Unlike most people, I don't have music playing all day, especially in my cubicle at work. Although I have iTunes and access to the music libraries of about 20 other people (which is such a wonderful thing), I rarely put the headphones on and listen to music. Even at home, all we have is a little CD player boombox that I bought in 1995, and we rarely turn it on. My wife and I both love music, but somehow we usually do without it.
I don't know why. I guess I just don't need it all the time. I listen to music in controlled bursts, and perhaps for only an hour a day on average. At work, I write in silence most of the time. I've found that most popular music is incompatible with serious writing. If it has lyrics, it almost destroys my ability to write effectively. There are some albums that I can turn on and write comfortably to because I've listened to them many times already, but they are still like a distracting buzz in the background while I work.
However, sometimes I really like to listen to something. Sometimes music is like gravy that makes everything else go down smooth. Sometimes the girl two cubicles down is having a loud, emotional spat with her loser boyfriend. Sometimes I just need a little extra inspiration for my writing.
I have Chopin and Debussy in my iTunes library. Their music I would describe as about as good as it gets for writing because there aren't any lyrics but there are strong musical themes that help my thoughts order themselves. I love classical music but only a few select composers really do it for me. However, after about 60 minutes of Chopin I can't listen to any more.
I am still in search of the perfect writing music. Something with inspiring themes that last long enough that I derive a good session of writing from them. Something that I can listen to all day without getting so tired of it. I'm wondering if there's anything out there like that---whether by one composer or a compilation of many composers. You full-time writers out there, have you found anything like that? What are your music listening habits as you write?
[ August 23, 2004, 01:11 PM: Message edited by: advice for robots ]
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
I'm also a silent writing type person. I listen to music in my car...but rarely in my apartment. I don't even have a stereo. o_O
Posted by Zeugma (Member # 6636) on :
Dvorak's "New World" symphony.
edit: specifically, the "Chicago Symphony Orchestra with Fritz Reiner" rendition.
[ August 23, 2004, 01:23 PM: Message edited by: Zeugma ]
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
Hobbes has introduced me to what is now my favorite study music - Philip Glass. Unlike Classical music, Glass's compositions don't have huge sweeping crescendos and decrescendos that can seem to interfere with a consistent mood. (There are times when listening to something dramatic like Wagner is lovely, but it can be distracting when you're trying to be productive.)
My favorite album of his is Uakti, which is performed by Amazoninan musicians. I used this CD as a background track for a presentation I did last fall on Neutra architecture and it fit perfectly as a constructive, yet unobstructive soundtrack. (I realize that makes no sense whatsoever.)
What I think makes Glass so perfect for writing or studying (or painting! Ask Chuck Close!) is its mathematical undertones. He does all kinds of crazy things with his time signatures that to the unattentive ear (read: mine) sound kind of like music being played on graph paper.
This is making no sense. I reccommend just listening to the samples on the Amazon link and seeing if you like them.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
Mack: Glad to find another person like me who doesn't have a stereo. Somehow we survive.
Poly, I've probably heard the New World Symphony, but I'd have to hear it again to recognize it. Chances are someone in the department has it. How long is it, by the way?
Annie, thanks for the suggestion. I have not yet experienced Philip Glass. I will go listen to the samples.
One thing that always gets me is that when I do find someone I really enjoy listening to, it seems that they never have enough music to really satisfy me. Something about the finiteness of man. I want my favorite musicians to compose an infinite amount of music for my enjoyment, just like I want my favorite authors to write an infinite amount of books. Get cracking, people.
Posted by Teshi (Member # 5024) on :
I usually listen to worldless music when I write, as I find that most music with words is too distracting, although Enya (for example) has been successful, mostly because her singing is so quiet it's merely another instrument.
I like movie soundtracks most, because it tends to instill a good set of emotions. Vaughan Williams is also good. I cannot listen to classical and baroque music because it gets on my nerves.
Posted by Phanto (Member # 5897) on :
Very powerful 15 minute piece that only gets stronger and stronger: Bolero.
