Hello all!
I've been lurking on this forum for a while, and finally registered a few weeks ago. Now I'm officially de-lurking and introducing myself.
My name is James, and I live outside of Seattle, Washington, U.S.A. with my wife, daughter, and son. I'm a software test engineer by day, but classical music has long been my life's passion. I first fell in love with it at age 9 when I was forced to take piano lessons by my mother. She had told me I could quit after six weeks if I didn't like it - I was sure I wouldn't (like it, that is), but after three lessons or so, I knew I'd found something special. I scraped together $3 and bought a cassette tape of 'Schubert's Greatest Hits', and I'm still hooked going on age 37! I was also a composer, and studied composition and theory in college, but I decided not to keep it up as a career.
I've always been a keen collector of recordings, though – first cassette tapes, then CDs starting when I was 14. I even bought and sold CDs on eBay for several years as a side business. My wife grew tired of the accumulation of hundreds of CDs in our smallish house, so we struck a bargain that I would curtail my CD purchasing in exchange for downloading to my heart's content. I think if I lived alone, I'd have recordings from floor to ceiling in every room ;D. I'm no audiophile, so the sound quality tradeoff is no big deal for me. Not to mention, a 3TB external hard drive holds the equivalent of thousands of CDs while taking up less shelf space than a Brilliant Classics Bach Edition! So in the last five years or so my digital music collection has taken off.
I do almost all of my listening on a five-year-old, 80 GB iPod Classic; my files are MP3s, generally between 192 and 320 kbps. At work, I spend eight to ten hours a day at a computer, so I can listen largely uninterrupted for long stretches. I manually tag all my music using my own system; I keep a master list in an Excel spreadsheet and use iTunes (which I don't love, but it works) to manage my digital music library. I don't usually listen to complete CDs or collections in the conventional sense – instead, I create a playlist for each day and include a wide variety of works on it, which is why I'm "Currently listening to: Everything from Palestrina to Stockhausen..."!
My very favorite composer is Mahler – attending a live performance of the Eighth Symphony is my top 'Bucket List' item – but there are hundreds whose music I enjoy greatly, from Renaissance to avant-garde, from the well-known to the obscure.
I'm happy to have found the GMG forum – I've lurked on several other classical music discussion forums for a number of years. I like that here contributors are obviously passionate about classical music, and posts tend to stay civil and on-topic!
Sorry to be so long-winded – I look forward to digging into the forum even more, and hopefully contributing as well!
-James
Greetings, and welcome! :)
And great avatar, Beaker is a Muppet of few words.
Sometimes "lurkers" are Terminators - somebody have the dawgs sniff 'im !!
Quote from: TheGSMoeller on March 20, 2012, 04:42:21 PM
And great avatar, Beaker is a Muppet of few words.
Meep.
Welcome!!
Well, you will certainly find some kindred spirits here; it takes all sorts, and we have 'em! Welcome, and feel free to share your accumulated knowledge. :)
8)
Quote from: classicalgeek on March 20, 2012, 02:46:26 PM
My very favorite composer is Mahler – attending a live performance of the Eighth Symphony is my top 'Bucket List' item – but there are hundreds whose music I enjoy greatly, from Renaissance to avant-garde, from the well-known to the obscure.
*summoning Daniel*
I hope you like Mah...
oh, wait.
8)
Anyways, for a while this forum seems to have been thin on members who have Mahler as their favorite composer... it seems to come in cycles. We could use another Mahlerite, especially since that last favorite composer poll very much underrepresented Mahler, just because of the time it was held. It's nice to see maybe we could rebuild a new Mahler gang here, as a few years ago we kind of had one , but they stopped posting over time.
But yeah.... good to have you here. 8)
Welcome - this is a great forum, enjoy! :)
Howdy there classicalgeek. Greetings from Schubert's Vienna. Welcome to the forum. (http://www.smilies.4-user.de/include/Schilder/smilie_w_002.gif)
Welcome! 8)
Welcome
Welcome and enjoy! Love the beaker avatar. Not sure if you aware of it, but there is a clip that marries Beaker and Beethoven here:
http://www.youtube.com/v/xpcUxwpOQ_A.
