what determines your playlist for the day

[marvinbrown]

Or when I have listening "projects" when I listen to larger boxes 1-2 CDs pr week. As I'm doing with my recently bought 22 CD Stravinsky box.

  This is something I believe in as well...COMPLETENESS....if I buy a box set and I start listening to the first cd in that box set, I will follow through and listen to whole box set- I refuse to leave box sets partially listened to!

  marvin

[Que]

  This is something I believe in as well...COMPLETENESS....if I buy a box set and I start listening to the first cd in that box set, I will follow through and listen to whole box set- I refuse to leave box sets partially listened to!

I keep box sets that I haven't completely listened to, at hand and return to them regularly.
But I like to spread the listening over a longer period of time, to prevent superficial listening or even listening fatigue.

To take the Scarlatti box by Scott Ross (34 CDs!! ) as an example. I recently completed that set one and a half years after I bought it. Depending on my mood I periodically listened to 2-3 discs in a row - in a day up to a week, each CD a few times (2-4). Worked for me quite well!

Q

[The new erato]

To take the Scarlatti box by Scott Ross (34 CDs!! ) as an example. I recently completed that set one and a half years after I bought it. Depending on my mood I periodically listened to 2-3 discs in a row - in a day up to a week, each CD a few times (2-4). Worked for me quite well!

Q

I spent 3 months on my Couperin 11 CD set so the tempo on such sets varies, such sets may lie around untouched for a month before systematic listening continues. OTOH I often play particularly successful and interesting single CDs from such sets 2-3 times before moving on.

[George]

I keep box sets that I haven't completely listened to, at hand and return to them regularly.
But I like to spread the listing over a longer period of time, to prevent superficial listening or even listening fatigue.

I do the same, great minds think alike! 

[Heather Harrison]

If I have new items to listen to, they go to the top of the list.  If I don't, then it depends on a number of things.  If I am feeling lazy (and I often am), I will grab whatever is closest at hand.  If I'm not feeling so lazy, it depends on my mood.  I'll go through my collection and pick whatever fits.  If I feel like listening to dark, gloomy music I might pick Shostakovich's Symphony No. 11.  If I want some of the sentimental mush that I just love, I'll pick a collection of Puccini's arias or La Boheme, Madama Butterfly, or Suor Angelica.  If I want happy, lively music I may look to lighter fare from the Classic or Baroque periods.  If I want something exotic, I'll look to my world music collection.  Or if I am in a weird mood and want something bizarre, difficult, and interesting, there is always the post-war avant-garde.

Right now I have a large backlog of new items, so they will be on my list for the next few days.

Heather

[marvinbrown]

I keep box sets that I haven't completely listened to, at hand and return to them regularly.
But I like to spread the listening over a longer period of time, to prevent superficial listening or even listening fatigue.

To take the Scarlatti box by Scott Ross (34 CDs!! ) as an example. I recently completed that set one and a half years after I bought it. Depending on my mood I periodically listened to 2-3 discs in a row - in a day up to a week, each CD a few times (2-4). Worked for me quite well!

Q

  34 cds  now thats what I call a box set!!!  yes in that case listening to them continuosly is a bit too much and breaks  (listening to other composers) are needed....Gosh I do not think I have a box set that comes anywhere near 34 cds!!!

marvin

[Don]

  34 cds  now thats what I call a box set!!!  yes in that case listening to them continuosly is a bit too much and breaks  (listening to other composers) are needed....Gosh I do not think I have a box set that comes anywhere near 34 cds!!!

marvin

Me neither, and I wouldn't want one that big.

[Que]

Me neither, and I wouldn't want one that big.

Oh, I have strong reservations against big box sets as well.
Not because big is necessarily bad, but because of the inconsistency in artstic/musical quality in sets with multiple performers and/or multiple types of works or even multiple composers.

All of which did not apply in the case of Scott Ross' Scarlatti...

Q

[beclemund]

I generally listen to new things right away, but other than that, it is often just a random mood. Sometimes, there will be a discussion of a piece here on GMG and my attentions will focus on a specific work or composer's oeuvre...  Usually though, it is just pick of the draw.

[Grazioso]

  34 cds  now thats what I call a box set!!!  yes in that case listening to them continuosly is a bit too much and breaks  (listening to other composers) are needed....Gosh I do not think I have a box set that comes anywhere near 34 cds!!!

marvin

Heck, I have complete Bach and Mozart sets--160 and 170 CD's, respectively. No way do I force myself to systematically listen to them In fact, I've learned through experience the general futility or counter-productiveness of enforced listening according to some systematic but ultimately arbitrary plan. It's when I'm in the proper mood to really listen to something that I'm most receptive emotionally and intellectually, when I'll really focus--naturally and without artificial effort--noting the fine points and hearing things afresh. Similarly, over-listening really saps the magic out of music for me, so I'll often go days without any music and months without certain genres. Trying to force things is generally unwise.

[Solitary Wanderer]

In fact, I've learned through experience the general futility or counter-productiveness of enforced listening according to some systematic but ultimately arbitrary plan.

I agree with this.

Mood dictates what I choose to listen to each day/next. I will sometimes focus on a genre, artist or composer, but I don't force myself to listen to everything I have by that artist; it just becomes a blur and the fun goes out of it.

Generally I go for quieter things in the morning and more ambitious/abstract things in the afternoon.

[andy]

In order to avoid the trap of listening to the same pieces again and again whilst ignoring others, I keep all of my music in an iTunes playlist. I set it to random and let the computer determine the piece for me. Sometimes, I won't be in the mood for its selection, so I'll do random jumps until I find something I'm in the mood for.

Also, I keep new cds close by so I tend to listen to new things more frequently than old things.

[Harry]

Oh, I have strong reservations against big box sets as well.
Not because big is necessarily bad, but because of the inconsistency in artstic/musical quality in sets with multiple performers and/or multiple types of works or even multiple composers.

All of which did not apply in the case of Scott Ross' Scarlatti...

Q

So, you have to try all big boxes before you know if its oke or not.
In Scarlatti you were lucky.
The rest which is disappointing to you, you may send to me.
I love big boxes, and they rarely disappoint me!

[Que]

So, you have to try all big boxes before you know if its oke or not.
In Scarlatti you were lucky.
The rest which is disappointing to you, you may send to me.
I love big boxes, and they rarely disappoint me!

Will do that Harry, but I very seldom buy them! 

Q

[Harry]

Will do that Harry, but I very seldom buy them! 

Q

And I will send you whatever gets in my way.