Lack of classical obsessions

[Gurn Blanston]

Kind of like your version of Shabbat?

There you go, now I think about it, that's exactly it. 

[Gurn Blanston]

Ha. Back when I took my Ph.D. in 1977, I bought the complete hard-bound miniature scores of the Ring Cycle as my gift to myself, partly with the intention of listening to the entire cycle with score in hand in a single day.

It still hasn't happened . . . .

Not taking a swipe at Wagner here, but is that even possible? That would be a hell of a long day!

[Ghost Sonata]

I believe it hasn't happened; I've only gotten through Das Rheingold.  But I would sure love to have those scores.  They are probably prohibitively expensive today, that's assuming they are still available.

Dover has them in reprints, around $40 each, some more some less, eg: http://store.doverpublications.com/0486242501.html

[Ken B]

I cautiously suggest Michael Nyman, whose Stroking and Synchronizing you did like. Suitable for getting obsessed over.

[Jo498]

Not taking a swipe at Wagner here, but is that even possible? That would be a hell of a long day!

It would be about 14-15 hours without breaks. As it takes four evenings in the theatre, I'd say that cramming it into one day is slightly exaggerated.

[(poco) Sforzando]

I believe it hasn't happened; I've only gotten through Das Rheingold.  But I would sure love to have those scores.  They are probably prohibitively expensive today, that's assuming they are still available.

Can't have 'em! Even if you didn't support Donald Trump!

In 1977, each Eulenburg bound volume cost $25. That would be $100 today.

[(poco) Sforzando]

It would be about 14-15 hours without breaks. As it takes four evenings in the theatre, I'd say that cramming it into one day is slightly exaggerated.

It is doable. Assuming 7 hours for sleep, that's 17 hours for listening. Of course one would have to set up food and other necessities by my chair so I could follow along uninterrupted.

[Contemporaryclassical]

Buy the complete works of Anton Webern and let your troubles disappear 

[Heck148]

I wouldn't worry about it, at all...music listening should be for fun, enjoyment, relaxation, stimulation, whatever...if nothing is pushing your buttons right now, fine....let it go...at some point, you will get the urge, and you will listen to things that you think are, or might be interesting...
this happens to me periodically - I just won't feel like listening to anything - then something pops into my head - I read about something on a forum like this one.
As a professional orchestra musician, I would many times listen to various works just to get an idea, esp if it was unfamiliar - but that is "work listening", not the same.
your recreational listening should bring you pleasure and enjoyment....let it run its own course...just my .02....

[ComposerOfAvantGarde]

I cautiously suggest Michael Nyman, whose Stroking and Synchronizing you did like. Suitable for getting obsessed over.

Seconded! In 2012 I had a Nyman phase and for about two and a half months I listened to nothing but MGV for Michael Nyman Band with Orchestra.........................

One thing I tend to do when losing a bit of interest in classical music is turn on the radio and have it playing in the background. Sometimes I briefly hear some sounds I find enticing and head to the internet to learn more about what I just heard.

[71 dB]

I cautiously suggest Michael Nyman, whose Stroking and Synchronizing you did like. Suitable for getting obsessed over.

I think my sister has the one and only Naxos disc of Michael Nyman. The Piano Concerto etc.

I really like a Naxos recording of Keith Burstein on Spotify when I sample contemporary composers, but to my shock it is a download only release. Damn Naxos! 

[Monsieur Croche]

You might like:
https://www.youtube.com/v/CanQVMNslE0

https://www.youtube.com/v/DQJaJuMTouE

https://www.youtube.com/v/t5U9577N-dQ

[Andante]

I do vary my listening quite a bit, when I want a change from classical I go to Jazz and the occasional folk collection that I have started to put together quite fond of the Irish stuff The Chieftains etc.

