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The Museum vs. Galleries

I am curious about what percentage of your time is spent listening to music with which you are familiar, versus playing music that you do not know well, or at all. 

Sometimes, when I play an old, wonderful Coltrane album that I know like the back of my hand, or The Who, or Joni or Samuel Barber, I think of myself walking in an old familiar museum, like the Met, or the MFA here in Boston. I know where the pieces are that I have loved for decades, and I usually know how they will make me feel - though sometimes I am surprised. 

And sometimes, when I decide to do an investigation of Makaya McCraven, or Waxahatchee, or Vijay Iyer or others I do not yet know, or know nearly as well, I feel the excitement I remember from walking in Soho (in the old days) or Chelsea or wherever the newer galleries are that have contemporary work.

What percentage of time do you spend listening to the new as opposed to resting in the familiar? 

For the record, I don't think the museum is better than the galleries, or vice versa. But I am curious about how fellow listeners use their precious listening time. And if you are happy with it or want to change.

dtorc

Showing 1 response by stuartk

stuartk
3,174 posts
 

This has changed for me. When I was first exploring Jazz, for example, it was very exciting. It seemed like an entire universe was waiting for me to discover it and most of what I listened to was previously unknown and recently purchased.

However, as the decades have gone by, I’ve found it harder and harder to find new (to me) music that I want to buy, so I tend to listen mostly to what’s become familiar.

This doesn’t mean I don’t still spend time looking for new music to buy. I do. But now, it takes a whole lot of looking/listening to find anything that really grabs me. It’s not because there’s a lack of music. My taste /personal preference is the limiting factor and it’s very stubborn!

 

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