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?