Tír Na HiFi

I started this thread because of statements made by Darren and Fergus on the 'Recent purchases' thread and Jared's reaction to what was said. We now have several people active on the classical music side so that I think a general discussion like this does merit a separate thread.

Jared wrote:

fergus wrote: both Seán and I both intend to stop "serious" collecting this year also. We are both coming to the point where we have a sufficient collection for our current needs.

This all seems rather 'final' Fergus. I'd be interested to learn from both of you, approx how many CDs and boxsets you have, which you deem enough for your current needs.. and furthermore, which repertoire you feel you'd be happy to live without.

Jared wrote:

fergus wrote: both Seán and I both intend to stop "serious" collecting this year also. We are both coming to the point where we have a sufficient collection for our current needs.

This all seems rather 'final' Fergus. I'd be interested to learn from both of you, approx how many CDs and boxsets you have, which you deem enough for your current needs.. and furthermore, which repertoire you feel you'd be happy to live without.

Interesting question, at this stage I could live without my Bruckner, Rachmaninov, Schumann and Shostakovich orchestral recordings, it's not that I don't like them, on the contrary I do, it's just that I don't have enough time to listen to them, other's take priority.

At the time of writing I have more than 1,820 classical cds, a small collection of classical LPS, about 600 jazz LPS and 230 jazz CDS. I will spend the next year revisiting my collection and exploring it in greater depth, I wil also start to build up a collection of Baroque music concentrating mainly on Bach, but I will do so gradually. I am running low on storage space now too.

It's not that I have grown tired of collecting or that my collection is complete to my satisfaction, rather that I have other priorities that are putting a bigger demand on my resources.

Late last year I bought a CD recorder so I intend on using that to record concert music and [BAL] programmes on the radio that greatly interest me, and many of them do.

I'll see how the year pans out.

I would echo most of what Seán said above (except for the Bruckner of course LOL!). Time and resource constraints are now beginning to impose themselves on me also.

I have been listening to Baroque since the very early 1980's so obviously my collection would be heavily biased in that direction and has been for many years. I have focused my recent collecting on broadening out my listening repetiore and I still would have over 200 CDs on my Wish List which I certainly hope to eliminate this year. Once that happens I will relook at things.

One thing that I have noticed though is that the frequency of listening to certain, particular recordings has diminished significantly (obviously) as the collection has expanded and I regret that to a certain degree. One of the interesting comments for me over on CMG was that John pointed out that he deliberately tries to listen to his collection over a given period of time. Sensible really; what is the point of having them if one does not listen to them!

I too will assess the situation towards the end of the year when I will also have over 2000 CDs to listen to. I would not stop buying if that is your concern Jared but I will significantly slow down.

My classical music purchases have pretty much ground to a halt in the last 6 months or so, mainly due to several hifi upgrades last year and the expansion of my non-classical vinyl collection.
I hope to start ramping up again on the classical purchases in the coming months. I've still got a 200Euro Tower Record gift voucher from xmas waiting to be spent. :-) Even with Tower prices, that should add a nice few recordings to my collection.

There arent too many disks in my collection that I regret having. I probably have too many Beethoven Symphony cycles and I wish I had bought something else instead. Beethoven symphonies dont really do it for me anymore.
Baroque is still my perferred choice but there are few composers from the Romantic eras that I'd like to explore more.

I still have a fair chunk of Ciaran's 500 or so LP's to get through!

DaveF wrote:My classical music purchases have pretty much ground to a halt in the last 6 months or so, mainly due to several hifi upgrades last year and the expansion of my non-classical vinyl collection.
I hope to start ramping up again on the classical purchases in the coming months. I've still got a 200Euro Tower Record gift voucher from xmas waiting to be spent. :-) Even with Tower prices, that should add a nice few recordings to my collection.

Tower still have a reasonable selection to choose from. You may want to consider getting this set for €15, it is terrific:

There arent too many disks in my collection that I regret having. I probably have too many Beethoven Symphony cycles and I wish I had bought something else instead. Beethoven symphonies dont really do it for me anymore.

I, on the other hand, do not have too many Beethoven cycles.

Baroque is still my perferred choice........

Mine too.

I still have a fair chunk of Ciaran's 500 or so LP's to get through!

Lovely, enjoy.

DaveF wrote: I still have a fair chunk of Ciaran's 500 or so LP's to get through!

I am sure that many delights lie is store for you there Dave.

^^ Taking a 'glass half full' approach, I am glad that I can look at my collection with pride and know that it will serve me well, in it's current form, for many years.

I'm really not sure what my response is to the question posed in this thread, because I simply don't know what my future holds. I lead such a transient lifestyle which I find very difficult to get out of, because at 43, I now realise that I will never be able to afford to own my own home, and if I leave my present employment, I will almost certainly only be able to afford to rent a bedsit or be in a house-share.

I have 2 CD shelf units which house up to 1000 CDs (if you include boxsets) and I think that might have to be it, when they are full. I also have my BBC Music shelf, which houses another 300.

After that, if I wish to own new music, I may have to think about selling some items I don't listen to... but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.

^^ I've been thinking about this response, which is a little negative on my part, I think. If I am able to see my way to working for this organisation for another 5 years, I may be able to afford substantial downpayment on a small flat in a cheaper part of the country, with my projected savings. Either that, or I could perhaps move to Ireland, where I could purchase one of your many derelict new builds... ;-)

I will have to slow down in due course as I now have space left for 180 more single jewel case CDs; after which time, a decision will have to be made, as to whether I stop, or pile them up in small heaps around the bed, like Darren does..

Jared wrote: I will have to slow down in due course as I now have space left for 180 more single jewel case CDs; after which time, a decision will have to be made, as to whether I stop, or pile them up in small heaps around the bed, like Darren does..

That does give you a bit of breathing space Jared. We have probably talked about this before but have you any interest at all in going down the Laptop/PC route as a source? Given your circumstances it does bear some consideration. I am sure that you have read the various threads about it on this Forum. It does not interest me personally but I can certainly vouch for the extremely good sound quality that can be achieved with fairly modest outlays.