I wrote my master's thesis to the music from the soundtrack "Glory" - before I saw the movie, and have not used it for inspiration since. Saw Yanni in concert and couldn't believe, as I looked down from the nose bleed section how still everyone was...I was merely bopping long - albeit quietly - to the music. And David Lanz? I know Christorfori's Dream was my first truly New Age piece. I tolerate John Tesh. I quilt to John. Denver - very great for different types of quilting. Ah, music.....Mozart, Enya, anything Celtic, Peter Paul and Mary....Thanks for a great piece!
Wow, we're practically twins! I agree on John Tesh. There was always something held back about him, while Yanni lived his music. Or so it seemed to me.
Love John Denver but I don't think I could write to him. Yes to anything Celtic. Yes to Peter Paul and Mary.
You're absolutely right, the music you like to listen to is not necessarily the type you like to write to! I put some music on the other day and ended up turning it off within two minutes - I couldn't help singing along and listening to the words - it was far too distracting!
Right! There are times when we welcome distracting music but not when we're trying to write. What a dull world it would be without music. We need it as much as we need food and water.
Thanks, Alison. I let frustration and rage get the best of me for years as I wrote political opinions. I might have taken a far different path if I'd written them to music, but the underlying need to write them would still have been there. I think.
This speaks to me, Ramona. I understand. Music is the antidote for anger. A little Ziggy Marley every morning, or some Michael Franti. For my, it's been the salve for grief and loss. It really is significant... but starts with remembering it is there! Politics can do in the head, most certainly.
Loved this: "And we need writers and artists and musicians who see the world we live in through their own art and their own imagination. They are our education and our inspiration." One of the most cherished reviews I've received is from a fellow musician who commented that she loves my mystery series because she feels I'm writing it especially for her. And in a way, I am. Classical is my preference...but with a wide variety from many eras. And a wide variety of performers and settings, from string quartets to organ music to full orchestra to my first and greatest love, opera. More than that, I've included music in all my novels. And I think I've introduced some readers to music they would otherwise have never listened to. Thanks for writing this piece!! Could I ever relate.
Susan, your novels would shine, anyway, but your nods to classical music set them apart from any others. There's no forgetting them, or who wrote them. You've found your niche and you're skilled at it!
Love your new spot!! And love sharing the love of writing. My favorite to listen to is Leonard Cohen but oddly enough when I’m doing abstract art, which I do with some frequency, I love Country for the energy. (Nothing like a little I’ve Got Friends in Low Places or 18 Wheeler Roll On for a pick-me-up!) love the conversation!
Music has always been a writing companion for me but as I've gotten older, both my tastes in music and how I use music (while writing) has changed. When I was first writing in my twenties, I listened to a lot of punk and metal - music turned up so loud it drove all other distractions away and I could concentrate on what I was writing without really hearing the music. These days, I listen to a lot of ambient electronica and solo instrumentation (I highly recommend Eluvium's Piano Works) not to drive away outside distractions, but to quiet my own inner distractions. As the doubts and failures and recriminations of choices gone by mount up, I find that it's much more necessary to silence the inner critic, unfortunately.
I've written to New Age, myself, around the turn of the century (this one). In fact, I got a spate of Windham Hill CDs a couple decades ago when I was still in a CD club (BMG, most likely), and was actually struggling to fill out my original free dozen for my penny! As a current satellite radio subscriber, I mostly listen to the Escape channel (mostly instrumental Muzak), or even Christmas songs (as long as they don't play too many distracting vocals). So, mostly Escape. Fun read!
I wrote my master's thesis to the music from the soundtrack "Glory" - before I saw the movie, and have not used it for inspiration since. Saw Yanni in concert and couldn't believe, as I looked down from the nose bleed section how still everyone was...I was merely bopping long - albeit quietly - to the music. And David Lanz? I know Christorfori's Dream was my first truly New Age piece. I tolerate John Tesh. I quilt to John. Denver - very great for different types of quilting. Ah, music.....Mozart, Enya, anything Celtic, Peter Paul and Mary....Thanks for a great piece!
