Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Is it unusual to love one movement of a work and dislike the others?

For example, two of my favorites are the third movements of the Korngold and Sibelius violin concertos. I just skip the first two movements when I listen to these works. Guess I'm just a bumpkin when it comes to classical music.

8 Answers

Relevance
  • 11 months ago
    Favorite Answer

    I'm not sure about "unusual" but I can think of several works that have one very popular movement that's often played, but the complete work is seldom heard, indicating that the classical-loving public feels much as you do.

    For examples:

    the 2nd movement (Scherzo) from Litolff's Concerto Symphonique #4

    the 5th movement (Toccata) from Widor's 5th Organ Symphony

    the 4th movement (Adagietto) from Mahler's 5th Symphony

    the 2nd movement of Barber's String Quartet, op. 11 (usually in the arrangement for full string orchestra)

    (and I'm sure there are more, the names of which escape me just now)

  • 7 months ago

    Usually, the first and last movements are for technique, while the middle one is for lyricism. If you like the way the composer uses their techniques, you may like that movement more. If you like the way music flows, you might like the 2nd movement more. It all depends. 

  • Anonymous
    9 months ago

    Of course it is normal for us human beings to like certain movements and dislike other works or pieces. Ling Ling however, listens to all pieces of classical music at once

  • Gregg
    Lv 6
    11 months ago

    No, it's not.  I like Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, 1st and 3rd Movements but not the 2nd.

  • How do you think about the answers? You can sign in to vote the answer.
  • 11 months ago

    I love the slow movement from Beethoven's 7th and the Adagietto from Mahler's 5th, there's nothing wrong with listening that way I think. 

  • 11 months ago

    No, it's not unusual. I believe most people who listen classical works have favorite movements including myself. Even though I have favorite movements I still listen to the entire work. To each his/her own.

  • 11 months ago

    I don't care if it's unusual or not, I don't like the first movement of some things.

  • 11 months ago

    It's okay by me.  I like the Mozart horn concertos, but I'm not fond of the second movements.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.