Do you listen to anything when your observing?

[toryglen-boy]

most times, i am quite content to listen to the rustle of the breeze in the leaves, and quite background noise, but sometimes i listen to MP3's when observing, its usually soundscapes that conjour the imagination into thinking i am flying through space (i know, and there are no illegal substances involved) i listen to all the Jean Michelle Jarre back catalogue, probably Equinoxe and Oxygene being my favourites, although Vangelis is good to, especially the "Blade Runner" soundtrack

anyone else listen to anything at the end of an eyepiece?

:)

[Omaroo]

Although I like your selection of music (JMJ fan from waaaaaaay back) I go observing or imaging to enjoy the silence.

[toryglen-boy]

yeah, sometimes i do that to ... its like going fishing, sometimes i would go fishing without any bait, and didnt catch anything, TBH i didnt want to catch anything, i just wanted peace and quiet, so yeah, sometimes i observe in silence also

:)

[Octane]

TB,

If you like Jarre and Vangelis, you owe it to yourself to find some Klaus Schulze.

It's the type of music which makes you think, and is space music through and through.

Regards,
Humayun

[toryglen-boy]

thanks for that, i will look into it

:thumbsup:

[leon]

Absolute silence, It is just so peaceful at 1am, on a clear night, and the only sound is the click of the camera when it takes its next exposure, it is the best time of the night.

Leon

[toryglen-boy]

i hear you Leon, sometimes silence is golden

:)

[Quark]

I too tend to observe in silence, but I do think a bit of Andrea Bochelli suites the occasion quite well.

I used my stills from the summit of Mauna Kea and inside the Keck's in Ulead DVD movie factory to create a movie, Broken Hill to The Keck's. The stills pan and zoom and I embedded a sound track, at the summit and inside the Keck observatory the background music just had to be from Andrea Bochelli.

Regards
Trevor

[PeterM]

Hi TB - You will have to visit the New Age section for some of these or order on line - disregard the NA label and open your mind - here you can find much beautiful "Space Music."
Constance Demby's (Electronic Symphonic music http://www.constancedemby.com/frames.html ) Her album Novus Magnificat - Through The Stargate from the late 1980s is a landmark of some of the best space music available even today. Another of her albums Aeterna is simply a stunning work of space soundscapes. I also listen to an Australian artist called Michael Wild -Stardreams & Beyond Worlds are among his finest http://www.kinesiologyshop.com/eqop6.htm Of course Jarre, Schulze, Tangerine Dream, Vangelis have some great space music. Another older CD to look out for is Robert Schroeder's Time Waves album http://musicmp3.ru/artist_robert-schroeder.html I have many, many thought provoking albums from these and many more "space" artists. I have a CD titled Return Of The Comet (about the time of Halley's Comet) that whenever I play it (and Novus Magnificat) people ask what is that lovely music, unfortunately it's no longer available that I am aware of. I also like listen to a Jack Johnston's CDs while in my observatory and can recommend the Cafe Del Mar range of CDs. And then of course there is great comedy (like Stephen Wright) but that's another discussion.
PeterM

[renormalised]

JMJ, Vangelis, Holst, Enya...whatever I'm feeling like at the time.

Although I think the Mars part of Holst: The Planets, is more suited to Jupiter. Mars is only this tiny rusted ball of slag and scrap iron and he wrote this grand piece for it. It conjures up overwhelming immensity and power...something that's seriously lacking in a ball barely 35% larger than Ganymede!!!!!.

[Glenhuon]

Must admit, my preference is for peace and quiet while observing. Don't mind a bit of music (all sorts) or listening to some discussion on ABC radio though.


Bill

[Dog Star]

Like most of us here, it depends largely on my mood as to whether or not I listen to the subtle sounds of Nature or a bit of music.
Jarre, Tangerine Dream and Kraftwerk have already been mentioned but I also like Gong, The Orb (very much), Mike Oldfield and the Ozric Tentacles.
Being a bit of an old rocker in his early 50's, I like listening to Hawkwind while viewing ( I am the centre of this Universe, the wind of time is blowing through me, it's all moving relative to me, it's all a figment of my mind. Cue Lemmy on bass.)
Also like Nine Inch Nails and Tool as well.
If I'm in a classical mood, then it will be Tschaikovsky (especially the Violin Concerto) or Beethoven.
Tea Party, Alan Parsons, Donovan, John Butler Trio and Jean Luc Ponty all work well too.
Or a bit of early jazz with Billie Holiday, Teddy Wilson and the Count Basie band.
If I cant make my mind up, I just select "Random" on Media Player and surprise myself.
Having no neighbours closer then half a K away means that I can surprise myself quite loudly too.:)

[Craig.a.c]

I like to listening to the bats flying over head while they hunt. The kangeroos freak me out a little when they are jumping near by and I can't see them.

