No CDs for a year

[karlhenning]

I am becoming a father next year, and I am considering the same thing. I will ONLY buy CDs that Vanessa asks me to buy FOR OUR CHILD (which means no new Carter or any other late 20th century early 21st century stuff).

You never know, Baby might like that . . . I know some 21st-century music which has met with success among sophosticated Polish children, for instance  0:)

[springrite]

You never know, Baby might like that . . . I know some 21st-century music which has met with success among sophosticated Polish children, for instance  0:)

That might well be the case, but the child won't be able to ask for at a while. It is Vanessa who will be the one asking on the child's behalf (like she is doing now in terms of food, and other various requests). 

[Mark]

You all should step back and think about what you're saying: Mark is talking about a year without buying new CD's--not giving up listening to music, and apparently he already has a huge collection, plus he's still going to be downloading new stuff. Only to a hopeless shopaholic consumerist would that be torture or deprivation.

Mark, I'm with you and understand. There's no point in just buying stuff to have it. Acquisition is one of the flimsiest and most fleeting of pleasures. It tends to be addictive and degrading, too. Listen to and really enjoy and study all those CD's you already have. If you have 300+ unheard discs, that makes one a day to listen to for nearly a year. (And just listening to a classical CD once will barely scratch the surface of the music/performance.)

Good luck and happy listening!

Thanks, man. I appreciate the moral support.

And yes, Harry, I too can live without reading - especially the depressing worst of humanity as brought to us by the world's newspapers.

[George]

George, I knew you'd understand. Is this not, after all, a revival of sorts of your own thread from the last incarnation of the forum, where you were trying to buy fewer CDs?

Yes, but you certainly have upped the ante. 

Bill, the complete Beethoven set is safe: that's a Christmas present from my wife, so I can spend next year exploring and enjoying it. As for the topics I start, I promise these will be less bizarre/scary than some of those started by Sean.

[71 dB]

Sounds like you're going to have the year from Hell. 

200+ unlistened-to CDs! That would be a heaven for me (I bought 1/3 of that this year).

[marvinbrown]

Thanks for your thoughts, Marvin. I'm a guy who likes to try out extremes - I've always been pretty all or nothing. I once won a bet that I could go without alcohol for a month ... by laying off it for 15 months.

As to eMusic, there's only one aspect that may be a drawback for some: you can't download music from Universal (DG, Philips, Decca, etc), Warner (Erato, Teldec, etc), EMI, Sony BMG or RCA. However, with DG's and EMI's recent move to end DRM on their downloads, it'll only be a matter of time before they join the fold - eMusic is the biggest seller of downloads after iTunes Music Store.

The labels which are available include: Naxos, Naive, Harmonia Mundi, Avie, Atma Classique, Coro, Nimbus, BIS, DaCapo, Marco Polo, Channel Classics, Zig Zag Territories and Ondine (amongst others) - though not Chandos, who have their own download store (which is very good), or Hyperion ... yet. With so much great music appearing on these independents, there's a big enough choice for me.

  I see this DRM issue has reared its ugly head yet again  .  But I am so glad to hear that EMI and especially DG (I am crazy about them!!) have decided to end DRM on their downloads- something to look forward.  By the way I am still familiarizing myself with e-music and will post on your e-music thread once I have made up my mind  .


  marvin

 

[Mark]

I bought those new units and have already assembled the first.

Expect pictures in the 'Show us your CD collection' thread at some point over the weekend.

[Solitary Wanderer]

I bought those new units and have already assembled the first.

Expect pictures in the 'Show us your CD collection' thread at some point over the weekend.

Look forward to seeing that Mark.

I too, am trying to cut back on my spending in general and this includes music purchases. I'm in debt and spending money I don't have and the acruing interest makes those bargins a deception. I only have a handful of unopened disc's but I do like to always have a few on hand. I'll still buy a few each month; music for upcoming concerts to learn and the Hyperion Romantic Piano Concert Series are my focus for next year.

300+ unopened CDs seems like a lot to me and 100 downloads its still a truckload of music to savour 

Do keep us posted on your progress though Mark as its always interesting to hear what you're up to 

[Harry]

Look forward to seeing that Mark.

