Nov. 30, 2007
My taste in music
Over the past couple months, my musical taste has pretty much totally changed. It’s really odd. Maybe some of you noticed the switch from Skillet and Hawk Nelson to Celtic Woman and Enya on my playlist. I’ve been listening to Josh Groban, Hayley Westenra, (young) Charlotte Church, John Michael Talbot, Michael Card, Eric Genuis, Yiruma, tons of SOUNDTRACKS, etc. Basically, I have shifted to a more classical style. I guess that after hearing Celtic Woman, I realized that there’s music out there that’s…well…beautiful. I personally wouldn’t call Relient K’s music “beautiful”. It’s fun and upbeat, but I wouldn't call it real music. Real music can communicate without words. It can wake up emotions inside of you that pop or rock could never do.
I've often thought it was strange to call both screamo and Bach music. They're definitely not the same thing. I classify music in my brain as either "contemporary music" or "authentic music". Not to say contemporary music is fake, but to me, it's like comparing doritos to a good steak. They're both "food", but they're totally different in terms of look, feel, taste, smell, and health. I totally filled myself with all kinds of contemporary (Christian) music - Switchfoot, Sanctus Real, Kutless, Red, Superchick, etc. I knew it was kind of like eating junk food, but I didn't really want to listen to other kinds of music because I didn't want to be out of the loop.
Don't get me wrong; I still like contemporary music (and doritos). I'm not throwing out my CDs or anything like that. But I've found a lot of value in music that's beautiful. And I'm not just talking about Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi. If you look at my playlist, you won't find a single true "classical" track (although I have developed a huge appreciation for classical music). All of it is kind of modern, but kind of traditional. It's what I would call "authentic". You can call it what you will.
Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, a charm to sadness, and life to everything. It is the essense of order and leads to all that is good, true, and beautiful. ~ Plato
Regards,
Sylvia
PS The SAYR is starting The Magician's Nephew TOMORROW!! As of this moment, we only have 4 people participating. It's definitely not too late to join! I am really excited about starting. I have already prepared discussion notes and questions for the first day and I can't believe how much I enjoyed doing it. Even if you've read it before, it's still a great book to read again and discuss with other homeschoolers.
Comments
Dec. 1, 2007 - "Pop" music
Posted by Anonymous
I think I know what you are saying. I think that I relate with what you are saying as well. If I'm hearing you correctly, it sounds like you are trying to refine your music diet. We often hear that a broken clock is right twice a day, so it isn't a far stretch to think that sometimes "popular" music strikes a real note of beauty.
Music, like the liturgy, should go through changes with the changes in time and the changes we experience in our lives. Within the liturgy, we can't celebrate Christmas all year or we won't enjoy the Easter celebration, etc. Music has such wonderful variety so that it can touch every aspect of our lives throughout our lives. Just as in the Liturgy we should unite quality with variety it seems wise to enjoy the rich variety of music as well, always listening for whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious. If there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about (and listen to) these things, even if it's pop's music.
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Dec. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by sweetpotato
I'm taking music appreciation this semester, and I've discovered that while I'm not that big and composers like Bach and Mozart, etc., I absolutely love music from the Romantic era. Chopin, Rachmaninoff, and those guys, really float my boat. I like them for the very reasons you mentioned in your post--they stir up emotions in me.
You were totally right about "The End". I don't think Lemony Snicket could have written a more dissatisfying ending than he did. Argh! He answered absolutely NO questions, and we didn't even get to hear what happened to so many of the side characters. Also, I didn't like the fact that the lines between right and wrong got so blurred in the last couple of books. That kind of bothered me.
I shall indeed do a review of Jacob Have I Loved.
I think we might own Stepping Heavenward, but I've always been afraid to read it because it looked vaguely preachy for some reason. But I'm definitely going to give it a try now.
Thanks for being the first to comment on my Newbery blog! I don't think I'll post all the reviews from there on my other blog, but I think I might do some of the books that I especially liked and am enthusiastic about.
Edited by sweetpotato on Dec. 1, 2007 at 1:38 PM
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Dec. 1, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Songwriter
Hey...thanks so much for praying for Ben. After reading your comment, I was thinking only 3 words...
my thoughts exactly.
thanks girl.
Danya <><
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Dec. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Anonymous
I switch music interests constantly,so I know how you feel, but I never thought about it like that! The whole food thing is an interesting way to look at it.
<3 Elena ;-)
P.S. Our choir is having concerts tonight, on the 9th, and sometime later in the month. I don't know if you'd like to come or not, but there are two on the 9th, 2pm and 4pm, that are free. It's not just my choir though..it's also the other age groups in KCC. If you want more info, I can email you.
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Dec. 2, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by BlogBoy
Good points. I stopped listening to music with a strong beat because I don't believe that is encourages creativity.
RYC: Anyway, I agree. My number one reviewers are my parents. Lol.
I posted my notes on the Magician's Nephew on my blog.
http://ericnovak.com/?p=114
Eric
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Dec. 3, 2007 - Untitled Comment
Posted by Chris
Yep, give me noise over music any day! :)
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Dec. 4, 2007 - Hannad! Baren bar lin. Le hannon a thole!
Posted by Altariel
Yes! I know just what you mean! I too have just discovered Enya. Actually I've been a fan of Celtic stuff for ever, or ever since I discovered my Mum's Maire Brennaan CD. Have you heard of her? She's a beautiful Celtic artist, and a christian one too.
I still enjoy contemporary music though, often I'll completely change the style of music I listen to from one day to the next. Junk food is nice in moderation. Have you heard Vanessa Carlton? She's a great in-between artist, contemporary, but still very beautiful. Her earlier music was, anyway.
That's a great quote. Hmm. I guess that's why the kind of music you listen to is important, because in some ways it is inspiration. It can set your moods, and effect how you think and act.
You've made me think. Hmm... That is actually quite true...
Your music on your playlist is nice, I've been listening to it for ages now. Thanks!
Oh, thanks so much for the visit! In reply to your comment, I'm from the North Island, Hawkes Bay, Waipawa, to be exact. Down below Napier. And no, I don't expect even super clever homeschoolers to have heard of Waipawa, it's just a small town of about 1000 homes! I'm a Sindarin fan. It's by far the coolest language Tolkien wrote. I don't actually know much of it though, besides the usual stuff, as well as "Bado mibo orch" and other such juicy tidbits. I actually could not figure out what you said, and had to look it up. *blushes* But thank you, that was sweet.
Do I like C.S.Lewis? Well, actually... I do! Now isn't that a surprise! I used to be a big Narnia fan - ok, I still am - but at the moment I'm discovering his other books, and loving them. And, yes, I"ve been nosing around the SAYR and it looks pretty cool. You may have another member! I'll have to catch up on TMN first though.
Thanks again for dropping by,
Navaer na-den pedim ad,
Gabrielle ~Altariel~
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