I was thinking about the experience of listening to music. Do you “see’ the performers in front of you, as in their faces etc? Or do you visualise something more abstract? Or nothing at all?
It may seem like a strange question. It struck me the other day when I was listening to some music. For me, its not just about sitting in front of a sound system and having an emotional reaction to the music I listen to, which I certainly do have. Its also about what I look into and see about the soundstage in front of me.
When listening to classical music, I don’t see the performers, but I have a sense of them in a more abstract way, as if their musical personalities are projected into the space in front of me. Its pretty hard to describe in concrete terms. For instance, sometimes when listening to small ensembles (string quartets) I see the instruments themselves being played but without a fully actualised performer. Weird, but real for me.
It may seem like a strange question. It struck me the other day when I was listening to some music. For me, its not just about sitting in front of a sound system and having an emotional reaction to the music I listen to, which I certainly do have. Its also about what I look into and see about the soundstage in front of me.
When listening to classical music, I don’t see the performers, but I have a sense of them in a more abstract way, as if their musical personalities are projected into the space in front of me. Its pretty hard to describe in concrete terms. For instance, sometimes when listening to small ensembles (string quartets) I see the instruments themselves being played but without a fully actualised performer. Weird, but real for me.
It depends entirely on the music. I listen to mostly electronic music and rock from the late 70's to mid 90's. If the music is someone I have seen perform, I frequently envision that show. If it is music that I have heard on a particularly good night at a club (back when I went to clubs), I will envision (almost relive) a particular night and frequently it will give me chills.
With simple electronic music I will frequently envision the waveforms that make up the notes - and/or different shape and colored boxes and trapezoids.
If it is music that has had a video made I will sometimes watch the video in my head.
Other music, there is no telling. I may picture VU meters dancing. I may picture myself on a beach on an island.
If I hear anything from the VAST album that was released in the late 90's I envision the time I spent wiring and tuning the system in my then new '97 Maxima.
With simple electronic music I will frequently envision the waveforms that make up the notes - and/or different shape and colored boxes and trapezoids.
If it is music that has had a video made I will sometimes watch the video in my head.
Other music, there is no telling. I may picture VU meters dancing. I may picture myself on a beach on an island.
If I hear anything from the VAST album that was released in the late 90's I envision the time I spent wiring and tuning the system in my then new '97 Maxima.
Interesting topic. Never thought about it, until now. What I 'see' in my mind's eye is something like a black background surface on which the instruments appear and disappear when they play, sort of constantly moving 'picture'. Hmmm. Need to think about it some more.
jd
Yes, I also have a black background in my mind's eye. Wonder why it isn't a colour?
I hear the instruments in the soundstage and unless deliberately doing so for some reason not directly related to the music have never visualized them. Now I have to think about that - and I listen to a lot of music... 😱
I see music much like the first scene of the movie "Fantasia". If you haven't seen it, check it out, the first scene is an abstract animation of Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
Interesting subject.
Unfortunately I see nothing at all, just sit back, turn off, relax and enjoy.
Unfortunately I see nothing at all, just sit back, turn off, relax and enjoy.
Swirls of colours, like rapidly spinning galaxies in space, or psychedelic whirlpools and waterfalls, or alien landscapes with huge birds/pterodactyls flying over them.
Depends. If I listen to Simon and Garfunkel's old friends. I see 2 old men on a parkbench.
Most other music I see college girls in bikinis having fun in the sun.
Most other music I see college girls in bikinis having fun in the sun.
I have a nice blue background (methinks that represents bass)
Treble is yellow and appears and disappears around whereever it happens to be comming from.
ie, in a cymbal crash over to the mid/left, I get a big yellow blob there, which shrinks as the cymbal decays...
Oh, and there's a thin bit of red around the yellow. Midrange perhaps??
Treble is yellow and appears and disappears around whereever it happens to be comming from.
ie, in a cymbal crash over to the mid/left, I get a big yellow blob there, which shrinks as the cymbal decays...
Oh, and there's a thin bit of red around the yellow. Midrange perhaps??
Since I prefer having my eyes open rather than closed while listening (since it seems un-natural for me to be hearing such realistic noises in front of me and not be able to try to fixate/orient my eyes on it), I don't usually see more than the front of my room. But when I try to imagine something it's often a empty stage with a drum kit or studio or hall, depending on the music. Sometimes if I'm thinking about an instrument I'll see that, like a sax or trumpet, or often cymbals, bells, and chimes when I hear them.
I've often wondered what would be the best backdrop behind the stereo. Just black? A grid for pinpointing audible images? Draped curtains? One of those wall paper nature scenes (like earth rising over the moon)?
I've often wondered what would be the best backdrop behind the stereo. Just black? A grid for pinpointing audible images? Draped curtains? One of those wall paper nature scenes (like earth rising over the moon)?
I suppose it is like when reading a book, you form a mental image of the surroundings as it is described. Some songs that have a story theme help build the mental picture. I tune in more on the instruments, notes and chords with instrumentals since my mind does not have to follow lyrics. Can't say I really form a mental picture in this case, although the notes, chords, melody, rhythm and timbre can give a feeling of color, weight and coarseness.
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When I do serious music listening, I close my eyes, and the visual cortex more or less turns off. I then tend to follow musical threads, as they grab my attention. It's better with better produced music, where you can pick individual instruments out of the mix.
Tom.
Tom.
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