Why we need Classical Music | Rowan James Curtis | TEDxSurreyUniversity

Classical music has been pushed over the edge of what's cool for far too long. In this talk - with clips from some of the greatest composers in history - Rowan explains why all of us need classical music and why the world of Classical music is a bit like Game of Thrones.
Rowan spends his nine-to-fives trying not to blow himself up in a particle accelerator (Diamond Light Source, Oxfordshire). When he's not doing physics, he likes to read, write stories (set in weird places like coral reefs) and do all things musical.
His musical endeavours include gigging and recording in multiple rock bands, playing various instruments (some normal, some very strange) and singing for the University of Surrey Big Band.
He grew up in Southampton and is a lifelong supporter of Saints FC.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@jamien.5528]

Yes!! I’m 15 and I totally feel the same! There needs to be more recognition for classical music among young people

[@abrahampalmer1153]

Same they really need to open up their minds more instead of relying on TV and radio and top 40 hits for music.

[@tedason5797]

You're right, classical music is underated.

[@elizabethperez2027]

Eddy

[@nando2067]

Hi 2 set

[@ianw1976]

@@nando2067 Exactly what I was thinking.

[@ErraticRock]

Very good talk, but pity about the poor quality of the music played, so loud it was distorted.

[@user-vm5ud4xw6n]

I was having a difficult time with it because of all the pacing. Very distracting. I enjoy classical music and have been listening many of the TED talks on classical music. But it’s hard to concentrate on the message when the person speaking is waving their arms around or pacing the floor. Some movement is necessary to keep from being “robotic” in the presentation. But too much is annoying and detracts from what the speaker is trying to convey!

[@lucywyndhamread]

Absolutely fantastic and Rowan is a breath of fresh air and an incredible speaker.

[@lemonsavery]

too bad the actual speaker wasn't nearly as good.

[@jamien.5528]

Hey Lucy!

[@lovedalejoyana9785]

Many thanks, been searching for "classical music score download free" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Have you ever come across - Jonwen Doniden Rule - (do a search on google ) ? Ive heard some decent things about it and my mate got amazing results with it.

[@projectjayme1109]

Currently at a cafe, writing a piece titled “Why Classical Music is Revolutionary”. I feel the exact same way. I’ve loved it since I was in my early teens, I’m now only 22. Still, the only young person attending these concerts! I love it! Beautiful speech.

[@applepeel1662]

The last one just made something click inside me and I felt things I've never felt before

[@dariuschan7329]

OH WOW. I did not expect shosty's pc 2 to show up here. As a 15 yr old this is possibly one of my favourite pieces of all time, and i wouldnt mind listening to the 2nd movement for the last 7 minutes before i die. The interwoven mix of hope from the piano and despair from the orchestra, blending into this melancholic feeling of acceptance at the end is jus so profound and evocative

[@apocraphontripp4728]

Ive always thought... If we cant go out in space physicality we could always send out our soul...in the form of our greatest composers. All they need to know about us is there. A serande to whoever is out there. Imagine being an alien scientist and recieving moonlight sonata. Can you imagine Alien musicians marveling in the precision of Mozart, the surprises of Beethoven the passion of Tchovsky. I think the first signal well get is also their music. Its the perfect message.

[@henriwila3473]

This Video has just made me so happy. I always felt bad, because classical music is my passion and everybody (especially at my age of 16) just looks down on it. That hurts a lot. And I think it's cool if someone just doesn't like classical music. But I believe there are too many people with false assumptions and a false image of the genre on their mind so they do not even really try listening to it. There should be more talks like this.

[@SophieLeung-du9we]

You are not alone. I have the same experience as you ❤

[@DreamlessSleepwalker]

The bass boosted Elgar made me start laughing.

[@andreasvandieaarde]

If you can play it quietly, you can play it loudly innit

[@matheus10101995]

So good! I’ve never seen classical music this way. And is fascinating to see a young person with that sensibility for music. Thanks a lot!

[@basilelton9471]

I’m a classical music fan, not my only musical taste of course, and I loved you Spotify selection, ¡enhorabuena!

[@ursulageorgeson7086]

Maybe the reason Classical ideals are associated with older people is that as one ages we tend to respect endurance and find lasting quality more appealing than attempting to be avant garde.

[@chuckmccroskey4864]

I was into rock music and in 1972 Jethro Tull moved me to study classical guitar because of a Bach Bouree that Ian Anderson played on the flute. Now, I have played in plenty of rock bands, but today at 67 I still play Bach for 20 minutes daily on my classical guitar. I studied seriously for well over 20 years and still cannot get passed my obsession with classical guitar. I pick it up and play daily.

[@wacoglee]

Thanks for the playlist. That is smart thinking, Rowan! Great talk at a perfect time for me. I am really trying to increase my knowledge (more importantly, my appreciation) of classical music.

[@rowancurtis410]

Great to hear, I hope you enjoy it! Happy to give any suggestions/guidance as you explore. The best thing to do is to go to concerts! (The BBC Proms is coming up in London if you're in the UK this summer.)

[@anaelizabeth1514]

How can I find the playlist?

[@BillChanhkcom]

Ling ling approves.

[@katehallmond]

Do you think this is the one Eddy is doing? I'm really looking forward to it :-)

[@danaimakri1578]

@@katehallmond yes it is! i think sibelius only wrote 1 violin concerto!

