listening to music while reading

[andreasn]

do you listen to music while you read, if so what do you like to listen to, and do you have different things you listen to for different books.

I usually listen to medieval music when reading fantasy, and for science fiction I would like to listen to music while i read it, I just cannot find any music that would fit.

but for fantasy medieval music is just perfect, I just love medieval music! it actually fit's better than many fantasy soundtracks in my opinion.

 

[Ashleyne]

I used to listen to classical music when I was writing: Bach, Beethoven, Chopin, Handel etc.

Nowadays, I do most of my writing in silence, but I still listen to O Ignis Spiritus or Carnival of Animals – Aquarium if I’m writing something that I intend to come off as creepily wondrous.

 

[Michael Colton]

I typically listen to electronic music or opera while reading. I am one of those people that has music on virtually every second of every day, so reading is no different. I almost feel as if I am not breathing if I do not have music on for an extended period of time.

 

[J-Sun]

This is one of the most frustrating things I've experienced. I used to listen to rock'n'roll blasting and happily read the most complicated things when I was young. Younger. Now I usually blast music bookless or read in silence or, at most, have some quiet background classical or space music (or wordless stuff, anyway) because, otherwise, I end up tracking one or the other but not both. The pieces of my brain have melted together, I guess.

for science fiction I would like to listen to music while i read it, I just cannot find any music that would fit.

If you can do it, there's always metal with your SF. Otherwise maybe electronic stuff - Jarre, Kraftwerk, more recent industrial/techno/trance stuff like Juno Reactor.

Welcome to the Chrons, btw.

 

[Michael Colton]

Otherwise maybe electronic stuff - Jarre, Kraftwerk, modern industrial/techno/trance stuff like Juno Reactor.

If the more beat-driven stuff is not someone's milieu, electronic is a wide enough genre one should be able to find something that helps your environment. If the four-to-the-floor is distracting, one can try atmospheric. If that is too cheesy, one can try ambient. If that is too boring or creepy (oddly, the two extremes for ambient) you can always try electronic instrumental that relies heavily on synth chord progressions much like Lorie Line style non-electronic instrumental.

If someone wants a specific suggestion to try out potentially non-distracting electronic music I would suggest Melancholia by William Basinski, arguably the father of ambient.

 

[Bick]

This is one of the most frustrating things I've experienced. I used to listen to rock'n'roll blasting and happily read the most complicated things when I was young. Younger. Now I usually blast music bookless or read in silence or, at most, have some quiet background classical or space music (or wordless stuff, anyway) because, otherwise, I end up tracking one or the other but not both. The pieces of my brain have melted together, I guess.

Ditto .

 

[Extollager]

I'll read or listen to music (lately, old blues guys and John Fahey), but not attempt to do both at the same time.

 

[Alex The G and T]

I've kinda busy this summer.

I get home from simultaneously working on getting the rental house ready to put up for sale; hanging doors, fixing rot and making the front yard presentable. Making firewood, gardening the homestead and farming.

When i get out of the shower, i pour a glass of wine, crank up some Heavy Metal, cook something to eat. Then I collapse on the couch. I have an Asimov's Magazine in my left hand, NY Times Crossword in my right hand; I'm watching the evening news on tv with one eye and Dandling the grandkid in my lap. I'm trying to explain to an 11 month old what's funny about the daily comics in the local morning rag. The dogs are barking at Pumas and there's a strange odor wafting out of the East.

There's an arcane music box skirling eldrich, endlessly repetitive music from the playpen and I have an itch under my armpit.

My mind is so huge that this is the only way I know to relax and settle the raging chaos in my head and calm down after a long day of doing everything for everybody.

And Tomorrow....

 

[clovis-man]

I usually listen to medieval music when reading fantasy, and for science fiction I would like to listen to music while i read it, I just cannot find any music that would fit.

Try Bela Bartok: Music for Strings, Percussion and Celesta (my first choice) or his Divertimento For Strings. Or you could just cue up the soundtrack by Louis & Bebe Barron for Forbidden Planet. YMMV

 

[Nerds_feather]

ambient electronic music, like Global Communication or Biosphere, goes really well with SF.

 

[Vertigo]

Or how about The Fires of Ork by Pete Namlook and Geir Jensen. Somehow seems appropriate.

Personally I mostly listen to various chill out music without vocals (I find vocals distracting unless they are more 'musical' so choral, classical religious (latin) and such like). Tends to be either electronica or classical but by no means exclusively.

 

[Michael Colton]

Or how about The Fires of Ork by Pete Namlook and Geir Jensen. Somehow seems appropriate.

Personally I mostly listen to various chill out music without vocals (I find vocals distracting unless they are more 'musical' so choral, classical religious (latin) and such like). Tends to be either electronica or classical but by no means exclusively.

Seconding the chillout electronica. Not sure how I missed that in my original comment, but it can be fantastic non-disruptive music for reading.

 

[Vertigo]

Rothko are another of my favourites - I just love the sound of a bass guitar played as the lead instrument.

 

[Michael Colton]

Lately I have been listening to second wave trap music while reading, but for anyone that is disrupted by beats and abrupt vocals . . . it would not be their cup of tea.

 

[Kzinti]

I prefer total silence. I don't know why, but music throws me off.

 

[Rodders]

I prefer silence too. I used to be able to listen to music when i was younger, but i found myself reading but not taking anything in.

 

[Vince W]

If the music is waaay in the background I'm fine with it, but nothing too jarring. Silence is best though.

 

[barrett1987]

When i write my main pov scenes, i like to listen to 'dark country' its an album i've found on youtube and gets me right into Stranger's mindset. I have yet to find the right type of song for the others. I was listening to Johnny Cash Personal Jesus and its totally the theme of a scene i've yet to right but listening to it i can see exactly how the scene will play out. Funny eh?

 

[hitmouse]

I usually read in bed for an hour or two before going to sleep. Since my wife and kids are usually asleep, music would be a bit antisocial. Plus I like the quiet. Must be getting old. Have good in-car hifi that I can turn up loud and bother no-one. Driving and music works well.

It was different in the old days, when I had headphones on all the time. This has lead to some odd associations. ERBs Barsoom books were devoured whilst listening to Bowie's Scary Monsters and Super Creeps over and over (limited pocket money, expensive casettes, no internet downloads.) I still picture the Martian landscapes to the sounds of the B side of that album, in particular Robert Fripp's lush, alien guitar on Teenage Wildlife.

 

[steve12553]

I always found that the world was frequently too noisy to concentrate on reading. Certain types of music provide a kind of white noise to allow a decent background for reading. Classic rock with a fairly prominent bass line works well for me. Classic is also a good choice. Country and western seems top be too lyric oriented to provide white noise and most modern pop is just plain irritating. I never tried rap but I expect that would also be difficult and certainly not show tunes.