The direction of your collection?

[Mark]

For a while now, I've been thinking about where my growing CD collection is going. Which genres will I focus on in the future? Which periods? What will I collect more of, and what will I choose not to focus on?

I think I'm decided that until I hit 40, I'm going to continue collecting works which might reasonably be termed 'core repertoire'. Beyond 40, my emphasis is going to change. I shall then start zeroing in on British music from the early 20th century, as this is an area of real interest for me. Which is not to suggest I'll buy or listen to nothing else - I'll just be concentrating on music which fascinates me most.

How about you? Do you have a plan for the future direction of your musical explorations?

[The new erato]

I tend to think one year at a time. The basic repertoire is covered years ago.

For 2008:

Want to do some more postwar (WWII) exploration and have some Ligeti and Stockhausen in my wish lists.
Have been plugging holes in my string quartet collection the last year and will continue doing that.
After a couple of years of slow baroque buying, my love of baroque opera is rekindled and I will buy more of that in 2008 (4 operas bagged so far this year).
Want to explore minor French, Dutch and Swiss composers of the 20th century further
Will buy some selected historical issues of major works I love, to broaden my knowledge of performance traditions for these works.

PS: And beside that I will veer off in any direction that occurs, I seem to have rediscovered an interest in Bax recently.....In one year these intentions will seem totally silly since I ended up doing something different.

[Harry]

I simply have no plan. I see what is coming on my way, let me surprise by what is in store.
So far I cut back on my spending this year, and I am in the process of cleaning my collection from all doubles, and dubious cd's that are lurking at me. I always bought broad minded, from every era, and will continue to do just that.
And I will see where the train stops eventually.

[marvinbrown]

How about you? Do you have a plan for the future direction of your musical explorations?

  In a word Mark- Suzuki Bach Cantatas, well actually 3 words. I have decided that I want to start collecting these from emusic.  I love Suzuki's interpreatation of these and feel that at my current collection of 36 cantatas I have a lot of exploring to do.  I was quick to dismiss Bach's cantatas as being repetitions of the SAME thing but on further examination I am discovering that they are each individually unique and worth exploring.


  marvin

[Harry]

 

  In a word Mark- Suzuki Bach Cantatas, well actually 3 words. I have decided that I want to start collecting these from emusic.  I love Suzuki's interpreatation of these and feel that at my current collection of 36 cantatas I have a lot of exploring to do.  I was quick to dismiss Bach's cantatas as being repetitions of the SAME thing but on further examination I am discovering that they are each individually unique and worth exploring.


  marvin

As I discover Marvin that there is a lot more to Wagner as screaming sopranos, right?

[hornteacher]

Some music appeals to me very easily (Beethoven, Dvorak, Mozart).  Some I find I have to work at to enjoy even though I appreciate it (Mahler, Schumann, Handel).  So my collection is rather lopsided.  I've found that instead of trying to ram Mahler down my throat, I'm getting more enjoyment exploring lesser known Dvorak works.  So I guess as I get older I'll get deeper into a select number of composers.

[BachQ]

As to 2008, I'm torn between two possible pathways:

1. Collecting authentic period instrument (HIP) performances 1750-1830; or
2. Collecting Wagner operas on DVD.

[Sergeant Rock]

How about you? Do you have a plan?

I'm not a planner, I'm a liver. Mrs. Rock is a pancreas.

Sarge

[Grazioso]

I don't stick to any formal plans, but my current primary direction is collecting the complete symphony cycles of different composers. I have around 45 different composers represented so far and will probably get around 50 more before I switch directions. This takes me across styles, periods, and nationalities while maintaining a common ground of comparison--the king of orchestral genres, no less. It's been very interesting and rewarding so far.

But there are plenty other areas I'd like to explore in depth:

* lesser-known string quartets (I mostly only have those of the really big-name composers)
* violin and cello concerti (never cared too much for piano)
* violin sonatas
* opera on DVD
* pre-Baroque music
* more HIP recordings of Baroque through early-Romantic works
* go further with Nordic, British, and American composers (and Russian and French, too--heck, it's all good )

[marvinbrown]

As to 2008, I'm torn between two possible pathways:

2. Collecting Wagner operas on DVD.

   0:) 0:) 0:) Take the path that's less travelled Dm it is more rewarding.

  marvin

[marvinbrown]

As I discover Marvin that there is a lot more to Wagner as screaming sopranos, right?

  Absolutely!

  marvin

[bhodges]

I'm not a planner, I'm a liver. Mrs. Rock is a pancreas.

Sarge

   

Like some others above, I don't really have an acquisitions plan.  I'm always up for new discoveries, but that doesn't preclude being surprised by a new version of something familiar.

--Bruce

[Don]

   

Like some others above, I don't really have an acquisitions plan. 
--Bruce

No plan here either - never had one and hope I never will.

[Ephemerid]

Usually random for me    I used to have an enormous collection up till a few years ago & had to start from scratch -- though there are topics & composers that come up *here* that have nudged me in one direction or another... yeah, I'll just blame all you guys for spending more money that I ought to! 

[toledobass]

No real plan,  but I think it does go through phases of being focused on interpretations of repertoire then stuff I've never heard. 


Allan

[Que]

I'm not a planner, but the direction of my collection right now:

- I'm exploring Baroque ouside of Bach, who has been my main interest in Baroque for years (the last 15 years to be precise).
- Post-Baroque HIP: especially LvB & Schubert, hopefully Brahms.
- My newest interest is in pre-Baroque/early music

And I have a feeling that I might return to opera some time soon.

Q

[Michel]

Downward.

[Brian]

My music collection is actually frozen for the moment. I have three primary sources of music listening:
- my own collection of CDs and MP3 downloads (including the Broadcast thread)
- a box of DVDs containing a cornucopia of new music
- the Naxos Music Library

Between the three, I could be set for years. The next year or so will feature two strategies: in the classical music realm, I'll be "regrouping" and (re)discovering the stuff I already have, and in the non-classical realm I'll be in full exploration mode. For the past few years, I've made "think about the future purchases" of music which didn't appeal to me at all, but which eventually would. For example, only now am I beginning to dive into a box of Schumann piano music which came in the mail three years ago. Back then it didn't appeal to me at all, but now the music is just wonderful! There are a great deal of underplayed CDs in the collection which need to receive their hearings, and a truckload of new music to explore in the little box. And for further exploration, NML should be satisfactory. Possible purchases from the ex-major labels like DG will be simply put on the birthday list.

As for non-classical music: full speed ahead! As George knows I am just discovering the Beatles  , and also just discovering Creedence Clearwater Revival. Simon and Garfunkel are old friends, but there are many many new ones to be made.

I'm getting more enjoyment exploring lesser known Dvorak works.

  Not to worry, there are years' worth of delights to discover in Dvorak's lesser known works ... for a while, I spent so much time enjoying his early symphonies, Violin Concerto, and piano music that now I'm back on Symphonies Nos 7 and 8 and they're even more wonderful before.

[Solitary Wanderer]

Focusing on the Romantic era especially piano concertos and symphonies.

Also, I want to start exploring Wagners operas in more detail starting with Die Feen.

But whatever is on the programme at the concerts I attend I buy in advance and learn 

[Haffner]

How about you? Do you have a plan for the future direction of your musical explorations?

Overcoming Sarge's phenomenal opera collection.