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I tend to listen to Classical mainly, as I am a pianist, trained classically at the RCM, also with the RNCM - I do still find time a few times a year to play in concerts, usually for Gents clubs and private functions. I'm also a season ticket holder at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester.

I think most modern stuff is claptrap, but then one does get spoiled by the depth within Chopin, Mozart, Beethoven et al!

IG's the man to talk music too. He's in a choir

OK .. CD collection. We have to vary cos of the kids... and we have this great compilation "Music for Minors" and "Listen and Learn with Mozart" The first one ..Nursery Ryhmes and folk song from across Europe played by the Vienna Philharmonic and this series of CDs is just excellent for kids as it's stimulating and still soothing.

Rock and pop and folk .. well .. .. we have Queen, Beatles, Stones, Led Zep, Jethro Tull, Bert Jansch, Al Stewart, Simon & Garfunkel, Eagles, Suzanne Vega, Buddy Holly, Dire Straits, Ozark Mountain Daredevils : and various others .. Hendrix, Patti Smith, Janis Joplin, Janis Ian, Fairport , Medieval Babes, and lots more

Hard to decide which would be my fave of all time .. so many iconic classics come to mind.. and I think it depends on our mood as to which handful would end up in the car to mix and match with the radio which also fluctuates between Radio 2/3/4 and Classic FM.

Classical? We like Strauss .. uplifting on New Year's Day

Wagner - we have a pal who specialises in this and has performed at the Bridgewater albeit in the main choir and not solo - but who sometimes gives recitals at Manchester Cathedral and some time ago a short concert at Mellor Church out where Stockport borders with the High Peak.

We have Mahler, Delibes, Offenbach, Puccini, Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Beethoven, Grainger, Delius, Chopin, .. Mozart, Debussy, Bartholdy, Grieg, and again .. our choice depends on our mood or ambience we want in background if we have guests.

Musical instrument I play the guitar with some gusto My eldest son plays the drums.. - the twins play the clarinet and violin and Wildy plays the piano. Our yongest sons are still learning to play the piano and the flute whilst our second daughter is more a singer.

Krissi not surprisingly plays the saxophone quite raunchily .. and most of the family can strum or play something or other.

We more or less play to each other when we run out of car things to talk about

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I'm an ex-violinist - I gave it up because I did not have the time to practice.
However at one time I was in three different youth orchestras!

I still play the mouth organ occasionally, and can read music.

As a result perhaps I have a wide taste in music, which is becoming wider as a result of downloading music TRACKS on the internet, which I might otherwise never have bought on CD or vinyl.
For instance I previewed a track yesterday by "The Soggy Bottom Boys" which I might never have heard because it is on an album, most of which is of little interest to me.
I don't write off "modern stuff" anymore, because there is so much of it which is good, and some which is superb.
I recently discovered a genre titled Neo Classical - amongst which I found Rob Dugan - who wrote the music used as the theme for "The Matrix".

I see much of Mad Moggies choices in my own collection with a few exceptions. Perhaps I should send a few Rob Dugan tracks northwards!!

As far as classical goes, I like Prokofiev, Mussgorsgy's Pictures at an Exhibition (on piano, orchestral AND the ELP version!) Bizet and less common pieces like Schwanda the Bagpiper, and L.C.O. by Suppe.

The track I like which receives the most varied reaction is by Robert Fripp and the League of Crafty Guitarists, and is called "A Connecticut Yankee at King Arthur's Court"!! You either love it or hate it. Some of you might remember Fripp and Eno? 'Tis he!

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Guns 'N Roses
Metallica
AC/DC
Nickelback

Plus a but of Southern Rock and Modern County thrown in




Popular in the US, they did a great number in the film "o brother, where out thou"

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Speed camera policy Kills

Haha, we have similar tastes Ernest

I performed Pictures at an Exhibition fairly recently at a concert, terrific piece, one of my all time favourites - a great musical (and technical) challenge. Favourite "pictures" to play are "Baba-Yaga", "The Great Gate of Kiev", "Tuillieres" and "Il vecchio castillo".

Brendel's version is my favourite recording, although Richter's is also good, if lacking in sound quality (I think it was done in the 1960s)

I'm not as keen on the Ravel orchestration, I think it's overly "friendly" - Mussorgsky was a very dark character, which is revealed only in the original score!

Car wireless is hard-wired (as it were) to ClassicFM - shame Nick and Relaxing Classics at 2 has been axed

CD changer has (currently) Keane (1st album), Genesis (Trespass), Soundgarden (Down on the Upside), Mahler Symphony No.5, a general classic CD that I compiled (O soave fanciulla / Lohengrin Act I prelude / Dvorak Serenade for Strings etc) / Groove Armada (Greatest Hits)

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Simon

Bit of everything really (though most post-1996 stuff I have to agree is complete claptrap). Beatles are a particular fave. I do especially like the general 80s pop culture - Bangles, Belinda Carlisle, Madonna, Duran Duran and thought U2 were at their best in the early days. Liked a fair bit of 90s dance stuff too - Chemical Brothers, Leftfield and even, ahem Eurodance stuff. For driving though, aforementioned 80s stuff and Quentin Tarantino movie soundtracks are the best

I like a little bit of classical though know very little about it. A lot of Beethoven & Mozart's compositions along with Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries and Mussorgsky's Night on Bare Mountain I do like.