Posted by Tristan (Member # 1670) on :
I use to write my essays listening to Tchaikovsky's first piano concert. It's probably not everybody's cup of tea, and since it's fairly short you need to have it on repeat for longer projects, but I find it very inspirational.
[ August 23, 2004, 03:54 PM: Message edited by: Tristan ]
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
I also enjoy classical guitar. Very mellow, very happy sort of music that makes you write about strolls through the woods.
Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
I agree about Enya being good writing music. Although she's another example of an artist who has only written a finite amount of music. I can usually only listen to an album once every day. Repeating it makes me go crazy *twitch*.
Classical guitar is a great idea, Annie. Being a (very) amateur guitarist myself, I have learned to appreciate it quite a bit.
I tend to prefer single instrument classical music, especially piano pieces. Somehow a full orchestra is too much for writing. Tchaikovsky does have a whole heck of a lot of beautiful stuff, but lots of it is just too heavy. It's better for just closing your eyes and listening.
How about jazz? Does anyone prefer jazz when writing?
Posted by Annie (Member # 295) on :
If you listen to jazz, you write beat poetry. If you listen to Enya, you write cheap sellout fantasy. Posted by advice for robots (Member # 2544) on :
And spanish guitar makes you write Hemingway knockoffs.
Posted by enjeeo (Member # 2336) on :
Many people seem to think that classical music has some kind of magical power. So if they want to be creative they think that classical will draw some kind of higher from them. Personally I find it depends on what kind of writing I'm doing. I'd rather listen to pop if I'm writing something humourous. Nice loud, thumping music is actually kind of adreneline-producing if you want to write something angry (or a character who is) or excited. I write best when I imagine myself in the situation and feel how the character's expression might change, or the words they might use. If the music helps me bring that to life, I'll put it on.
There are definitely times though when silence is necessary for clarity.
If I really want to listen to just something fun, without any reason behind it, I listen to Japanese pop from artists I don't know so well, as then I can't sing along.
Baroque music is good for studying and memorising, because of the brain waves it produces. But there's another rythym that is better for more active thinking. If anyone else remembers which it is, please share.
[ November 08, 2004, 04:27 PM: Message edited by: enjeeo ]
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
When I worked in the sexual assault field and entered statewide data into our stats field, i found that angry, driven metal worked.
However, renaissance, medieval, and celtic harp music is what I now listen to as I write curriculum and design materials.
My colleague listens to flute music.
We all go nuts from constant interruptions. Honestly, you'd think wearing headphones would be the signal that you're busy. Wearing headphones and pushing a chair into the doorway of the cubicle ought to be even more clear.
Not.
I just thank God that I can work from home when I really need to focus on project.
Posted by enjeeo (Member # 2336) on :
I heard a story (on time management) about a woman working in an open plan office who could never avoid interruptions, even to have lunch. So she made two signs for her desk, explained to everyone why they were necessary, and then when they'd come up to ask her to do something, there'd be this sign on the end of her desk saying 'at lunch' or 'unavailable unless the matter is urgent' or something like that.
Of course with my current boss this wouldn't work. He's firmly convinced that every 20 min discussion he wants to have will 'just take a minute' and has no understanding of the fact that even an actual 'just a minute' costs you ten minutes because of the time it takes to get back into that focused mode.
Posted by Synesthesia (Member # 4774) on :
*scandalized by people who don't have stereos* i cannot LIVE without music. If I'm not listening to it I start making up songs. My sort of music doesn't work for everyone though. To write this novel I am listening to everything from old school R and B to jazz to classical like Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Because of him I can pronounce Tchaikovsky right, but I still can't spell it. Instrumental Yoko Kanno might be your cup of tea. Or some Acoustic Alchemy. You can't go wrong with them. There are no lyrics, just guitars. I recommend all of their early stuff. All of it.
Posted by Avadaru (Member # 3026) on :
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Somehow we survive.![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
And spanish guitar makes you write Hemingway knockoffs.
![[Wall Bash]](graemlins/wallbash.gif)
![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)
and has no understanding of the fact that even an actual 'just a minute' costs you ten minutes because of the time it takes to get back into that focused mode.