Sedentary and nomadic tastes

[Benny]

The sedentary classical music lover has resided in the same aesthetic location for several decades. In all those years, this person has demonstrated an unwavering loyalty to the same composers. Not only that but the sedentary music lover is not so much interested in acquiring all the works composed by these same composers but as many recordings of her/his favorite works as can be obtained. It's a peculiar loyalty because it does not necessarily encompass a composer's "minor" works, such as lieders, less original youthful works or choral works. No. The sedentary music lover is more inclined to acquire thirty different recordings of this composer's major works -- such as symphonies, concertos and other orchestral works -- than to become acquainted with all the piano pieces and art songs and chamber works and choral works of her/his favorite composers.

The nomadic classical music lover is, by definition, on the move. For such a person, a favorite composer depends on the season, the setting, the mood, and the incubation. Such a person can't understand why anyone would listen to the same composers year after year and to the same major works time after time. And when the nomadic music lover decides to really focus on a given composer, then it's to embrace absolutely everything, from the earliest works to the last, including choral music and art songs. Soon, however, interest shifts to somebody else and, eventually, there even might occur a cataclysmic change from Romantic to Modern or to Baroque or to Early Music -- a complete shift of paradigm. It's a pretty ephemeral loyalty but it can't be helped.

Sedentary or nomadic?

[Kullervo]

Nomadic — but there are a small group of composers whose music I return to again and again. My wanderings are attempts to find more names to add to that small contingent.

[Lilas Pastia]

Definitely nomadic. But, from your description, it's not hard to guess where youre sympathies lie 

[springrite]

Nomadic for sure. For one thng, I only go to concerts where there is a world premeire or, at least, a work or compose I do not know. I never go to standard repertoire concerts or recitals, with the possible exception of opera because, well, new work performances are relatively rare.

[Benny]

Definitely nomadic. But, from your description, it's not hard to guess where youre sympathies lie 

Really? I own several versions of Debussy's Preludes!

[The new erato]

Nomadic.

[lisa needs braces]

Why would anyone admit to being "sedentary" considering the implied negativity? A sedentary listener, we are left to interpret, is lazy and not as fun or adventurous as the nomadic listener. He is nothing less than a fool whose limited fixations prevent him from experiencing much great music. So go ahead people. Admit to being this guy. I am sure you will get much props from the board for doing so.

[sound67]

Nomadic.

[Iago]

The initiator of this thread is obviously trying to show how "superior" a music lover he is.

Well, he can KMA in Macy's window or in  any other public area he chooses.

When I listen to music, I listen with my heart, my mind and my ears. I listen ONLY to the music I love, which has been a source of comfort to me over the span of my life. I am not trying to impress anyone. I don't particularly care what anybody else thinks about my likes, dislikes, adventurousness, or lack thereof.

I have often accused members of this forum as being "elite snobs". Guess I was right.

[The new erato]

The initiator of this thread is obviously trying to show how "superior" a music lover he is.

Well, he can KMA in Macy's window or in  any other public area he chooses.

When I listen to music, I listen with my heart, my mind and my ears. I listen ONLY to the music I love, which has been a source of comfort to me over the span of my life. I am not trying to impress anyone. I don't particularly care what anybody else thinks about my likes, dislikes, adventurousness, or lack thereof.

I have often accused members of this forum as being "elite snobs". Guess I was right.

So a snob is anyone interested in exploring? What's most interesting about your post is how you interpret anybody different from you as a threat.

[sound67]

When I listen to music, I listen with my heart, my mind and my ears. I listen ONLY to the music I love

So how did you arrive at your selection of "music you love"? It just came to you, or did you do some exploring back then?

How would you know that there isn't any music "to be loved" among the works you don't know if you're not exploring?

I used to think that advertising companies were just being ageist when they decided they'd target 16 to 49-year-olds exclusively because older people tend to be locked in their corners and just buy the things they bought for decades. Lately, I've come to think they're right.

Thomas

[knight66]

Well, I am over that upper age and am still looking at music I don't know and experimenting with composers new to me.

Mike

[Mark]

Benny, are you our old friend Michel in disguise? I seem to recall he had a particular axe to grind regarding what he felt were 'sedantry' classical music lovers.

For myself, a bit of both: breadth and depth. Go ahead, classify me.

(Incidentally, isn't this thread a bit similar to my - less earnst and unbiased - attempt to classify types of collectors? See here for details.)

[Benny]

Why would anyone admit to being "sedentary" considering the implied negativity? A sedentary listener, we are left to interpret, is lazy and not as fun or adventurous as the nomadic listener. He is nothing less than a fool whose limited fixations prevent him from experiencing much great music. So go ahead people. Admit to being this guy. I am sure you will get much props from the board for doing so.

The initiator of this thread is obviously trying to show how "superior" a music lover he is.

Well, he can KMA in Macy's window or in  any other public area he chooses.

When I listen to music, I listen with my heart, my mind and my ears. I listen ONLY to the music I love, which has been a source of comfort to me over the span of my life. I am not trying to impress anyone. I don't particularly care what anybody else thinks about my likes, dislikes, adventurousness, or lack thereof.

I have often accused members of this forum as being "elite snobs". Guess I was right.

Fast shooters!

[Moldyoldie]

Nomadic -- though I do tend to collect several recordings of a favorite single work over time, especially if I think it offers something "validly" new to a listener; i.e., it offers new insights and "works" aesthetically.

[Benny]

Benny, are you our old friend Michel in disguise? I seem to recall he had a particular axe to grind regarding what he felt were 'sedantry' classical music lovers.

For myself, a bit of both: breadth and depth. Go ahead, classify me.

(Incidentally, isn't this thread a bit similar to my - less earnst and unbiased - attempt to classify types of collectors? See here for details.)

I haven't read everything on this site, no.
To classify you? You sound like an objective hunter-gatherer with a sharp axe.

Why did Michel leave without grinding his axe?

[Mark]

Why did Michel leave without grinding his axe?

Oh, he ground it, believe me.

[Que]

a composer's "minor" works, such as lieders, less original youthful works or choral works.....major works -- such as symphonies, concertos and other orchestral works -- than to become acquainted with all the piano pieces and art songs and chamber works and choral works of her/his favorite composers.

Can't agree with your concept of  what constitutes minor and major works.
I was under the impresion this is determined by quality, not genre? 

Sedentary or nomadic?

Both, I guess. So, neither, actually.

Q

[Josquin des Prez]

It's a peculiar loyalty because it does not necessarily encompass a composer's "minor" works, such as lieders, less original youthful works or choral works.

How is that peculiar?

[jochanaan]

Most of us, of course, are neither completely sedentary nor completely nomadic; we hang our coats somewhere between these two extremes.  As for me, I tend to roam with the nomads, but carry some precious musical gems with me.

"Old friends is always best--'less you c'n find a new one that's fit to make an old one of!"