How do you listen to new music?

[Diletante]

Good afternoon.

As I am fairly new to classical music, I have a lot of pieces that are on my 'waiting list' to be heard for the first time. I may already have them, but I haven't listened to them yet.

I'm used to listening to new music very slowly. I mean, what I usually do is listen to a 'new' piece for at least three or four times before moving on to another 'new' piece. This way, I don't get overwhelmed and I'm able to get familiar with the piece.

For example, for the past five days or so I've listened to only two new pieces: Mahler's 1st symphony and Shostakovich's 7th symphony. Both are also the first composition I hear of that composer. I'm having trouble appreciating the Shostakovich (apart from that compelling march of the first movement), but I like the Mahler very much (especially the second movement).

So, how do you listen to new music?

(EDIT: grammar)

[mn dave]

Willy-nilly.

[karlhenning]

So, how do you listen to new music?

I happily follow momentary enthusiasms.

[Opus106]

Just let it play in the "background", pick up interesting themes and rhythms here and there (they work as route markers the next time I listen to the work.) I also read about the work, usually at allmusic.com if the work has an associated description and at a level that non-musicians can understand.

[Kuhlau]

Let new works reach you as and when they do. I've tried to 'understand' unfamiliar music before now, but I came to the conclusion that just listening is really the only way (for me) to start appreciating a composer's work. If you like it, you'll know. If you don't, try it again another day.

FK

[Bulldog]

Just let it play in the "background", pick up interesting themes and rhythms here and there (they work as route markers the next time I listen to the work.) I also read about the work, usually at allmusic.com if the work has an associated description and at a level that non-musicians can understand.

I never listen to music as "background", so that can't work for me.  My usual regimen with new music is to give it my full concentration but allow it to "sink in" in a natural fashion.  Once familiar with the music, I'm ready to give it some analysis.

I do agree with opus67 concerning reading about the work; I also recommend reading about the composer.  A little research can provide valuable insights about the music.

[Sef]

For example, for the past five days or so I've listened to only two new pieces: Mahler's 1st symphony and Shostakovich's 7th symphony. Both are also the first composition I hear of that composer. I'm having trouble appreciating the Shostakovich (apart from that compelling march of the first movement), but I like the Mahler very much (especially the second movement).

I feel quite an affinity with you. I have tried both methods mentioned (fully concentrate and background music) and this is my opinion. I remember Mahler 1 in the background for a week (in the car), and I too picked up on the second movement. However when giving it my full concentration it didn't take long to relegate that movement to a catchy band tune (however pertinent and planned it was by the composer) with the real substance being in the two outer movements. Either way though the first 4 symphonies have enough of those "catchy moments" to provide "hooks" to instantly like the piece for further investigation. 5 onwards got progressively trickier. I don't quite know how/when I got Shostakovich. I know for quite some time that I thought it just a random jumble of notes. If someone was playing it wrong I just wouldn't have noticed. I had to concentrate in order to understand the piece at all. So playing music in the background may help you to pick up likeable tunes and get you started, but you have to concentrate in order to fully appreciate it, and if you don't then you may miss out on some wonderful music altogether. If you must start with a Shostakovich symphony though may I suggest #5?

[Kullervo]

Always three times for a piece new to me, then I move onto something else. After a few weeks I give it another listen, which is very often when (almost like magic, really) it all "clicks" for me.

[Diletante]

Always three times for a piece new to me, then I move onto something else. After a few weeks I give it another listen, which is very often when (almost like magic, really) it all "clicks" for me.

I can relate to that! I've always wondered why that happens.

I feel quite an affinity with you. I have tried both methods mentioned (fully concentrate and background music) and this is my opinion. [...]

I usually try the 'background' method for unknown Baroque and Classical works. I think they make amazing background music and they are great to listen to when surfing the web. However, I usually don't like putting unknown Romantic and (especially) later works as background music because they are very unsettling for me. They are so unpredictable, and I get bored during slow movements if I'm not paying attention or I'm not familiar with the piece.

If you must start with a Shostakovich symphony though may I suggest #5?

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take that into account.

[mn dave]

I call this the "Gomez Addams".

[Opus106]

Just to make my point clear: By "play it in the background" I don't mean it as background music for a dinner party. I'm certainly not listening to Mahler and Bruckner like that! I follow it, expect things to happen, so on and so forth. What I don't do is analyse the music, and be ready to put up a write-up on my first impressions. At the end of it, I either like it and would like to listen it another time (immediately or a few days later) or I don't like it and don't bother listening to it until I feel I can give the music another try.

