Music in the Garden, or Anywhere

Silly me, asking you what music you listen to in your gardens, only to be told that you're all blissfully tuned into the sounds of nature.  Naturally I wonder why it is I need something more to occupy my mind and I figure it's all those drugs I took in the '60s and '70s.  Allegedly. 

So here's how it works for me.  Say it's a cold December morning.  When I've done lots of stuff I need to do and it's finally warmed up enough to go outside, I want to immerse myself in the garden, slow down and get all in-the-moment like we're try to do these days.  So it's just me, the birds, the squirrels and some far-off construction sounds.  I slowly walk the whole garden, noticing whatever there is to notice and fantasizing about changes I'll make when it warms up.  I sit for a while and contemplate my favorite oak.  I'm starting to feel pretty mellow about now, and really grateful to be in my favorite place in the world. 

And here's where apparently I'm unlike even other passionate gardeners, my people.  Right about now I want more, more, more, like nature and beauty and music, all at once. Yeah, if I just add some Brahms or some jazz or whatever I'm in the mood for, I can really bliss out.  Raking leaves becomes a musical opportunity.  After all, what better place to tune in to great music?  So the high lasts longer, at least for me, speaking as a potential addict, I suppose.  Do you think I need rehab?  Don't answer that.

So, readers, let me ask the question I probably should have asked in the first place.  Do you have music in your life and if so, what, how and when?  Tomorrow I'll report on my experimentation with satellite radio - is it a dream come true?

Comments

[Heather]

Oh, I'm on the edge of my seat in anticipation!

I totally get what you're saying, I think, about having music in the garden. Or at least, it helps me fine tune (no pun intended) what I was saying: Having music going puts some rhythm to my gardening. I feel more in the groove, which makes me feel good and in sync with my garden and life in general. I agree though, that I do have to have my "quiet contemplation" time with my garden to think about what needs doing and how it might be done.

Anyway, that having been said, I'm not a big music person just for the sake of itself. If I'm doing some tedious drudgery at work (which seems to be constant lately), I'll open up iTunes and play a little background music (mix of lots of things from Eminem to Alanis Morisette to Willie Nelson). But if I'm actually writing and having to think in complete sentences, I can't have any noise (Maude bless telecommuting!)

In my car, I listen to sports radio, or if a basketball game is on, I listen to the Classic Country station (going through a "returning to my roots" phase right now).

Beyond those instances, music doesn't occupy much of my time or thought. Though I suspect once I get tired of the gardening mix I made for my new garden boombox, I'll experiment with some new things. I love the idea of some jazz...

[Millie]

Well, if you HAVE to have it, I think it should be thematic. How about "When its apple-blossom time in Orange, New Jersey, you'll make a peach of a pair"?

[Sandy]

Good post Susan. I love music! I love music in the morning,during the day and at night. I listen to music when I garden too. I love blues and tend to listen to the heavier side of music. (I was really into heavy metal as a teenager). Sometimes I like total silence in the garden. Just the sound of the birds etc, but when the neighbors kid start banging on his drums it doesn't bother me. I would much rather listen to that than the neighbors Jack Russell barking,barking,barking!

[Alice]

In my comment to your earlier query I said that I preferred to listen to the birds, cows, etc. when I'm in the garden. Now I may have to rethink that since Richard gave me an iPod for Christmas, although I'm not sure how successfully I'll be able to work with cords hanging around, and I'm never very good at retaining the earpieces.

So far I've loaded Enya's 'Amarantine', the Ten Tenors and a Russell Watson CD (also a tenor). Although I was a pop music fan (we called it 'Top 40') when I was young, I have always loved classical music, even as a child. Since locating Classic FM from London via the Internet we've been luxuriating in wonderful music day and night.

If we're working out on the deck then I open the doors so we can hear the music, but so far we haven't taken it into the garden.

[Pam J.]

Such an interesting couple of postings about XM radio, music, sounds, etc. You wrote "And here's where apparently I'm unlike even other passionate gardeners, my people. Right about now I want more, more, more, like nature and beauty and music, all at once."

I'm certain you are not alone in this desire for "more, more, more." I have way too many opinions on this subject, but I'll offer just 2. People with high IQs, or maybe a more PC way to say it is "people who have high levels of intellectual curiosity," are always craving more stimuli. It's just part of the price you pay for being smart. (Disclaimer: I'm NOT saying that gardeners who don't want music are not smart; intellectual curiosity can be fulfilled lots of ways---if you're tuned into the birds singing that's just as stimulating to some as tuning into Bach or Verdi.) And my other observation is that people with high energy cannot stop themselves from getting involved in more and more projects. And here's a third thought that I can't stop myself from adding: smart, high-energy people of a certain age may need more, more, more b/c with age has come the knowledge that this world is full of millions of unexplored activities/books/movies/symphonies/ideas. Time is running out and let's dive into as many of them as possible before..you know..it's over. And here, I promise, is my last comment. You might consider becoming a Hindu. then you can slow down b/c you'll be back and will have time to do all this stuff.

[Kathy Jentz]

My music tastes run the gamut from opera to hip-hop to country -- haven't heard much bluegrass, so will have to check that out next. I prefer my music in two forms: live or as a background soundtrack.
On the live tip, last night I caught James Brown at the 9:30 Club - what a treat & something I won't soon forget! Because live can start to cost - I'm all about the FREE - festivals, parties, church, guest lists, etc.
As a background soundtrack, there is of course playing the radio or CDs or my digital cable music channels while working on various projects at home. Right now I'm really liking the New Age channel for yoga and just general hanging-out music.
Finally, there is the soundtrack I carry in my own head -- I think this is the main reason why I don't have music with me in the garden -- I like to replay tunes in my mind or I make up new ones of my own. Nothing anyone else would want to hear - believe me! Mostly atonal, monologues. But amusing for myself and I think it is genetic - I've caught my young cousins and nieces doing the same thing!

[Jilliane]

Music brings so much warmth to my soul. I like nothing better to do than to crank the radio volume to its maximum capability. Usually, I play some classic music. At other times, I'm into jazz or some R & B. I was wondering in the garden if there are some classical music available for mp3 players ? This way, I could listen to some real music while tending the garden.

[Angela]

I really like XM's Hear Music station. It's an eclectic mix of fairly mellow old and new music compiled by Starbuck's (yes, the coffee company).

[blackswamp_girl (Kim)]

I cannot believe that I'm admitting to this, but if I have to listen to the radio while out in the yard/garden I prefer it to be tuned to baseball. Yes, I said baseball. Blame Ernie Harwell, as his lovely voice was the soundtrack to my summer childhoods--thanks to my Mom's love of the Detroit Tigers!