[astroron]

This question has been asked a couple of times in the past on the forum, and my answer is still the same.
The sounds of the night, or as it is sometimes no sound only silence.

[Terry B]

I always have ABCFM on in the observatory when I'm observing. The only exception to this might be to listen to the cricket.:D

[jjjnettie]

If I need to concentrate on what I'm doing, I'll have silence thank you.
If I'm waiting for an object to rise above the trees my playlist includes music from Pink Floyd, The Cure, Alan Parsons Project, The Police, Sting, Crowded House, Split Enz, REM, Led Zepplin (ballads for early in the night, and play the loud stuff when I'm getting tired), Rodriguez, David Bowie, the Beatles etc

[Omaroo]

I think our music tastes match up there Jeanette... spooky :)

[jjjnettie]

:lol:Are you stuck in a 70's time warp too Chris?

[Omaroo]

LOL! Yes, I suppose so! :lol: What's even spookier is that you didn't mention the Stones.... which, as a Beatles fan, you either also like or not. I'm not a Stones fan I have to say - except for Paint it Black, which is the only song of theirs that I really like.

[jjjnettie]

The Stones are ok. Not a fan, but I do enjoy some of their songs.

[Davros]

If listening to the ipod it will be Tori Amos otherwise the sounds of silence. :)

[Ric]

Lately if it's a Friday night/Saturday morning I've been listening to Dance music on Triple J, some of is quite well done. I can see how the young folk get right into it.

I'm still a rocker from the 70's though. :thumbsup::rofl:

[DJ9]

I usually have my mp3 player running, i live in a fairly dense suburban zone so anything beats the sound of cars driving past.
When it does get to about 2am-ish and there arent as many cars driving past i usually just have one earphone in. Usually listen to some of the cruisy songs from shinedown.

[mozzie]

i like tha abc talkback radio tony delroy trevor chappel easy listening and some of the things you can learn absoultly amazing
mozzie

[Omaroo]

Hmm.. Tori. I saw her in the local hall in Poughkeepsie, NY back in 1999. I've always been a fan. She's pretty screwed up, but her music is brilliant. China off Little Earthquakes is one of my all-time favourite songs. I do get in the mood and listen to all her stuff in one go. My wife Jenny's singing voice is identical to Tori's, so she always sings along. Fantastic!

[gbeal]

Since there is nobody within earshot, I crank up the local rock station, Hauraki, Classic Rock that Rocks, all them that JJJ recommended, and more. Peace and quiet I can take or leave, music while observing and imaging is what I like.
Gary

[beren]

:) Loreena Mckennit and Vangelis

[pgc hunter]

when I'm observing, normally I've got phrases from The Simpsons, South Park or Family Guy stuck in my head.

[Enchilada]

Can I join you the next time you go observing, please....

(Start with the track Zoolookologie, followed by all of Equinox and Oxygene 1 to 13, Les Chants Magnetiques, Zoolook, Chronologie, Aero, then end with Mike Oldfiled's "Songs of Distant Earth". For me...

C'est la seule façon idéale d'explorer les cieux magnifiques du sud! -
It is the only ideal way to explore the magnificent southern skies!

[gman]

9 times out of 10 it is just the sound of serenity, (the castle), the sounds of mozzies being fried but on the odd occasion that I do have the stereo on I listen to Enigma, Andreas Vollenwieder, JMJ or Pink Floyd

[Shawn]

Bach , most definitely .:whistle:

[Omaroo]

OK, I'll go with that and raise you 10 - Vivaldi - 4 Seasons

Both excellent. Tocata Fugue in D Minor played on a big-A** pipe organ.... awe-inspiring.

[Jen]

:D well let me tell ya :P
i would die if i couldnt hear music I LOVE ALL SORTS (well except for country and opera YUCK :lol:)
I love the 70's and 80's of course :thumbsup:
but just to mention a few on my ipod at the moment
Inxs, U2, The Cure, Aussie Crawl, Pink Floyd, Led Zep, Crowded House, David Bowie, Bryan Adams, Foreigner, Billy Joel, Phil Collins, Prince, Guns n Roses, The Angels, Sex Pistols, Billy Idol, Poison
Nine Inch Nails (seen them 3 times now awsome) :thumbsup: Chemical Brothers, Tool, Limp Biscuit, No Doubt & Gwen Stefani, Madonna, Nickelback, 3 Doors Down, Pink, Kings Of Leon, everything from hard & soft rock to dance and trance really woop woop :D:P;)
Ministry of Sound yayyyyyyy :D

[Kevnool]

I found another there sure are loads of them..

Cheers Kev.

