How long ago was it and how often do you listen to music in this manner?
(As opposed to doing other things while listening, like going online, cleaning, etc.)
Just curious.
I do that for at least an hour a day(on my commute back and forth). There is the train noise of course, but at least I don't do anything else while listening.
And if walking does not constitute multi-tasking, my most cherished listening is done while walking. I do that a lot too. But at home, it is very rare that I don't have another thing going while listening to music.
I'm always multitasking, including when listening to music.
Yeah I have noticed lately that my attention to music when it is playing has waned.
I love to walk and listen too, but even that takes a lot of my mind off the music.
I need to get back to some dedicated listening time. I used to love it.
That's how I mostly listen. I sit down, often turn the lights down low and just immerse myself. Notwithstanding the pertinent and unavoidable distractions, that's how I approach music in the car - just less so, mercifully.
I listen to music in much the same way as I read a book. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to compose it so, therefore, I should treat it with due respect and listen accordingly. I have never been one for "background" music - it being more important to me than that.
Sometimes I'll do some computer work while listening, but most of the time, I try to devote at least two hours a day to listening while doing nothing else. Often this is at a concert (which on Wednesday at the Met was more like three hours), but I do the same thing at home.
Unlike some, I don't multitask very well. If I read or write while listening to music, I end up not really paying attention to what I'm hearing.
--Bruce
almost never, since time is very scarce for me.
I have to do it with opera. The other day my iPod was on shuffle as I read a book for class, but when Che gelida manina from Boheme came on, I had to put the book down.
Otherwise, only rarely thanks to the college lifestyle. :( The other day I played Grieg's Lyric Pieces and Barber's Adagio while trying to fall asleep, but that hardly counts.
My favorite works for doing nothing but listening:
BRAHMS Symphony No 4
TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No 6
GLIERE Ilya Muromets
VIEUXTEMPS Violin Concerto No 5 (an odd inclusion I know!)
CHOPIN as played by Ivan Moravec
Just last week I sat down to review recordings from previous concerts I'd taken part in. It'd been a while before that though.....
Allan
During the work week, I listen to about a half hour first thing while sipping coffee and trying to wake-up. On the weekends, baring any possible family interuptions, at least an hour in the morning before breakfast (again sipping "cups o' Joe").
Quote from: George on November 02, 2007, 09:09:11 AM
How long ago was it [. . . ?]
Tuesday night.
Quote. . . and how often do you listen to music in this manner?
Ever so often as I can.
Last night, and whenever I get a chance and am in the mood to.
Quote from: George on November 02, 2007, 09:09:11 AM
How long ago was it and how often do you listen to music in this manner?
(As opposed to doing other things while listening, like going online, cleaning, etc.)
Just curious.
It's the only way I listen to classical music. :)
Quote from: Great Gable on November 02, 2007, 09:24:05 AM
That's how I mostly listen. I sit down, often turn the lights down low and just immerse myself. Notwithstanding the pertinent and unavoidable distractions, that's how I approach music in the car - just less so, mercifully.
I listen to music in much the same way as I read a book. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to compose it so, therefore, I should treat it with due respect and listen accordingly. I have never been one for "background" music - it being more important to me than that.
Same here. Doing other things while listening to music might be okay with the music of a Vivaldi or Dittersdorf, but great composers rate total concentration.
Quote
Tuesday night.
Well, with the understanding that I was standing for half the time, last night, actually.
Sibelius had my undivided attention.
It rarely happens. But when time, family commitments and work obligations allow, it's on with the AKG K501 cans, into the corner of our sofa, and on with whatever CD I'm in the mood for. Occasionally, a book or magazine (always classically oriented ;)) makes it into the picture. But never, ever do I shut my eyes for any length of time - sleep will inevitably follow. ;D
Quote from: Mark on November 02, 2007, 11:40:01 AM
It rarely happens.
A new arrival will do that, Papa 8)
Quote from: karlhenning on November 02, 2007, 10:56:05 AM
Well, with the understanding that I was standing for half the time, last night, actually. Sibelius had my undivided attention.
Sibelius
always gets my undivided attention. I am in an almost religious trance when I listen to him.