[Jay F]

Do what I do: the Beach Boys.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pHghQB4-t-4&list=PLoWNz70GUomyUl0HnuE8-gxzewHhfbEuw

[bob_cart]

Do not pressure yourself into anything. Life is short and the best thing you can do is enjoy the moment or at least try to relax, however cliche that might be. If at the moment you don't feel like listening to music, don't, and do not feel guilty about it. Sometimes I feel like exploring new music, sometimes I feel like listening to the same piece a hundred times over and sometimes I just don't listen to music. It seems as if you burden yourself with this for no real reason. We humans are quite irrational, you know. Though I do not exclude our rationality, accepting our irrational side will lead to more clarity, well, at least it has for me. And the part about CDs being expensive: I'm pretty sure you're "preaching to the choir" But luckily there is a bunch of stuff for you to listen to on Youtube and Spotify, and it's not bad buying random CDs in your local store that are on discounts and such. They might be bad, but sometimes they can be a real revelation! I think planning ahead can also lead to disinterest, à propos Liszt and Schumann which you've mentioned.  It's also good to mix musical periods. I've had a Beethoven phase, so I switched to baroque and explored the works of Lully, Rameau and others. Recently I've discovered the wonders of Poulenc and Turina. There is a recording of Turina's Sinfonia Sevilliana on Youtube and it's beautiful, I recommend you listen to it! Also try shifting between light-hearted and heavy-hearted music (light-hearted being a gavotte from the sixth cello suite by J.S. Bach, and heavy-hearted being "A survivor from Warsaw", by Schönberg) It seems you are a bit under the weather, so try the gavotte!

( Sevilliana by Turina: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lfRL7_bAbQ )
( Gavotte by Bach: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1saw_ozIPdg )

Cheers!

[Jo498]

71 dB I seem to recall that you liked (mostly German?) 17th century Baroque? Are you really through with Schütz, Scheidt, Schein, Buxtehude, Böhm, Pachelbel and all the others? What about the "Austrians" like Biber and the older Muffat? And the French, the Italians and Purcell?  Somewhat older stuff like Sweelinck or Praetorius?

[71 dB]

71 dB I seem to recall that you liked (mostly German?) 17th century Baroque? Are you really through with Schütz, Scheidt, Schein, Buxtehude, Böhm, Pachelbel and all the others? What about the "Austrians" like Biber and the older Muffat? And the French, the Italians and Purcell?  Somewhat older stuff like Sweelinck or Praetorius?

Yes, especially Northern Germany baroque starting from Weckmann and Tunder. Schütz / Scheidt are stylistically "one generation too early", but I enjoy Schütz because he was so damn good. 

Böhm and Pachelbel are more of the Center/South Germany school, but enjoyable nevertheless in the same way Biber and the Muffats are.

French 17th century baroque: Pretty awesome! M.-A. Charpentier, Lully,...
Italy: Carissimi? Corelli of course!! 

The problem with this kind of music is that so little of it has survived to us. I'd sell my soul to explore Bruhns' chamber music, but it is all lost forever it seems.  Not all of the survived music has been recorded. A dozen CDs cover a lot a ground of German middle baroque, in some cases one 5 minutes long organ piece is all we have from a certain composer.

[North Star]

Yes, especially Northern Germany baroque starting from Weckmann and Tunder. Schütz / Scheidt are stylistically "one generation too early", but I enjoy Schütz because he was so damn good. 

Böhm and Pachelbel are more of the Center/South Germany school, but enjoyable nevertheless in the same way Biber and the Muffats are.

French 17th century baroque: Pretty awesome! M.-A. Charpentier, Lully,...
Italy: Carissimi? Corelli of course!! 

The problem with this kind of music is that so little of it has survived to us. I'd sell my soul to explore Bruhns' chamber music, but it is all lost forever it seems.  Not all of the survived music has been recorded. A dozen CDs cover a lot a ground of German middle baroque, in some cases one 5 minutes long organ piece is all we have from a certain composer.

Maybe check from this list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Baroque_composers

[71 dB]

Maybe check from this list
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Baroque_composers

I know more baroque composers than the average John.  All of them are not worth an obsession.
Right now I am obsessed of Ricercar Consort.

[North Star]

I know more baroque composers than the average John.  All of them are not worth an obsession.
Right now I am obsessed of Ricercar Consort.

Oh sure, I was merely suggesting it as a quick way to check if you've forgotten someone. Ricercar Consort are certainly a wonderful ensemble.