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Glossary entry

Spanish term or phrase:

en la clásica se ha pecado demasiado de vestidos largos

English translation:

sometimes there is too much emphasis on formal wear in classical music

Added to glossary by Lisa McCarthy
Jul 5, 2011 20:03
12 yrs ago
1 viewer *
Spanish term

en la clásica se ha pecado demasiado de vestidos largos

Spanish to English Other Music Interview with a pianist
I understand wht this means but just can´t come up with soemthing I like at the moment. Toying with the idea of 'classical music is guilty of dressing itself up too much/over-dressing, etc...' or something to that effect Any suggestions welcome. For the UK.

Comment by a young pianist:

"Si pudiese tocar en vaqueros sería feliz", explica una de las más firmes promesas de la música clásica española. "A veces, **en la clásica se ha pecado demasiado de vestidos largos** que la alejan de la gente. Tanta formalidad asusta. Para apreciar la música clásica no hace falta entender de música clásica. Se trata de sentir", dice.
Proposed translations (English)
3 The focus on formal wear in classical music is often excessive...
4 +1 classical music sometimes too overdressed in black tie formality
4 has always draped itself in too much formality
4 there is too much pomp and ceremony in classical music
4 classical music has overdone it with the long black dresses
4 (Sometimes people find) the formal dress code of classical too daunting
4 classical music has been too much about dressing up
4 Classical music has been presented too often as black tie and long dresses
3 classical music has always been too elitist

Discussion

Richard Hill Jul 5, 2011:
'classical music is guilty of dressing itself up.. to my ears this wording makes it sound as through the music "itself" is too pompous (which in itself could be debatable) but...
Lisa McCarthy (asker) Jul 5, 2011:
Yes Female pianist, hence the reference to long dresses. She wants to move classical music away from this image, to make it less 'stuffy'.
moken Jul 5, 2011:
Female I presume? Hi Lisa. This is a female pianist we're talking about I presume?
anademahomar Jul 5, 2011:
You're right, Lisa. How about "classical music has sometimes been too "black tie""?

Proposed translations

13 hrs
Selected

The focus on formal wear in classical music is often excessive...

My suggestion for the entire sentence:

"The focus on formal wear in classical music is often excessive and pushes people away."

If you want something sharper (the speaker uses "pecar" so I think you could go with something more dramatic in English too):

"The obsession with formal wear in classical music often goes too far and pushes people away."
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks, Aisha and everybody for your help. This was a tricky one to decide on - lots of good suggestions, but this one was closest to what I eventually went with: "..sometimes there is too much emphasis on formal wear in classical music, which tends to distance it from the audience"."
2 mins

classical music has always been too elitist

That´s my interpretation
Note from asker:
Hi, I'm hoping to keep the reference to clothing, as this young pianist is trying to make classical music accessible to everyone, that's why she'd feel very happy if she could give her recitals wearing jeans.
Peer comment(s):
neutral philgoddard : This doesn't do justice to the colorful expression - and it's "sometimes", not "always".
5 mins
point taken
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14 mins

has always draped itself in too much formality

An idea. A perfect example of the new republic's urge to drape itself with ... www.famousquotesabout.com/quote/A-perfect.../297714 - En cachéA perfect example of the new republic's urge to drape itself with the togas of classical respectability. (quote);13 Feb 2011 – You have created the news event “HNIC chooses to drape itself in the flag not politics” and it can be found at: ...;www.confessingevangelical.com/?p=626 - En caché16 Sep 2010 – For coercion to do its work, it must drape itself in the alluring dress of a woman. The law for Burke is a cross-dresser. ...;www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles/SamwayPercy.php - En cachéAlthough it drapes itself in the mantle of the scientific method and free scientific inquiry, it is neither free nor scientific. ...
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21 mins

there is too much pomp and ceremony in classical music

From reading all the text you've provided I don't think it's a metaphor for the music itself, I think he's literally talking about the way musicians (and the audience members) are forced to dress up when giving their recitals and concerts, and this puts off the potential audience from attending. In his case, he'd like to play wearing cowboy boots. Thus he thinks it's the formality that scares away the potential audience and not the overdressed classical music itself. I heard a BBC radio 4 interview the other day discussing this very topic. Thank God for radio 4 which I listen to all day while translating to stop me going completely off my rockers.
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+1
45 mins

classical music sometimes too overdressed in black tie formality

another option

black tie is not just for men btw, for women it means a long evening gown, whereas she'd like to wear cowboy boots

or

"having to get all dressed up"
Peer comment(s):
agree philgoddard : Classical music IS sometimes - and you can't say "too overdressed". But I like the way you've kept the clothing theme.
2 mins
thank you!
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54 mins

classical music has overdone it with the long black dresses

I don't think you need to get too metaphorical with this one, she's talking literally about what the female members of the orchestra wear.

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Note added at 56 mins (2011-07-05 21:00:10 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Actually I've just seen that she doesn't mention black - though they usually are in the more formal orchestras.
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1 hr
Spanish term (edited): (A veces,) en la clásica se ha pecado demasiado de vestidos largos (que la alejan de la gente)

(Sometimes people find) the formal dress code of classical too daunting


My stab at it.

Example sentence:

A veces, <u>en la clásica se ha pecado demasiado de vestidos largos</u> que la alejan de la gente. Tanta formalidad asusta.

Sometimes people find <u>the formal dress code of classical too daunting</u>. So much formality scares people.

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2 hrs

classical music has been too much about dressing up

Another idea.
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23 hrs

Classical music has been presented too often as black tie and long dresses

or "has presented itself too much as..." I think having both black tie and long dresses reinforces the idea of the image being presented more than just long dresses alone. Or possibly "Classical music has too much of an image of black tie and long dresses." Some variation of that might work, too, given that it's a a direct quote from a young pianist.
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