두루 갖춘 가치있는 정보들을 전달하겠습니다.

EBSCulture (EBS 교양)

Making Classical Music Approachable and Fun

Son Ssap, a music creator, is on a mission to make classical music more accessible and enjoyable for people.

He aims to explore the private lives of 14 classical composers in a non-rigid and serious manner, hoping to spark curiosity and make the genre less distant.

Son Ssap also shares his experience of giving a lecture on classical music to children and teenagers, aiming to change the perception of the genre from an early age.

The Challenge of Popularizing Classical Music

Many people, including the younger generation and parents, have little to no classical music in their playlists.

The passive enforcement of music through applications makes it challenging for classical music to gain exposure.

The genre's complex song titles and lack of intuitive meaning make it difficult for people to easily engage with classical music.

Classical music titles are often long and confusing, creating a barrier for listeners to understand and remember them.

The structure of these titles, including the instrument, form, and publication details, can be deciphered with some knowledge.

The length and complexity of classical pieces, as well as the formal atmosphere of concert halls, can also make the genre feel inaccessible to many modern listeners.

The Origin of Music: A Journey Through Time

Casual dressing and fear of standing out can create a sense of alienation.

The complexity of music's origins, from ancient murals to the rhythm of the human body, makes it a fascinating and accessible art form.

The Middle Ages are often highlighted as the period when music began to take on a clearer form, but the true origin of music can be traced back to the primal rhythm of human existence.

The Evolution of Music from Baroque to Classical Period

The Baroque period was a time of elaborate and flamboyant art and music, with prominent composers like Bach, Handel, and Haydn emerging during this time.

However, the elaborate melodies and accompaniments of the Baroque era eventually led to a desire for more regular and standardized music, marking the transition to the Classical period.

Classical music, characterized by a focus on simplicity and elegance, saw the rise of iconic figures like Mozart and Beethoven from 1750 to 1820.

The transition from the Baroque to the Classical period reflected a shift in musical preferences towards more balanced and standardized compositions.

The Romantic era in music is a departure from the classical era, focusing on expressiveness and originality.

It emphasizes subjectivity, highlights romance, and evokes strong emotions in listeners.

The era features renowned composers such as Mendelssohn, Schubert, Chopin, and Liszt, making it the most loved genre by the public.