Having never had a walkman or a discman or any other small portable player of music, I suddenly find myself with two MP3 players, one a gift already loaded with an extensive miscellany and the other a gift on which to load my own. So it was, yesterday, that I began copying about 20 CDs onto my new device. Quite what anyone would make of this eclectic mixture that ranged from Elgar to Enya, Graham Kendrick to Gregorian Chant, Barber to Bartolli, Karl Jenkins to Jan Garbarek, and all station in between I have no idea, but I'm not too conerned either. Mostly I've opted for instrumental stuff, but there are some of singing; for anyone who makes such distinctions (I'm not sure I do any more) probably 50/50 sacred/secular.
Listening to some of it, I was struck how much of it is stuff I bought for a 'reason' - to use a track in worship or to express something that mattered at some point in time. Having the two devices will be useful when I am tied down for a while, allowing one to recharge as the other plays and giving me stuff to listen to that has no associations as well as plenty that has.
I may well download some 'pray as you go' and/or audiopot material to take into the hospital with me so that I have something on hand to use when I'm not up for thinking too hard. That will be just as eclectic for sure!
What's on your MP3 player? And why?
Comments
Hi Catriona! I have 5485 'songs' presently on my iPod, and I guess that's fairly modest in comparison to others. Some of them are very long 'songs' such as the movements of Mahler symphonies. But one of the things that I love about the iPod is that I can be listening to Mahler one moment and then Mika, Morricone, or Matt Redman next. The iPod gives itself to eclecticism.
The thing that constantly fascinates me is the way it transitions, often in the same key, to completely different genres so that it's seamless. The biggest frustration is when there has been a long build-up to a huge climax which reaches its completion in the next 'song' but isn't taken account of by 'shuffle' - think of third movement of Beethoven's 5th Symphony going into the fourth movement, which doesn't happen. It brings a new dimension to delayed gratification.
Thinking of you prayerfully over the coming weeks.
Hi Geoff,
Isn't it funny how MP3 players bring out our alliterative natures - even those like me who didn't train at Spurgeons (if Baptileaks is to be believed on that particular Shibboleth)?
I am very grateful to you for introducing me to Jan Garbareck whose music has not only widened my horizons but has been among the more soothing in response to St Eroid! Onnly trouble is, I don't go to sleep, I just listen to the music!!
Blessings for 2011 and hope the Jan/Feb NST/TL goes well
My entire music collection. Because I'm indecisive. BTW the collection includes LOTS of Garbarek - not just the Monky stuff.
Hope 2011 is full of good stuff. I'm quietly reading and praying.