Reaching The Saturation Point In Classical CD Collecting

[Mirror Image]

I thought this might be an interesting thread and really my purpose for it is to say that my classical CD buying has finally come to some kind of reasonable compromise: I simply have what I consider the finest recordings of the repertoire I care most about. There's not many stones unturned in my collection when it comes to what my "niche" seems to be: the late 19th Century to mid-20th Century. There isn't a lot in the way of newer recordings being released that I believe will match what I already have in my collection. In other words, I have more than four lifetimes worth of music to rediscover and enjoy. I am interested in some new music being produced, but unless it's something I'm seriously fascinated by, I probably won't buy it. I suppose all of this is a long, roundabout way in saying that I finally can rest and put my money towards music that actually isn't in my collection or that's well-represented.

What about you guys?

[some guy]

I think you've probably stopped too soon.

[Biffo]

I keep making vows not to buy any more CDs - at least until I have caught up with my backlog but events usually overtake me. In the second half of 2017 a number of box sets were available at special prices (or so they said) and I bought heavily. This gave me a huge backlog that I have been steadily working through since. I tried only to buy essential releases such as the Hyperion recordings of The Eton Choirbook but temptation keeps coming my way and I have acquired a new Trojans, the Sony Bernstein/Mahler cycle and various individual discs. Additionally I have been given The British Symphonic Collection and the Sony/Bernius box as presents. Now I am further behind than ever. The Koechlin/Stuttgart collection is on its way (prompted by this forum) and I am desperately resisting the temptation to splash out on the complete Langgaard symphonies.

There is so much unexplored repertoire out there and it probably on Spotify that is preventing me from buying more.

Oh, and I haven't mentioned downloads.

[Mirror Image]

I think you've probably stopped too soon.

I guess you didn't read my entire post? I never said I'm going to completely stop buying recordings. I said I'm going to buy music that isn't in my collection or that's not well-represented and that's where my focus will remain.

[North Star]

the temptation to splash out on the complete Langgaard symphonies.

That's a fantastic set!

[Biffo]

That's a fantastic set!

I will probably succumb but not this month.

[Mirror Image]

I will probably succumb but not this month.

The SQs and Music of the Spheres are also worth checking out.

[Biffo]

The SQs and Music of the Spheres are also worth checking out.

I have the MoS (my first Langgaard) and the complete quartets from the Nightingale Quartet.

[Mirror Image]

I have the MoS (my first Langgaard) and the complete quartets from the Nightingale Quartet.

Excellent! I take you own the Dausgaard recording of Music of the Spheres?

[Biffo]

Excellent! I take you own the Dausgaard recording of Music of the Spheres?

Yes, the Dausgaard version and a couple of the symphonies; also the Rasmussen disc, Sinfonia interna, mentioned in this forum recently. The symphonies are downloads so I won't mind the duplication if I buy the box set.

[Jo498]

I said I'm going to buy music that isn't in my collection or that's not well-represented and that's where my focus will remain.

I have been tending towards this for several years now. This does not strictly mean I am not buying any more Beethoven or Mozart at all but I pass a lot I'd have probably bought in former times and only go for things supposed to be very special or I am especially interested in. It also means that I buy fewer CDs but still quite a few...

[Mirror Image]

Yes, the Dausgaard version and a couple of the symphonies; also the Rasmussen disc, Sinfonia interna, mentioned in this forum recently. The symphonies are downloads so I won't mind the duplication if I buy the box set.

Great stuff! Love that Dausgaard recording.

I have been tending towards this for several years now. This does not strictly mean I am not buying any more Beethoven or Mozart at all but I pass a lot I'd have probably bought in former times and only go for things supposed to be very special or I am especially interested in. It also means that I buy fewer CDs but still quite a few...

Sounds quite sensible to me. I hope I can do it.

[some guy]

I guess you didn't read my entire post? I never said I'm going to completely stop buying recordings. I said I'm going to buy music that isn't in my collection or that's not well-represented and that's where my focus will remain.

Pfffft. Pure carelessness on my part. Sorry!!

[Baron Scarpia]

I thought this might be an interesting thread and really my purpose for it is to say that my classical CD buying has finally come to some kind of reasonable compromise: I simply have what I consider the finest recordings of the repertoire I care most about. There's not many stones unturned in my collection when it comes to what my "niche" seems to be: the late 19th Century to mid-20th Century. There isn't a lot in the way of newer recordings being released that I believe will match what I already have in my collection. In other words, I have more than four lifetimes worth of music to rediscover and enjoy. I am interested in some new music being produced, but unless it's something I'm seriously fascinated by, I probably won't buy it. I suppose all of this is a long, roundabout way in saying that I finally can rest and put my money towards music that actually isn't in my collection or that's well-represented.

What about you guys?

Either I'm misreading or there is a typo here. You seem to be saying that you will spend on music that isn't in your collection or that is well represented in your collection. I'm assuming you mean music that isn't well represented in your collection.

In any case, doesn't seem to be a change in strategy, I'm sure getting music not in your collection or not well-represented was always the goal. You just have more stuff now.

I have the same plan, except the decrease in CD buying keeps getting foiled by my growing domain of interest.

[Mirror Image]

Either I'm misreading or there is a typo here. You seem to be saying that you will spend on music that isn't in your collection or that is well represented in your collection. I'm assuming you mean music that isn't well represented in your collection.

In any case, doesn't seem to be a change in strategy, I'm sure getting music not in your collection or not well-represented was always the goal. You just have more stuff now.

I have the same plan, except the decrease in CD buying keeps getting foiled by my growing domain of interest.

Yes, I meant music that isn't well-represented in my collection. While I agree that the goal initially is to acquire more music, I, more or less, created this thread as a way of reassessing the current state of my own collection and, hopefully, while I'm doing this, this might encourage other members who buy a lot of recordings to do the same thing.

[Mirror Image]

Pfffft. Pure carelessness on my part. Sorry!!

No worries, some guy.

[Zeus]

I think what Mirror Image is trying to say is that he's gonna stop buying so much music, except for what he will buy.

I see lots of wiggle-room in what he says. Plus he's under no obligation to actually follow through with what he says.

The lament of the compulsive buyer! 

[Turner]

I won´t stop buying completely, but when going to the sales it´s only little that interests me nowadays. Extremely low prices make things more tempting, however. The internet is 'worse' because the available items are som many.

But a limited want list can be a good way of obtaining more focused buying - deciding what is really important, and not.
Mine is down to these items:

supplement recordings:
Satie & Friends, 13 CD box set. Contains some very interesting recordings, it seems, plus some rare Francaix etc.

new repertoire, except some downloads etc that I´ve got:
Cowell - Synchrony
Adamek - Körper und Seele
Grisey - Les Espaces Accoustiques 2CD
Globokar - Engel der Geschichte 2CD
Sørensen - Mignon
Perle - Orchestral works
Perle - A retrospective, 2CD
Adés - Anthology 2CD

On their way:
Kapustin - Complete cello works - Brilliant CD
Saariaho - Passion
Cowell - Naxos 2CD
Martinu Violin Concertos + Viola Concerto, only had LPs

[Jo498]

I have also reached to some extent a saturation point with music/composers I had not known before. In the last 10 years or so, I bought *a lot* of lesser known stuff from several periods, also sometimes hardly known compositions from famous composers. While there are some overlooked gems, and I also have a certain interest in niche genres (woodwind/mixed chamber music) there is also a lot of stuff I would not really miss, had I never heard it...

[king ubu]

I don't understand this discussion. Can someone please explain?  0:)