I have 3 levels/layers of listening. The first level is just exploring and getting a sense of a style or a particular composer. The 2nd level is I get into period of delving more of a certain period/style. The 3rd level is listening or relistening to music I have good familiarity with already and that I like a lot. I usually have a certain mix of the 3. I found that in appreciating what I don't like, makes me appreciate what I like even more.
Too much numerous, expansive and varied listening?
I have been wondering sometimes whether or not I got greater kicks from classical music when I concentrated more on fewer composers and works.
Those days even just one work, like the Sibelius 4th, could be life changing. Nowadays when I listen to it, I am not as thrilled by the dissonances because Mahler is full of such chord progressions. Just to give you one example. (I need to consciously change my mental state to get into the receptive Sibelius 4th mood.)
So it is harder and harder to gain the mental state of the ”innocent, open minded listener, tabula rasa.”
It is also harder to tune up for a certain composer. And composers require their own mindsets! You cannot listen to everything the same way.
In a way, greater ignorance was bliss!
Has anyone had similar experiences?
Could there be something gained from a more limited but concentrated listening? Or is wide, numerous and expansive listening a value in itself, not worth questioning?
Those days even just one work, like the Sibelius 4th, could be life changing. Nowadays when I listen to it, I am not as thrilled by the dissonances because Mahler is full of such chord progressions. Just to give you one example. (I need to consciously change my mental state to get into the receptive Sibelius 4th mood.)
So it is harder and harder to gain the mental state of the ”innocent, open minded listener, tabula rasa.”
It is also harder to tune up for a certain composer. And composers require their own mindsets! You cannot listen to everything the same way.
In a way, greater ignorance was bliss!
Has anyone had similar experiences?
Could there be something gained from a more limited but concentrated listening? Or is wide, numerous and expansive listening a value in itself, not worth questioning?
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