Makes me laugh every time
Quote from: Gurnatron5500 on March 20, 2012, 06:05:07 PM
Well, you will certainly find some kindred spirits here; it takes all sorts, and we have 'em!
Aye, what Gurn said. Welcome!
Welcome on the forum, I hope you'll have a nice time here :)
Glad to know you love Mahler's music, he's one of my absolute favourite composers as well. Do you also like Wagner?
Ilaria
Did Daniel tell you, he hopes you like Mahler? . . .
Welcome! And for my part, I hope Daniel is happy that you like Mahler.
Hi James, and welcome! Another Mahler fan here...
--Bruce
Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. I like this place already! :)
Quote from: mc ukrneal on March 21, 2012, 01:31:29 AM
Welcome and enjoy! Love the beaker avatar. Not sure if you aware of it, but there is a clip that marries Beaker and Beethoven here:
I'm definitely familiar with that one - it's brilliant! Most impressive is the fact that Beaker gets two different pitches out of the same kettledrum :D. I even received this ornament as a gift last holiday season:
[asin]B0055PERZ4[/asin]
Also great is the Muppets' rendition of 'Stars and Stripes Forever': http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDA9NbPAK8o
Quote from: Lisztianwagner on March 21, 2012, 06:26:09 AM
Welcome on the forum, I hope you'll have a nice time here :)
Glad to know you love Mahler's music, he's one of my absolute favourite composers as well. Do you also like Wagner?
Ilaria
Glad to find so many Mahler lovers here - his music speaks to me like few others do. The Second Symphony would have to be my favorite - the first time I heard it, at a Boston Symphony concert in 1989 (I was 14), with Ozawa conducting - it left me speechless and in tears. And it still has that effect! But of course, I love all the symphonies and song cycles...
As far as Wagner goes - I don't listen to a lot of opera, mainly because I do most of my listening at work, or while doing chores or exercising at home. I find opera requires more undivided attention to follow what's going on, and I don't get a lot of opportunities to sit down with a score or libretto and listen for the sake of listening, unfortunately. But I do greatly enjoy his music - I hear the overtures and orchestral excerpts regularly (the Tannhäuser overture always brightens my day!), and I have many recordings of the operas, waiting for that moment when I *do* finally get that elusive chance to just sit and listen :D
Thanks again!
Quote from: classicalgeek on March 21, 2012, 09:30:11 AM
Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. I like this place already! :)
I'm definitely familiar with that one - it's brilliant! Most impressive is the fact that Beaker gets two different pitches out of the same kettledrum :D. I even received this ornament as a gift last holiday season:
(http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/31Z7e%2BjjLlL._SL500_AA300_.jpg)
Hah! That's either totally brilliant or totally whacko. I love it! There are a lot of funny details in the video - the drum pitches you mentioned, the mixing of the top and middle Beaker when the middle top Beaker runs away, the way the top left Beaker vibrates to the drum, etc. But the ornament - that goes to a whole 'nother level! :)
Welcome to the forum, James!
Our resident Mahler fan will most likely get along with you.
Welcome, James !
And a warm welcome from me also! :)
I'm new here as well but everybody is so friendly! ;D
Thank you again, everyone!
Quote from: sheffmark on March 21, 2012, 02:13:53 PM
And a warm welcome from me also! :)
I'm new here as well but everybody is so friendly! ;D
I agree wholeheartedly! Now, when can we expect our
fruit basket box set of our choice to arrive :D?
Quote from: classicalgeek on March 21, 2012, 02:45:31 PM
Thank you again, everyone!
I agree wholeheartedly! Now, when can we expect our fruit basket box set of our choice to arrive :D?
Well, we had a fruit basket once, but Karl worked it down to the last banana... :D
8)
I makes 'em dance!
Bananas? Where?
Oh, dear... well, I'm glad I don't care for bananas, then... :D
Quote from: Gurnatron5500 on March 21, 2012, 03:25:18 PM
Well, we had a fruit basket once, but Karl worked it down to the last banana... :D
8)
Although there are also viewings of the occasional grapefruit on premises. :D
Quote from: karlhenning on March 21, 2012, 04:20:40 PM
I makes 'em dance!
