Specialist or generalist?

[Mark]

One of the things I've noticed in the year and a half that I've been contributing to GMG is that, broadly speaking, members seem to fall into one or other of two 'camps':

Specialists

These are the members whose interests are focused on one or more areas or sub-generes of classical music. Examples include GMG's resident opera buffs, pianophiles, symphony enthusiasts, and those who prefer music only between specific dates or from certain 'periods', as well as those who choose to listen mainly to historical recordings, or who prefer the work of a select handful of performers or composers.

Generalists

These are the members whose tastes are as broad as their collections are large (which is not to say that the specialists don't have copious CD stashes ). Examples include those who might buy or listen to a Wagner opera one minute, a Schumman piano miniature the next, and follow both with something by Nancarrow, Rossini, Caldara, Bax or Lilburn.


Now, I'm not going to 'label' anyone as belonging to either category based simply on my own observations. But perhaps those who recognise themselves as members of either camp might explain why this is so? And maybe there are further, broad-based categories of members that I've overlooked.

As for me, I think it'll be obvious to most that I fall firmly into the 'Generalist' category. The reason? I'm simply attracted to music from many different periods, and I think I'd be doing myself a great disservice by focusing my listening on any one or two areas.

What about you? To which category do you belong?

[Don]

I specialize in being a generalist and have been quite successful.

[Brian]

? unsure.

My listening generally finds me within the bounds of this time period:
Mozart Symphony No. 38 - Rachmaninov Paganini Rhapsody
with occasional dabblings elsewhere (Weiss Lute Sonatas, Tintagel, Khachaturian). However, I put down "specialist" due to my general novice nature in opera and chamber music. My listening is generally either full orchestra or a single instrument (preferring solo violin, cello, and viola sonatas to sonatas where those instruments are accompanied by piano).

[Mark]

? unsure.

My listening generally finds me within the bounds of this time period:
Mozart Symphony No. 38 - Rachmaninov Paganini Rhapsody
with occasional dabblings elsewhere (Weiss Lute Sonatas, Tintagel, Khachaturian). However, I put down "specialist" due to my general novice nature in opera and chamber music. My listening is generally either full orchestra or a single instrument (preferring solo violin, cello, and viola sonatas to sonatas where those instruments are accompanied by piano).

From the kinds of music I've seen you discuss here, Brian, I'd put you in the Generalist camp. Your tastes strike me as broad enough to qualify.

[PerfectWagnerite]

These are the members whose interests are focused on one or more areas or sub-generes of classical music. Examples include GMG's resident opera buffs, pianophiles...

Pianophiles? I think they put you in jail for that.

[Mark]

Pianophiles? I think they put you in jail for that.

They ought to ... all that tinkering.

[bhodges]

Definitely a generalist.  I'll listen to virtually anything once.  

--Bruce

[Great Gable]

Unquestionably a specialist.

Almost exclusively the period 1650 -1880. A few works from 1880 - 1950 and a handful since.

Mostly piano music - concertos and sonatas. I probably own at least one version of every single major piano concerto from the period (and most of the violin concerti).

Operas from 1650 -Tristan and nothing after, save Aleko. I currently have 42 complete ones.

Very little chamber music.

Although within my time limitations I do explore extensively, especially the period 1750-1850 and especially concertos and sonatas of Beethoven's contemporaries.

I get the impression that I am one of the more staid fans on this forum but I'm quite happy with that.

With a few exceptions, symphonies mainly pass me by. Of course some of the exceptions are amongst the most fabulous music ever written - Brahms' 4th, Schubert's 8th and 9th, Beethoven's 5th, 6th and the best of the lot - the glorious NINTH. The NINTH is simply the most wonderful music I have ever heard. Cliched I know but for good reason.

Oh yes - and a Chopin completist (well I'm on my way at least) - the only composer for whom that would apply.

[marvinbrown]

One of the things I've noticed in the year and a half that I've been contributing to GMG is that, broadly speaking, members seem to fall into one or other of two 'camps':

Specialists

These are the members whose interests are focused on one or more areas or sub-generes of classical music. Examples include GMG's resident opera buffs, pianophiles, symphony enthusiasts, and those who prefer music only between specific dates or from certain 'periods', as well as those who choose to listen mainly to historical recordings, or who prefer the work of a select handful of performers or composers.


What about you? To which category do you belong?

  Yes thats me a specialist at opera (50+), I collect symphonies and piano compositions and when it comes to Beethoven, Wagner and Verdi  I need to have EVERYTHING    !!!!

  marvin

[mahlertitan]

I didn't want to be a specialist, i just find 19th century symphonic music so appealing.

[Mark]

I didn't want to be a specialist, i just find 19th century symphonic music so appealing.

It was actually your passion for Bruckner recordings that prompted me to finally start this thread.

[BachQ]

I'm a freethinker

[Mark]

I'm a freethinker

You strike me as a somewhat one-track thinker.

[Gurn Blanston]

Oddly, I was just having this conversation via PM's with another member.

I am very focused on the Early Classico-Romantic. So although I do listen to quite a lot of other music outside those bounds, I am undoubtedly a specialist. That's OK though, there was enough music composed in those 75 years to last the rest of my life.



----------------
Now playing: Jena PO / Montgomery Marius Sima - Beethoven - Bia 033 WoO 5 Violin Concerto in C (fragment) - Allegro con brio

[BachQ]

You strike me as a somewhat one-track thinker.

I'm afraid to ask what the "one track" might be ........

[prémont]

I am definitely a specialist. Ninety-five % of my listening (and playing) time is used upon music written between the year 1000 and the year 1827.

[rubio]

I listen to all types of classical music except for the most atonal works, and I'm a minor fan of opera. Then also comes jazz, reggae, country, black metal, heavy metal, punk, soul, electronica, "world music", rock, indie rock, pop music, disco++++++. I'm not a big fan of blues, and I dislike the most unintelligent pop music on MTV. Marching band music is the worst thing I hear. Therefore I have some minor problems with the marching rhythms of the 3rd movement of Tchaikovsky's 6th symphony.

[Renfield]

I'd say I'm a specialist with broad taste.

I might listen to almost anything that could remotely qualify as music, let alone classical music.

But I keep returning to the same point of reference, when I'm just inclined to "pop in a disc and let it play": (very) early to (very) late romantic era symphonic music, and some instrumental works from the same period. Amen. 0:)

[Grazioso]

I love to explore and have wide tastes in all the arts, so I may listen to widely divergent works on any given day. Nonetheless, in the realm of classical music, I'm particularly drawn to the symphony, which, at least from LvB on, I see as the king of instrumental classical music genres.

[hornteacher]

I guess I'm a specialist.  I tend to perfer modern recordings of non-Wagnerized, non-programatic, Germanic or Slavonic instrumental music.

I also like cute violinists.