However, Radio 2 when driving to work on a morning .

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I'm basically a 70s/80s rock music fan, my favourite acts are Heart, Big Country, Roxette, Jethro Tull and Rush.

I also have a soft spot for Belinda Carlisle, as mentioned by Nemesis.

There's a page on my website about musical accompaniment to driving.

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Any views expressed in this post are personal opinions and may not represent the views of Safe Speed

Basically everything, different things for different moods...

Classical is good for relaxing I find, or if I'm bored at night or something... Quite like dancy stuff late at night if I'm driving... Generally rock and such though... Muse, Chili Peppers, Queen, Green Day... But basically anything with guitars and drums and stuff...

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Mike

S-Club!

Is there anything else?

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A bit of everything, but mainly varieties of hard rock from the last 40 years, varying from stuff like Zeppelin up to really scary Norwegian metal. Also a bit of classical, jazz, 60's pop, rap, techno, ermmm....

My wall of CDs is by my right elbow and I'm desperately trying to think of a way of elaborating slightly without listing everything!

Oh, were we discassing artists as well as music?
In that case I'll add Belinda Carlisle to my list too... and Susan Fassbinder (in her "Twighlight Cafe")!

I see I'm all alone with the Robert Fripp track!

I'm pleased that since the Who featured on all three CSI Series themes, it has become very popular in our car with the wife and both children!
If they do another setup series, I'd suggest "I Am the Seeker" will be a great choice!

Mussgorsky - the Alice Cooper of his day I suspect! I think ELP had that sussed!

Glad to see Evelyne Glennie got a New Year honour - I have met her, and the music is only half of her talent - she is a great person to talk to too.

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Time to take responsibility for our actions.. and don't be afraid of speaking out!

Oh contemporary claptrap from the 70s, 80s, 90s and today for me all the way then

The 80s were brilliant, so camp, so over-egged. Check out the Blow Monkeys - Digging Your Scene video on You Tube for a classic example

Coldplay, Snow Patrol, Muse, Kasabian, Razorlight, The Killers are current faves

Genesis, the Quo, Queen, Duran Duran, Tears for Fears, the Floyd and so on from years gone by.

With you all the way!!

When I was a kid I was going to be a soloist. Auditioned at the Royal School etc., but basically wasn't good enough. Major blow at the age of 16! I haven't played seriously in public for years but occasionally play for the rugby club and/or the odd pub.. Nowadays I'm still good enough to know how bad I am!!

Personal favourite composers the "mega three" as above, plus most of the other classical / romantic composers and a few of the more "modern" ones - Rachmaninov, Gershwin, Malcolm Arnold (I have a real softspot for his "Concerto for Phylis and Cyril" - it always brings a smile to my face, and I was at the premier when it was recorded) and others - but emphatically not Birtwhistle, can't stand his stuff! I enjoy playing Joplin rags for personal entertainment on the, increasingly infrequent, times I assault the piano.

Oh... Almost forgot Hummel...

To sum up... Basically, "Pogo" is "dead square, man".

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There ist nothing like that sound und it can really add to the music. Mark Knopfler included a mouth organist on his first solo album und Bob Dylan und Joe Walsh all use to brilliant effect.. und Mad Doc forgot to say Dylan und Joe Walsh before he became a proper Eagle ist represented in our colllection.. along with Fleetwood Mac (apart from the dire period for them in 80s) - though we have the only Buckingham-Nicks album (ist on vinyl und we still play our old vinyls too ) which was the one Mick Fleetwood heard before he recruited them to the band.


We also have Belinda Carlisle und an S-Club CD - who were not good .. but not dire.

Und I like Patricia Kaas, Piaf, Juliette Greco, ...as well. Eva Cassidy - her voice ist sublime experience to listen to.

We also have Cat Stevens (und bought the new one as Yusuf und I think he ist still on form there) ...und we also enjoy listening toThe Who, Yes, EL&P, The Doors, ...The Kinks, Beach Boys,



I also enjoy a bit of good old fashioned crooning und I do listen to Perry Como, Bing, Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Junior, Satchmo, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee et al.

I also enjoy The Manhattan Transfer. Most of their work has been excellent.

West End Musicals.. Ja.. I have been to many a Lloyd Webber show.. und enjoyed them all. We are hoping to go down to biggest 'burb of all to see "Spamalot" as well.