[scopemankit]

Cool. quiet jazz,
Carla Bley & Phil Woods - lost in the stars
Brenda Russel - Please Phelipe

Cool, quiet classics,
Sati - Gymnopedie
Sissell Kyrkyebo - O mio babbino caro

[ChrisM]

I enjoy anything from silence - especially on a still night - to a mixture from Mozart or Tchaikovsky piano concertos, or 1970s hits - it depends on the mood. ABC Classic 100 is good too.

I have a 6-speaker sound system, with one speaker carefully positioned to focus sound inside the dome to the "listening position". It's great to sit there watching the stars and having the music apparently coming down from the heavens. I usually treat visitors to this experience too!

[Matt Wastell]

I love music and have never observed / images and listened! Next night session I will plug in and give it a go!

[Waxing_Gibbous]

Cows, crickets, frogs, the aliens in my head, koalas, possums, ocassionally gunshots, atm my dog telling me he's hungry...:D
It was actually quieter in Melbourne!

[shelltree]

I have to say I've never listened to music observing before but have always said I will and never got around to it or once I lug the scope out I can't be buggered walking back upstairs to get my Ipod :P

BUT, my backyard is ridiculously creepy at night and there is lots of russeling bushes and strange animal noises which is extremely unnerving when everyone else is asleep and you can't see where it's coming from. So I may give this music while observing thing a go...

My first picks would have to be:

Clint Mansell - The Fountain soundtrack
Explosions in the Sky - All Of a Sudden I Miss Everyone
Heaven and Hell - Vangelis (only just realised that Vangelis did the Cosmos theme omg I'm in love! Must have more Vangelis!!)
Ali Jihad Racy - Ancient Egypt
Desert Lounge Volume Two
Secret Chiefs 3

[Suzy]

One time a low flying bat came straight at me and skimmed the top of my head, scared the #@!% out me. Hard enough dealing with all the possum noises, and neighbours with wild parties beating each other up a few feet away from observing, on the side of the fence. Aye!:rolleyes:

As most of have said, a bit of both, but mostly quiet. I have a green alien with speakers for ears that I plug my i-pod into, so that way it's not blaring in my ears ruining my observing concentration.

Thanks Peter M for bringing Constance Dempy to my attention- I hadn't heard of her before - just love her music! Must get the album. :D

[Octane]

Oh, yeah, Constance Demby's Novus Magnificat is just awesome. Great driving music, too.

H

[PeterM]

Oh yes! Novus Magnificat!!! loved it in the 80s, absolutely love it today. If anyone hasn't heard it you can probably find it here http://www.constancedemby.com/
Have you heard Aeterna by her, another album that just takes me away.
PeterM.

[Octane]

I'm on it, Peter. Will report once I've heard it. ; )

H

[stattonb]

listen to my Astronomy Podcast when observing but always like the silence now and then.

[mill]

Duncan try some Andreas Vollenweider while at it.
It is like Jeanne Michelle Jarre but then with an electric harp.

[peterl]

Silence is great..
but when in the mood some music in the background is good.It just takes you away while observing..
Music by Kitaro. A great japanese instrumentalist.One of his albums "Toward The West" Soft and soothing.
Also music by Jonn Serrie who has put together some awesome music for planetariums etc..
"Oxygene" by Jean Michel Jarre ..Classic stuff.
These are all on my ipod and plug in to the Observatory speakers. itunes and various other sites have this great stuff..

good to hear what other people are listening to... :)

Peter Langdown

[pgc hunter]

no..... but the odd nearby house party does fit in with the mood when the seeing is good.

[Paddy]

Only the sounds of the bush and the night sky wheeling overhead. And my beloved's piano if she's practicing.

[Jeeps]

I often listen to the emergency services with my receiver. Early hours of the morning are often when all the action happens ;)

cheers

[Pinwheel]

Only last night I was listing to the best music while stargazing...PINK FLOYD & AC/DC. :P

[kustard]

The sound of my scope slewing from object to object drowns out all else, hehehe :)

[barx1963]

On nights when it is still I can hear the timber mills a couple of kms away clanking away really clearly. Only other sounds are the occasional possum, and me muttering when I cannot find a target!

[Paddy]

A familiar scenario for me too!

[that_guy]

hmm usually me yelling at the maccas across the road and occasional drug deals and public urination on the other side of the fence, other than that, its quite a nice neighbourhood :D

[marc4darkskies]

Was going to start a new thread but this one will do!

If things are going wrong - silence is golden so I can concentrate and hear myself cuss and swear.

If things are going well - Beethoven, Vivaldi, Dvorak - a good symphony, guitar or piano concerto is always good. Gustav Holst The Planets is sometimes very appropriate too but Mars is a little too overwhelming in the quiet of the night!

Enya and the relaxing tones of Ken Davis also get a look in.

Depends on mood but sometimes even Foxtel gets turned on ... esp if there's a good astro documentary on!