[Sef]

Thanks for the recommendation, I'll take that into account.

I see from your introduction that you like concertos. You might also want to try the Sibelius violin concerto (if you haven't already), and then my personal favourite, the Shostakovich. The Pascaglia is possibly the most beautiful vc movement ever written - just an opinion of course!

[Bulldog]

Always three times for a piece new to me, then I move onto something else. After a few weeks I give it another listen, which is very often when (almost like magic, really) it all "clicks" for me.

I think that's an excellent way to go.

[Kullervo]

I think that's an excellent way to go.

I think so too, and it came from spending a good deal of time trying different approaches to finally settle on one that satisfies. If I haven't broken a piece by the fourth or fifth try, I just decide for now that it isn't for me.

[Sef]

I don't know if it is available in your parts, but I find that a Naxos subscription ($20 a year) is really helpful. Listen before you buy. Anything mainstream is there and much else besides.... www.naxos.com

[Diletante]

I see from your introduction that you like concertos. You might also want to try the Sibelius violin concerto (if you haven't already), and then my personal favourite, the Shostakovich. The Pascaglia is possibly the most beautiful vc movement ever written - just an opinion of course!

Oh, yes, I love the Sibelius violin concerto!

As for the Shostakovich violin concerto, I have this recording on my 'waiting list':



Is that the violin concerto you're referring to? Is that a good recording?

I also have Bartók's three piano concertos available but haven't listened to them, and Berg's violin concerto, Spohr's 8th violin concerto, Strauss' oboe concerto, a couple of Mozart's concertos, Beethoven's triple concerto and his violin concerto... Like I said, there's a lot I have to listen to, and I try not to get overwhelmed by it. 

[Teresa]

With a new to me composition I turn out the lights and get ready to experience the thrill ride.  And sometimes it is just that, I remember back in 1973 when I first heard "The Rite of Spring" I nearly feel off the couch about three minutes into the piece, this was a total thrill ride, almost a full 30 minutes of solid goose bumps not knowing what the hell would come next and loving every single minute in this unknown territory.  I still love "The Rite of Spring" but it's not a thrilling as the first time. 

That is the way it is with all music to me, the first listen is the most important one and I give that one my full undivided attention. 

I love 20th century melodic classical composers, and since there are no actual composition rules they have to follow there are always shocking moments I find totally thrilling.  Nothing for me compares to the first time!

[Fëanor]

...

I usually try the 'background' method for unknown Baroque and Classical works. I think they make amazing background music and they are great to listen to when surfing the web. However, I usually don't like putting unknown Romantic and (especially) later works as background music because they are very unsettling for me. They are so unpredictable, and I get bored during slow movements if I'm not paying attention or I'm not familiar with the piece.

...

My experience is much less than some, even most, people around here, but I do agree with tanuki's comments above.  Modern and contemporary, and most especially any sort of atonal work, requires concentration -- background just doesn't work until you're very familiar with the piece.

[Sef]

Oh, yes, I love the Sibelius violin concerto!

As for the Shostakovich violin concerto, I have this recording on my 'waiting list':



Is that the violin concerto you're referring to? Is that a good recording?

I also have Bartók's three piano concertos available but haven't listened to them, and Berg's violin concerto, Spohr's 8th violin concerto, Strauss' oboe concerto, a couple of Mozart's concertos, Beethoven's triple concerto and his violin concerto... Like I said, there's a lot I have to listen to, and I try not to get overwhelmed by it. 

I don't have this particular recording. Maxim Vengerov in general gets mixed reviews. He is extraordinarily expressive, perhaps overly so (this is the usual criticism), but I tend to see it in the same way that Dudammel is expressive as a conductor - his Mahler 1 with the CSO a year or two ago was exceptional. I only saw Rostropovich conduct once - Tchaikovsky's 5th I seem to remember. I thought then that he should stick with the Cello. However, as I said I don't have this recording so perhaps someone else should comment.

[Sef]

Oh, yes, I love the Sibelius violin concerto!

As for the Shostakovich violin concerto, I have this recording on my 'waiting list':



Is that the violin concerto you're referring to? Is that a good recording?

.... for what it's worth, I saw Julia Fischer play the Shostakovich last week with the CSO. Incredible performance. I don't think that I have ever heard a more technically brilliant performance of this symphony. She seemed to take some liberties with the tempo (or I suspect they were liberties because I had not heard them in any recordings) getting faster and faster in the Scherzo and the Cadenza to a phenonamal speed without losing any clarity. I don't know if she has released a performance of this concerto yet (I can't find one), but it might be one to watch out for.