For instance:(http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/dancing.gif)
Quote from: karlhenning on March 22, 2012, 06:41:48 AM
For instance:
(http://www.abestweb.com/smilies/dancing.gif)
Ahh, now I get it!
Now, where's the dancing grapefruit? ;D
All too few grapefruit have a true Terpsichorean talent, you know . . . .
(looks around) Still no bananas? (leaves room)
Quote from: karlhenning on March 21, 2012, 07:14:37 AM
Did Daniel tell you, he hopes you like Mahler? . . .
I about spewed all my sweet iced tea all over my computer monitor! Too funny, Karl. :D
Anyway, James, you and I have only spoken to each other briefly, but I welcome you to the forum. I'm sure you'll fit right in here.
Thanks again, everyone! I feel like I'm already settling in nicely :) I love the 'What Are You Listening To' thread especially - it's fascinating to see the wide range of music on everyone's CD players/computers/iPods... not to mention, I have a thing for cover art ;D
Quote from: Mirror Image on March 22, 2012, 06:49:56 PM
I'm sure you'll fit right in here.
My thoughts exactly! :D
Quote from: karlhenning on March 21, 2012, 07:14:37 AM
Did Daniel tell you, he hopes you like Mahler? . . .
I'm not sure if I've met Daniel yet... but if he likes Mahler, he's OK by me! :)
Quote from: karlhenning on March 22, 2012, 08:29:32 AM
All too few grapefruit have a true Terpsichorean talent, you know . . . .
And even better, monkeys don't eat grapefruit. Do they?
Quote from: classicalgeek on March 22, 2012, 08:13:52 PM
I'm not sure if I've met Daniel yet... but if he likes Mahler, he's OK by me! :)
If he likes Mahler? Why, the lad is barking madaboutmahler! : )
Quote from: karlhenning on March 23, 2012, 04:28:13 AM
If he likes Mahler? Why, the lad is barking madaboutmahler! : )
Ahh, so
that's Daniel! I hadn't put two and two together...
It's a trick, connecting actual names with IDs. Less of a problem with the karlhenning sort, of course . . . .
Quote from: karlhenning on March 23, 2012, 06:42:08 AM
It's a trick, connecting actual names with IDs. Less of a problem with the karlhenning sort, of course . . . .
Indeed, it is no great
kenning to see the
karl in
karlhenning!
Nice! : )
Quote from: karlhenning on March 23, 2012, 06:42:08 AM
It's a trick, connecting actual names with IDs. Less of a problem with the karlhenning sort, of course . . . .
I was certain your name was John Jacob Jingelheimer Schmidt. You mean it isn't? :D Oh well, wrong again...
As far as my moniker goes, I've been using it as an online handle for a while. I suppose we're all classical geeks in a way, but I'm
the classicalgeek ;D
Das Über-geek!
Sorry for taking so long to give you a welcome, I seem to have missed your thread!
Glad to see your favourite composer is Mahler! As all have said here, because of this, we should get along well! ;)
It's good to see that you are already enjoying the forum!
Daniel
p.s Good choice in naming the 2nd as your favourite. Although for me, my favourites would just have to be no.6 and 9.
Quote from: madaboutmahler on March 24, 2012, 03:10:00 PM
Sorry for taking so long to give you a welcome, I seem to have missed your thread!
Glad to see your favourite composer is Mahler! As all have said here, because of this, we should get along well! ;)
It's good to see that you are already enjoying the forum!
Daniel
p.s Good choice in naming the 2nd as your favourite. Although for me, my favourites would just have to be no.6 and 9.
Glad to make your acquaintance! There can never be enough Mahler lovers in the world.
The Second is my favorite if I'm forced to choose one. Really, it's one of my ten favorite Mahler symphonies! :D
Quote from: classicalgeek on March 24, 2012, 07:21:06 PM
. . . Really, it's one of my ten favorite Mahler symphonies! :D
Oh, you and Daniel should get on well, then : )