Ja.. there are many modern "classics" mostly from 60s/70s - some of these songwriters still writing und playing music to the standards they set back then.. und these songs are classics in their own right as they still sound fresh, still covered by other artistes - with a different interpretion .. but still with the timeless quality shining through - und in this there ist the parallel with the traditional "classical" genre.



I think we must listen und dowload same things. You know what they say about great mind thinking alike mein Liebchen






Ja.. I do remember Fripp und Eno .. und ist superb.

Ja.. classical.. Mad Doc mention fair section of our classical collection.. und we also have pieces by Faure, Saint Saens, Suppe und Prokofiev. The Cat Dance from Cinderella und The Cat from "Peter und the Wolf" (of which we have three versions including one with Dame Edna as narator with a few "possums" )

I also bought a CD from the National Trust Shoppe...

CAT CLASSICS.. und a lot of our faves are represented on this album dedicated to felines ...purrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Anderson's "Walzting Cat". He was a rare composer und modern - die in 1975. Harvard trained. But his get the "miaow" purrfect by sliding the strings of the violin.

This CD give taster as to talents of Sam Barber .. we only heard his work at the Proms (Mad Doc has treated me to many treats over the years ) und this reminded us of a great talent

Und we had completely forgotten about Confrey until we play this CD to rediscover "Kitten on The Keys" und Carpenter's Krazy Cat.


So if someone want to discover Classical.. then compilations such as these or compilations dedicated as some of these NT compilations which are evocative of the finest scenery as well as the pets which inspired some of our greatest composerss can be a jolly good introduction und one which can lead you to want to listen to more of their works -und thus discover und appreciate the sheer power of this music.

There are also some American composers in our collection - Gershwin, Anderson...Berlin..

I think ist fair to say we are also music lovers as well und I fiddle with the cars in the garage giving them TLC to this music. Und it help unwind after most traumatic experiences. ..

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Ach .. we have Pink Floyd und ZZ Top.. und no collection could be complete without Quo!

Ja.. Coldplay are OK, und Razorlight. He was on "Track of My Years" Ist funny but everyone very famous for their music or even up und coming to esteem like Razorlight agrees with what I like most of the time

But Liebchen.. check out a compilation of Classics und I think you find worthy addition to collection

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Nicht ganz im Lot!
Ich setze mich immer wieder in die Nesseln! Der Mad Doc ist mein Mann! Und ich benutzte seinen PC!

UND OUR SMILEYS? Smile ... und the the world smiles with you.
Smiley guy seen when you read
Fine me for Safe Speed
(& other good causes..)

Greatest love & Greatest Achievements Require Greatest Risk
But if you lose the driving plan - don't lose the COAST lesson.
Me?
Je ne regrette rien!

Can't stand opera singers for a start. About as nice as listening to finger nails scratching down a blackboard to me. A lot of them can't enunicate properly either which also bugs me. You can only get away with mumbling if you sing like Liz Fraser....

I'm mostly listening to chill radio at the moment so plenty of things like Air, Sarah McClachlan, Royksopp, Goldfrapp, Sigur Ros and Thievery Corporation. Also well into the 4ad classics such as the Cocteau Twins and Dead Can Dance. You may now the latter's singer as she did the soundtrack for Gladiator (one Lisa Gerrard - now she can sing )Other eighties bands like Tears For Fears and Talk Talk are also in my constantly played list. Bits of seventies and eighties stuff like Fleetwood Mac and the Floyd of course as well as Steely Dan, Marillion (Fish era only) to name but a few out of an ever growing collection. I have also just rediscovered how fine the Art of Noise were and also working my way through collecting all the Great White albums and going on a hunt for any Yello CDs I haven't got already...

Hurrah! I don't often hear folk saying that, but I feel EXACTLY the same way.

I'd go futher and call opera a gross distortion of human expression according to an arbitrary and wholly unjustified set of rules.

And ballet is to dancing what Opera is to singing.

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Paul Smith
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Had a bit of a concert fest since dec 05, Been to see Foo Fighters at Earls court dec 05 (rockin'), The Darkness at Ally Pally in Feb (brill), Foo's again in Hyde Park (too big, not loud enough), Chilli Peppers at Earls court (hmm, the Pepper Jim, but not as we know them) and Tenacious D just before Xmas. Saw U2 in 01, really good live but quit preaching Hewson.

Fiona Apple is good too as are Cake. Bought some Jeff Buckely last week good.

When I'm not listening to 5Live XFM rule the car and field office.

Never stop rockin'

Most excellent.

I played Rach 3 back in 1992 in a music competition, although I prefer the Rach 2 and Paganini Rhapsody, more interesting pianistically and musically. Rach 3 is just like a set of linked exercises, similar to playing the Etudes-tableaux cycles through, not as hard as "Shine" would have you believe, plus my hands are similarly sized to Rachmaninoff's

I've got a 1990 Steinway B which was rescued from a church and rebuilt, but I'd really like a Fazioli or a Bechstein - depending on the finances, we'll see!