Well, for myself, I think they are two somewhat different listening states, The Trance, and, You've Got My Full Attention. Probably, they overlap to some degree.
I find that they are both different, though, to the What Pictures Does This Make Me See? state.
I love to remember what I used listen to!
Quote from: karlhenning on November 02, 2007, 11:48:06 AM
I find that they are both different, though, to the What Pictures Does This Make Me See? state.
Well, I can't neatly separate each mindset, they are usually all happening simultaneously, with one or two having prominence. It's impossible to put in words, really.
Quote from: Corey on November 02, 2007, 12:07:40 PM
. . . It's impossible to put in words, really.
Oh, I know.
I try to spend 1-2 hours a day listening while doing nothing else. This is almost always done as the very last thing before I go to bed; Thus I'm usually listening between 2-4am. I listen to a lot of Bach at these times because I can't really appreciate his music sufficiently while doing other things, and I believe it has a calming effect that helps me to sleep.
Often while I'm working I will be listening to the radio or an internet stream (especially the jazz station KCSM), but some types of work, such as editing images in Photoshop, or working with Illustrator seem to go very well with long symphonic works, especially by Bruckner, but also Shostakovich, Mahler, and Beethoven.
When I'm conducting, my attention is undivided ........ otherwise ........
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on November 02, 2007, 12:24:35 PM
Often while I'm working I will be listening to the radio or an internet stream (especially the jazz station KCSM), but some types of work, such as editing images in Photoshop, or working with Illustrator seem to go very well with long symphonic works, especially by Bruckner, but also Shostakovich, Mahler, and Beethoven.
I'm curious, XB: what do you do for a living, may I ask?
Last night, with a glass of wine and Wagner.
Not since last night. Probably at least 5 or 6 hours per week, on average.
It's full attention or nothing for me. In fact, it can get downright irritating for me hearing classical music outside of the 'undivided attention' context.
Chalk it up to the muzak blitz...
Quote from: orbital on November 02, 2007, 09:14:09 AM
I do that for at least an hour a day(on my commute back and forth). There is the train noise of course, but at least I don't do anything else while listening.
And if walking does not constitute multi-tasking, my most cherished listening is done while walking. I do that a lot too. But at home, it is very rare that I don't have another thing going while listening to music.
This is my story too. I recall a very fine day spent walking, nearly 12 miles, with music by Wm Kraft, Irwin Bazelon, Stephen Dankner and George Perle on the mp3 player.
Occasionally, if I'm in a Morton Feldman mood, I get up very early to play said music, so I can play it at the level prescribed before outside noise gets started for the day.
Thanks for all the great replies, guys. You've confirmed my decision to do much more undivided attention listening each week. :)
When I listen to music I don't do anything else. I sit, listen and enjoy.
Last night it was Bach's wonderful Orgelbüchlein played by Andre Isoir.
Quote from: Great Gable on November 02, 2007, 09:24:05 AM
That's how I mostly listen. I sit down, often turn the lights down low and just immerse myself. Notwithstanding the pertinent and unavoidable distractions, that's how I approach music in the car - just less so, mercifully.
I listen to music in much the same way as I read a book. Someone has gone to a lot of trouble to compose it so, therefore, I should treat it with due respect and listen accordingly. I have never been one for "background" music - it being more important to me than that.
same. This is the only way I listen to music -- at home, during quiet times. Usually can't listen if there are distractions in the room or something's on my mind. On long trips/commuting the music stays at home too.
I find long commutes are excellent for focused listening. Let's face it: with a good pair of noise cancelling phones and a three-hour train journey ahead of you (so, no concentrating on driving ;)), what else could be better than to get in some serious listening?
As for listening while there are other distractions, it works in reverse for me. That's because I'm a headphone devotee. When I'm working at a client's office and there's loads going on around me, I actually find it easier to focus not just on my work but also on music if I have something wonderful being fed into my ears through cans. Far from interferring with the creative element of my job, this method actually helps with it. The big bonus is I don't have to listen to the mindless blather of office 'suits' taking about 'blue-sky thinking', 'revenue streams' and '360 degree customer touch points' ... whatever the hell all that's meant to mean. ::)
With any sophisticated art music, like classical or jazz, I almost always just sit and listen. Any real art demands full attention for full rewards. Do you watch a Shakespeare play while reading the paper or read a Melville novel while listening to Mozart? I get much more out of things when I give them my undivided attention.