Wow, we're practically twins! I agree on John Tesh. There was always something held back about him, while Yanni lived his music. Or so it seemed to me.
Love John Denver but I don't think I could write to him. Yes to anything Celtic. Yes to Peter Paul and Mary.
And, for me, Don McLean and Glen Campbell.
PS - all versions of Pachabel.....
Yes!
You're absolutely right, the music you like to listen to is not necessarily the type you like to write to! I put some music on the other day and ended up turning it off within two minutes - I couldn't help singing along and listening to the words - it was far too distracting!
Right! There are times when we welcome distracting music but not when we're trying to write. What a dull world it would be without music. We need it as much as we need food and water.
"I might have done things differently if I'd remembered to listen." Oh my. SO true! A great post.
Thanks, Alison. I let frustration and rage get the best of me for years as I wrote political opinions. I might have taken a far different path if I'd written them to music, but the underlying need to write them would still have been there. I think.
This speaks to me, Ramona. I understand. Music is the antidote for anger. A little Ziggy Marley every morning, or some Michael Franti. For my, it's been the salve for grief and loss. It really is significant... but starts with remembering it is there! Politics can do in the head, most certainly.
'Significant' is the perfect word for it. Music is the universal problem-solver. It would be a bleak world without it.
Loved this: "And we need writers and artists and musicians who see the world we live in through their own art and their own imagination. They are our education and our inspiration." One of the most cherished reviews I've received is from a fellow musician who commented that she loves my mystery series because she feels I'm writing it especially for her. And in a way, I am. Classical is my preference...but with a wide variety from many eras. And a wide variety of performers and settings, from string quartets to organ music to full orchestra to my first and greatest love, opera. More than that, I've included music in all my novels. And I think I've introduced some readers to music they would otherwise have never listened to. Thanks for writing this piece!! Could I ever relate.
Susan, your novels would shine, anyway, but your nods to classical music set them apart from any others. There's no forgetting them, or who wrote them. You've found your niche and you're skilled at it!
I use my New Age playlist for background music when I need auditory fill without auditory distractions. Excellent for writing, IOW.
Still have my Windham Hill CDs, although everything got moved to digital long ago.
I've done the same. They're all on my computer but I'll save the CDs for backup. My treasures!
Love your new spot!! And love sharing the love of writing. My favorite to listen to is Leonard Cohen but oddly enough when I’m doing abstract art, which I do with some frequency, I love Country for the energy. (Nothing like a little I’ve Got Friends in Low Places or 18 Wheeler Roll On for a pick-me-up!) love the conversation!
Hi Edy, I'm glad you found me! Welcome aboard. Country music as a backdrop for abstract art is so intriguing... I'm thrilled that I know that now!
I'm picturing vivid colors and maybe some polka dots. I could be wrong... 😆
Music has always been a writing companion for me but as I've gotten older, both my tastes in music and how I use music (while writing) has changed. When I was first writing in my twenties, I listened to a lot of punk and metal - music turned up so loud it drove all other distractions away and I could concentrate on what I was writing without really hearing the music. These days, I listen to a lot of ambient electronica and solo instrumentation (I highly recommend Eluvium's Piano Works) not to drive away outside distractions, but to quiet my own inner distractions. As the doubts and failures and recriminations of choices gone by mount up, I find that it's much more necessary to silence the inner critic, unfortunately.
I've written to New Age, myself, around the turn of the century (this one). In fact, I got a spate of Windham Hill CDs a couple decades ago when I was still in a CD club (BMG, most likely), and was actually struggling to fill out my original free dozen for my penny! As a current satellite radio subscriber, I mostly listen to the Escape channel (mostly instrumental Muzak), or even Christmas songs (as long as they don't play too many distracting vocals). So, mostly Escape. Fun read!
Thanks so much. You are a true Renaissance Man!