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V.com weekend vote: What music do you listen to in your spare time?

March 1, 2008 at 11:54 PM

I love violin music, don't get me wrong. But sometimes, when I hang up the fiddle for the day, the last thing I want to listen to is a symphony or violin piece! At the same time, if the music is too insipid and harmonically repetitive, I'd rather not listen at all.

What kinds of music do you listen to, in your spare time? Do you delve deep into your classical collection, or do you prefer to explore other genres? And would anyone like to help me uncover some exciting new music that I ought to download immediately on my yawningly vacant Ipod? Something that's a pleasant distraction from the classical music I'm always playing but also musically satisfying?

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I listen to plenty of classical stuff in my free time but when I want a break from it I usually turn to folk music and classic rock. Some of my top picks: the Beatles, Alasdair Fraser & Natalie Haas (fiddle/cello duo), Apocalyptica (rock cello quartet), Mark O'Connor, Edgar Meyer, and Andy McKee (amazing acoustic guitar), and George Harrison. :)
I'm basically a classical geek. Also fond of folk music from various corners of Eastern Europe (seriously into Bulgaria lately), classic rock such as the Beatles, and, once in a while, crappy europop.
don't suzuki tapes fall into classical?
Couldn't pick just one. I'm singing children's songs, revving up with techno, practicing with show tunes, and force-fed the oldies station (alternating with butt-rock) at the coffee shop. When I get in the car, I think it's currently indie-folk. (Can't believe you didn't make that an option!)
Bluegrass anyone? I'm always curious about why classical violinists have shunned this form of music, which has high standards for technical, as well as, artistic expression. Just listen to some of those improvised cadenzas, and you'll be awe stricken. These are but a few of the reasons why classically trained violinists have an affinity for Scottish traditional music.
How about world music? My world music class has gotten me into listening to Hindustani instrumental music.
I'm disturbed that it's going to add up to 500% . We should be counting votes instead....

Paulene, the things about classical that draw fans aren't the things that draw people to Bluegrass. But I think there's a chance that there's more crossover interest in reality than you'd think from reading this site. You know, to people with scientific minds, a speck of dust may be more interesting than the Taj Mahal.

Oops, one of us is spelling your name wrong :)
Techno - the choice was not offered ;-)
Lets see. . .I listen to alot of classical stuff, and opera, and show tunes. But I LOVE "screamo" music like Atreyu, The Devil Wears Prada, Bullet for My Valentine and stuff like that. I also like t.a.T.u and other dancey stuff. . . so yeah
the new old classics...Joy Division, New Order, Depech Mode, Bowie, Lou Reed=fun
Gordon Bennet Luv,
you missed out the music of the spheres again.
Sadly,
Burp
Queen, Joni MItchell, Frank Sinatra, Barry Manilow (sigh), and Bread (blush!).
For a long time, when people asked me what my favorite thing to listen to, I just said...classical or Radiohead.
I sometimes listen to movie music. There are some great selections out there from movies that don't get much credit.
I use to listen to death metal when I was in high school and my first few years of college. Cannibal Corpse, Slayer, and Morbid Angel were my favorites. Somewhere around ago 22 I grew up. Now I listen to classical music 99% of the time. Other music I listen to is Queen and bands similar to them.
Currently in my playlist:

Perlman playing Paganini's 24 Caprices
Totale Finsternis - Tanz der Vampire (best remake of Total Eclipse)
Puisque c'est ma rose - Le Petit Prince
Eros Ramazotti's Calma Apparente album
Notre Dame de Paris
Voices
Sarah Brightman
Black Eyed Peas

I have also recently acquired a taste for 'thumpa thumpa' music ;-)