Quote from: Grazioso on November 03, 2007, 03:54:13 AM
Do you watch a Shakespeare play while reading the paper or read a Melville novel while listening to Mozart? I get much more out of things when I give them my undivided attention.
I take your point, but you could argue this the other way around: ever looked through a book of fine art while listening to classical music? A wonderful experience, with neither art form robbing the other of anything - rather, they each seem to add something to one another.
Quote from: c#minor on November 02, 2007, 12:43:46 PM
Last night, with a glass of wine and Wagner.
You've just described my ideal weekday evening 0:).
marvin
To answer the question I usually like to listen to a few operas during the course of the week after work in the early evening. I'll sit back sometimes with a glass of red wine and let Wagner and Verdi (on DVD or CD) consume me. Weekends are for friends and parties (usually with very bad music :()
marvin
Quote from: Mark on November 03, 2007, 03:56:45 AM
I take your point, but you could argue this the other way around: ever looked through a book of fine art while listening to classical music? A wonderful experience, with neither art form robbing the other of anything - rather, they each seem to add something to one another.
i strongly disagree. Granted nothing might be taken away from viewing the art, but you will surely miss the finer interpretive details of the musical interpretation. Without undivided attention your mind will just not take in the more sensitive details like the weight a pianist applies to chords, the subtlety of his pedalling and any unique highlighting of inner voices. Perhaps it's a different matter with (some) orchestral music as you've obviously succeeded in separating 20+ recordings of that Rachmaninoff vigil you love so much. But for piano, it's undivided attention--sitting, or walking in a quiet area--or nothing else.
Quote from: sidoze on November 03, 2007, 04:08:23 AM
i strongly disagree. Granted nothing might be taken away from viewing the art, but you will surely miss the finer interpretive details of the musical interpretation. Without undivided attention your mind will just not take in the more sensitive details like the weight a pianist applies to chords, the subtlety of his pedalling and any unique highlighting of inner voices. Perhaps it's a different matter with (some) orchestral music as you've obviously succeeded in separating 20+ recordings of that Rachmaninoff vigil you love so much. But for piano, it's undivided attention--sitting, or walking in a quiet area--or nothing else.
Well, that's one way of seeing it. But what if you already
know a particular interpretation extremely well? Can you not then enjoy it
and another activity, having previously 'put in the work', so to speak?
As to Rachmaninov's All-night Vigil, it's a work which rewards ever more with each new interpretation I discover. It doesn't take me long to get to grips with a newly acquired recording, as there are at least five that capture (for me) the 'essence' of the work. Against these, all further recordings are measured, more or less. And though it rarely happens that one of my top five is superceded, it's often the case that a completely obscure rendition will throw new light (even if only a brief nuance) on this work.
Quote from: sidoze on November 03, 2007, 04:08:23 AM
i strongly disagree. Granted nothing might be taken away from viewing the art, but you will surely miss the finer interpretive details of the musical interpretation. Without undivided attention your mind will just not take in the more sensitive details like the weight a pianist applies to chords, the subtlety of his pedalling and any unique highlighting of inner voices. Perhaps it's a different matter with (some) orchestral music as you've obviously succeeded in separating 20+ recordings of that Rachmaninoff vigil you love so much. But for piano, it's undivided attention--sitting, or walking in a quiet area--or nothing else.
On this, as with most things jazz, we agree. I do play music in the background frequently while I go about other activities, like cooking or chatting on GMG, but I don't consider that really listening. Listening to music, like listening to my wife, requires undivided attention.
Quote from: longears on November 03, 2007, 04:28:18 AM
Listening to music, like listening to my wife, requires undivided attention.
Ah, now, that's different.
I think we need to make a distinction here between two different types of listening: passive and active. My day, for example, leaves little room for the latter, but there are usually a fair few slots for the former. When it's
active listening that's required, NOTHING else is allowed to distract me (which is why I use headphones so much, incidentally - I can get 'up close and personal' with whatever I'm listening to, helping me to really 'get inside' the music).
