Music and Me: January Blogging Meme

[owlmoose]

pete_thomas asked about my musical tastes, a bit more about the group I sing with, and what got me into music.

We'll start with the last question. I've always enjoyed music of all sorts, although my exposure to it as a kid was somewhat limited, because neither of my parents listen to popular music. They're both musical, though -- my dad sings and my mom plays piano and guitar, and I have many other family members who play instruments, sing, or both. I started playing the flute in fourth grade and the piano in fifth, and then in eighth grade, when we moved to California, I joined choirs at both school and church. When I started high school, I had to choose between band and singing, and because the music teacher had a better reputation as a choir director, that's what I did. I'm still sometimes a little sad that I gave up the flute (and that I quit playing piano a couple of years earlier), but high school was when I got really into singing, and it's been an important part of my life ever since.

The chorus I sing with now is based out of Stanford University. The conductor is a faculty member, and many of the singers are students, faculty, and staff, but it's also open to anyone in the community who wants to take part. It's a large group, usually well over 100 singers, and we perform with various local orchestras. I joined when I moved back to the Bay Area after college, and (with a quarter off here and there), I've been a member ever since. In a typical year, we have three performance seasons (Fall, Winter, and Spring) with two concerts each. Mostly we perform large-scale classical works, although sometimes we'll do smaller, more modern and/or avant guard pieces. This quarter is Verdi's Requiem, which I've done once before -- it's a challenge, but I like the music a lot. I enjoy singing with this group, and I've made a number of friends there, but the main thing that brings me back is the conductor, who is fabulous. He's on sabbatical this year, which makes me appreciate him even more.

As for my musical tastes, they're pretty eclectic. I do like classical, both choral and orchestral, but if you scrolled through my iTunes, you'd find quite a lot of alternative rock and pop (especially from the 80s and 90s), movie and game soundtracks, folk and folk-rock, and mellow electronica. I like music I can sing along with, and I like music I can write to (two categories that are almost but not quite mutually exclusive). Since I almost never listen to music radio these days, finding new music is a challenge. Recommendations, Pandora, and fanmixes are good sources, but I'm always on the lookout for more.

Comments

[ossobuco]

Your music tastes sound much like mine lately. I listen predominantly to classical, I think, but my library has almost that same breakdown minus the electronica and plus metal. I'm much in the same boat re: finding new stuff, too, as I only ever listen to classical music on the radio.

[owlmoose]

I listen almost exclusively to NPR, which is even worse as a source for music recs. :)

[phdfan]

I also rely on recommendations and fanmixes to expose myself to new music - fanmixes have been particularly useful for me because they're often much more in line with my taste than anything played on local radio here.

I've sung a little bit as part of a Celtic band a few years ago. Your chorus sounds amazing; singing with orchestras! What part do you normally sing?

[owlmoose]

I sing Alto 1. The first time I got pegged as an alto, it freaked me out a little bit, but I've come to really truly love it. I habitually sing harmony now whenever it makes sense. How about you?

[phdfan]

I'm a mezzo soprano, and sang soprano in our little choir. Ah mezzo, the untalented soprano pile. :/

[owlmoose]

It's not talent, just range. :) Technically I'm a mezzo, too. I'm just stronger on the lower end of my vocal range, so I sing alto.

[pete_thomas]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing. :) I'm pretty big on giving out musical recs, so if you're open to them, I'll be happy to deliver.

I've been sharing this band with everyone I've talked to, but I've really been into the group "Neutral Milk Hotel." You should give them a listen.

[owlmoose]

I've heard of them but probably not anything by them. I'll have to check them out, thanks!

[sarasa_cat]

Agreed how it seems much harder now for me to find music recos. I use shazam in bars, pubs, cafes, and restaurants whenever I hear interesting music and want to know what it is. Otherwise, I rely on Pandora or whatever music sounds interesting in the office across the hall from me.

[owlmoose]

Shazam is a great tool. I've discovered a fair number of artists that way. Pandora, too, although I tend to listen to it constantly for a couple of weeks and then set it aside for months.