I too, am trying to cut back on my spending in general and this includes music purchases. I'm in debt and spending money I don't have and the acruing interest makes those bargins a deception. I only have a handful of unopened disc's but I do like to always have a few on hand. I'll still buy a few each month; music for upcoming concerts to learn and the Hyperion Romantic Piano Concert Series are my focus for next year.

300+ unopened CDs seems like a lot to me and 100 downloads its still a truckload of music to savour 

Do keep us posted on your progress though Mark as its always interesting to hear what you're up to 

Well I will keep sending you a few discs too Chris, for by what I am reading, it is better to get them from me, instead of you spending money you don't have...

[Solitary Wanderer]

Well I will keep sending you a few discs too Chris, for by what I am reading, it is better to get them from me, instead of you spending money you don't have...

Yes, well they will always be very welcome Harry 

[RebLem]

link
Live performances from 1969 (Szell/Cleveland - the one I grabbed).

I think that coincided with the recording sessions for The Brahms Violin Concerto with Oistrakh, and the Double Concerto with Oistrakh and Rostropovich.  It would seem reasonable that a recording of the Dvorak might also have been planned.  I'll bet Szell refused to authorize its release because of Rostropovich's liberties with the score.  HIs best recording of the work, IMO, still remains his first, with Vaclav Talich and the Czech Phil, from 1953.

[Keemun]

Mark, I wish you the best of luck in your endeavor.   You know, it might not prove to be that difficult.  After a period of adjustment, you may become accustomed to this new way of life.  As a means of offering moral support, I shall only tempt you with eMusic downloads.   

[Mark]

As a means of offering moral support, I shall only tempt you with eMusic downloads.   

Thanks, man.

I'll be scanning through your download history to see what you've bought.

[Don]

Mark:

You could subscribe to the Naxos Music Library; that would keep you busy for many months.

[Bogey]

Mark:

You could subscribe to the Naxos Music Library; that would keep you busy for many months.

I believe Don that not only is he a subsciber already, but the prsident of this service..  By the way, GREAT avatar.

[Mark]

Mark:

You could subscribe to the Naxos Music Library; that would keep you busy for many months.

I already subscribe (as Bill rightly points out ), but only to the crappy low bitrate service. Nonetheless, it enables my explorations to continue.

... but the president of this service ...

[Brian]

Hey Mark, just found an old post by toledobass that might help give you some confidence that you can pull this off:

In January,  I stopped buying cd's because I had so many things I'd only given a cursory listen to or things that were not even opened.  While at first,  it was difficult to read great comments and reviews about particular disks and not be tempted to buy, after I started in on getting to know what I had it became a little easier because there was so much new stuff to listen to.  I'm at the tail end of this process and now only have maybe 15 things that are left unopened.  A lot of Bartok,  the Kertesz Dvorak cycle,  Boulez M2 and some others I can't remember off hand.

Do you have a pile of stuff that is unopened?

Allan

It was dated June 7, 2007. So "No CDs for six months" has been done successfully. 

[Montpellier]

Thanks for your thoughts, Marvin. I'm a guy who likes to try out extremes - I've always been pretty all or nothing. I once won a bet that I could go without alcohol for a month ... by laying off it for 15 months.

Goodness, now THAT'S sacrifice.  I think I'd sooner give up the CDs!   Would alcohol and CD aquisition be mutual cures for each other, do you think? 



I'm at a loss, here.   I make a point of checking every CD for faults even if I don't listen to it throughout.  The prospect of buying a boxed set of 70 is mind-boggling.  They'd take a couple of weeks to check.   
I'm unsure how many I'll buy next year - could be none if I join emusic and buy Lorelt and NMC through their download service.  If I buy 10 commercial CDs I'd be surprised.         

[vandermolen]

Sometimes you need to do something for yourself. I'd make Naxos an exception. Good luck to you.

[Brian]

Well, I am surprised to find myself in the same boat!

My laptop's power supply is broken, so listening is limited to music that's already on my iPod until the thing gets fixed. Also, I can't visit GMG for the time being. So g'bye guys