Yesterday, determined to get one of my young students to relish the humor of a certain well-known Clementi Sonatina in C, I suggested she play only the quarter notes: leaving out everything else, play only the quarter notes. It was, according to her, like playing a different piece.

In the evening I heard a recent piano work by John Adams, the effect of which was very similar to that of playing only those quarter notes.

Try it with any familiar Classical work. Let me know what happens.