[@romanvoropaevmusic]

Love Classical Music? I'm a composer and make this kind of music too! :)

[@alariaaurora8456]

Im so glad that i listened to classic music when i was 15

[@rash3732]

im 14 :D

[@joshuaknapp1422]

Fantastic message. Right on time. More will be revealed

[@pd8250]

Am a big Uk/European heavy metal fan, also a a classical fan...so how...the heavy metal scene has a story to play to, the classical has a story to be made. Love your vid, hope more youngsters relate

[@benmeitzen4184]

This is so inspiring!

[@LinhNguyen-di5bz]

Sibelius composed his Violin concerto in 1905, when he was only 40, not in his 60s. He continued to write many more pieces after that.

[@sophiatalksmusic3588]

Rowan didn't say he wrote it in his 60s; he said he wrote it before he stopped writing music in his 60s.

[@richardharris8538]

It's such a shame that the audio quality is so bad. I fear the quality of the music won't be apparent to some viewers. An excellent talk, by the way.

[@pottersmiles7238]

I really enjoyed this presentation.

[@celinedouce9933]

Wonderful

[@enasalsabbagh6771]

Wow i like it

[@JohnthePixelizedGuy]

Wow

[@cynthealacroix9069]

Awe-inspiring!..Please will you post the last piece and composer's name as well as the violinist that came out on stage and when he began to perform,transformed. Wonderful talk. I listen mainly only to classical and this talk I will be sharing. Thank you... Much Love

[@rowancurtis2334]

Great to hear you enjoyed the talk, Cynthea. The last piece is Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto and the violinist was Augustin Hadelich. Hope that helps!

[@pottersmiles7238]

Best performance is by Maxim Vengerov and also Sarah Chang

[@doomslayer516]

I fell in love with classical music when I was 8

[@elizabetharias6989]

For anyone who likes classical music and comedy, TwoSetViolin videos are for you. 😂👌

[@laurabowden9439]

Pink Elizabeth LING LING INSURANCE

[@pspspsps9848]

Ling Ling wannabe here

[@elizabetharias6989]

Twosetters are everywhere :3 💕

[@pspspsps9848]

@Meine Meinung du Falafel Maybe it's because there're a bunch of inside jokes that new subscribers don't get it. I started with the simple classical composer jokes, then scrolled through their channel and started loving those guys.

[@symonegreen7493]

Practice 40 a day

[@roninsrealm8150]

I really wanna know what part of the sibelius violin concerto he played !!

[@moonlxs6490]

4:00

[@fauzanahladzikri]

What's the last piece's title?

[@ragnar0209]

It's the Sibelius violin concerto

[@jkugler1776]

@@ragnar0209 Thanks, I could not google what I was hearing for the life of me

[@mr.perfect223]

What is the last song he plays. I was looking for it but I didn't find it in his violin Concertos.

[@appledashing3241]

Sibelius had only written one violin concerto.

[@mr.perfect223]

@@appledashing3241 Ah i found it

[@justinabernard8830]

I can’t seem to find the playlist on Spotify. Is it still up?

[@MegaChip97]

Yes

[@andreasvandieaarde]

Hopefully you've found it but if not, it's precisely "TEDx Surrey University"

[@Dhruvnater456]

No J.S Bach?

[@Hawaiianon]

BUT WAIT, everyone around me says music is subjective so if I say Tupac & Stevie Wonder are more emotional than Elgar or Tchaikovsky, then that makes it right! :D

[@abrahampalmer1153]

Yea but Tchaikovsky is objectively better than Tupac and Stevie wonder combine.

[@abrahampalmer1153]

@ Indeed

[@marioneira777]

The way that music makes you feel is subjective. The actual complexity, symmetry, and structure of a piece is what makes a piece objectively more beautiful. Beauty in the end is an objective thing.

[@pookz3067]

@@marioneira777 lol, if you can prove musical beauty is an objective thing you’d have a job for as a tenured professor life at any university in the world.

[@pookz3067]

@@marioneira777 the facts about symmetry, structure, and complexity are objective. The fact that these objective facts make a piece of music more beautiful objectively is not agreed upon at all by experts

[@leafrost256]

the six dislikes: justin bieber fangirls

[@jonjoe1532]

The macho india densply stroke because cobweb visually groan circa a bitter gymnast. obtainable, eminent tugboat

[@tuankiet6833]

Lmao i bet sibelius got rejected by some woman when he wrote the violin concerto

[@tj-co9go]

Actually no, he had a long marriage with Aino Järnefelt (afterwards Aino Sibelius)

[@CosmosWorld]

The sound quality of the music is terrible! It actually scares people off of classical music rather than attracts them..

[@fuzzy-02]

Ahhh stop walking like that

[@massapekiatx6584]

These dudes had nothing to do but look at trees and play classical music in those days. That music consists of more brain power then today's I would assume minus the technology. They say just listening to classical music increases iq.

[@JacobThe0dore]

Rap sucks

[@abrahampalmer1153]

Indeed and promotes nothing but negativity stereotypes about blacks in general

[@joseph3543]

What a well though out and insightful comment

[@markharris5400]

No answer, and this is the problem, elitism incarnate ...than kyou

[@richardayersp9967]

yo this is boring

[@marioneira777]

I disagree

[@brodietutt5730]

The dude an’t even from America

[@tiegideon9816]

shut up snowflake

[@happypuddle1993]

I can’t tell if you’re being ironic or not.

[@Ronin-kk4bt]

So what?