Quote from: Mark on November 03, 2007, 04:23:51 AM
Well, that's one way of seeing it. But what if you already know a particular interpretation extremely well? Can you not then enjoy it and another activity, having previously 'put in the work', so to speak?
absolutely, I didn't think of it that way. I guess that's called enjoying music (not that any of us highbrow fellows would ever nod our heads along to anything 0:) ).
Quoteit's often the case that a completely obscure rendition will throw new light (even if only a brief nuance) on this work.
no doubt. that happens with all music, luckily for us.
Quote from: longears on November 03, 2007, 04:28:18 AM
Listening to music, like listening to my wife, requires undivided attention.
.
I would like to experience that once, but I'm afraid I can't. I'd be fidgeting all the time, and probably pray for the piece to be over soon so that I could get up ;D
Quote from: longears on November 03, 2007, 04:28:18 AMListening to music, like listening to my wife, requires undivided attention.
Quote from: orbital on November 03, 2007, 03:11:42 PM
I would like to experience that once, but I'm afraid I can't. I'd be fidgeting all the time, and probably pray for the piece to be over soon so that I could get up ;D
Sounds as if you know my wife.
Quote from: longears on November 03, 2007, 03:15:19 PM
Sounds as if you know my wife.
:D Shoot, I didn't even see that part (about the wife) ::)
Usually two hours a day [late afternoon] are devoted to active listening to classical music while doing nothing else. Sometimes I can get an extra hour in during the late evening. During the day I listen passively while working at my computer. :)
2 hours ago
Bruckner 9 / Giulini / WP
Quote from: Mark on November 03, 2007, 03:56:45 AM
I take your point, but you could argue this the other way around: ever looked through a book of fine art while listening to classical music? A wonderful experience, with neither art form robbing the other of anything - rather, they each seem to add something to one another.
Music or fine art can certainly set a mood that will impact your other impressions, but I think you would indeed be robbing yourself in that case by doing both at once. Can you enjoy classical music by just skimming its surface and using it as background music while you multi-task? Sure. But that's like speed-reading Milton. Sort of misses the point. How much are you willing to miss?
I'd rather not listen to music at all if I can't actually
listen. Otherwise, it cheapens something I love and ultimately wastes my time since I'm not really getting half the experience. It becomes pleasant noise instead of a real artistic experience or communion. And that principle applies in my case not just to "art" music but to all forms. I similarly get a lot more out of pop or rock when I immerse myself in it emotionally and intellectually instead of just half-hearing it. The nuances and details of rock may not be as subtle or as multitudinous as in classical music, but they're certainly there if you "have ears to hear." And what may seem like a simple pop song can suddenly get really interesting if you're hearing and understanding exactly what every player is doing.
Quote from: Mark on November 02, 2007, 12:35:09 PM
I'm curious, XB: what do you do for a living, may I ask?
I'm a biologist, serving time as a postdoctoral research fellow until I'm hired in a tenure track faculty position somewhere in the U.S.--or decide to say "screw it all" and take up another line of work. (Disallusionment runs high among many if not most academics, especially postdocs. It is far worse in humanities however.)
I'm in kind of a privileged position in that I can pretty much make up my own schedule, work the days I want, work from home, etc. As a hardcore nightowl, I greatly appreciate this freedom and it allows me to work at the times I'm most creative, energetic (e.g., late afternoon and late-night to early morning hours). My dissertation work was botanical in nature, but now I'm working on microbial evolution, especially trying to understand the cellular structure, evolution, and function of some of the most bizarre and poorly-studied unicellular organisms on the planet. I do a lot of electron microscopy and spend an equal amount of time in image analysis, editing, writing, and creating graphics, presentations, and photographic plates for publication.
What do you do? Are you still in advertising?
Quote from: XB-70 Valkyrie on November 04, 2007, 04:09:06 AM
What do you do? Are you still in advertising?
Thanks for that - very interesting. :)
And yes, I'm freelancing again, which is handy with a new baby at home: I can pick and choose when and where I work. :)