Music on TV commercial

HELP! I'm sure you've seen the commercial with the players doing someone's piano quintet. By the end the pianist has practically destroyed his instrument, one of the violinist's has here strings practically cutting off, and when the cellist is finished he takes his instrument and smashes it on stage. But, what is the name of the piece they're playingl Sounds wonderful, and I'm not usually into chamber music.

Best,

Mark Allen Zimmerman * Chicago

I haven't seen the commercial so I'm afraid I can't help. However, I am curious to know the product or service being offered, so I can avoid it.

I haven't seen the commercial in question, but on the topic of Classical Music in commercials, I just saw an ad for a local rock station. A guy is sitting at an opera and then puts on headphones and listens to the rock station.

I remember another commercial a while back where some muscians are playing something that sounds like a slow movement from a 20th century piece and then switch to jazz much to the delight not only of the people in the audience, but also of the conductor and musicians themselves. As though NOBODY in the entire world could possibly like classical music, including its own audiences and performers! (Please, no comments along the lines of: 'nobody likes 20th century music...' I think the implication was against all classical music, as they didn't switch to Mozart or Schumann, but rather to jazz + lots of people love 20th century music)

I would really like to see a commercial where someone is at a rock concert and then puts on headphones and listens to Haydn. Or a rock band suddenly smashes their guitars and starts playing Shoty's 8th String Quartet. Not likely, huh?

Why must advertisers put classical music down?

Regards,

Are you sure it is a quintet? You probably mean the 'commercial' for public television on public television (at least it's playing on WFYI here in Indianapolis) ending in 'be more empowered' or something. I think it is the 'Rondo alla Zingarese', the final movement of the piano quartet op 25 by Brahms.

I for one don't buy the 'classical music listener as victim' view. Nobody is out to 'get' us. Rock and classical co-exist quite nicely in my home (though my wife dislikes Mahler and The Grateful Dead for essentially the same reason).

Marc Perman

It doesn't affect you any, but consider this: It's helping to program young people, potentially the next generation of music listeners, into thinking that classical music is something detestable which must be avoided at all costs. There will, of course, be rebels, but will there be enough?

Since they're not getting much of it from schools or popular culture, the commercials certainly don't help much.

And quick, what is the precise purpose of a commercial? Why, to endeavor to influence the actions and opinions of millions of people.

We're in trouble here, folks.

On 25 Feb 2003 16:32:48 GMT, 'Matthew B. Tepper (posts from uswest.net

It's a commercial that runs on KCET. I have no problem with the use of classical music in this commercial, but I find the destruction of the musical instruments offensive.

KCET! Well, I should have known. The commercial is a parable for the way PBS has been treating classical music for the last few years (at least).