Halley: How has music or being a musician worked in your life?

Posted by eskslo 11 years, 10 months ago to Entertainment
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I am a musician myself (not by trade but for fun). I have always like in AS, the importance and prominence that Rand gave Halley, and the role his music plays in Dagny's life. Being an architect/contractor, my life is grounded in math and science, but when I have free time music is my passion.

Before I post too much about my musical experience and how it has molded my life, I figured I would ask around the gulch and see if anyone has stories they would like to share regarding their love of music. Or even comments about how Rand worked Halley and his music into a large role in AS.


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  • Posted by $ rockymountainpirate 11 years, 10 months ago
    I am a bass player in a rock/blues band. I also play surf rock. A driving bass and powerful sounds. Our band is starting to add more surf rock to our set list. We do gigs but not professionally, although I want to start doing more that we actually get paid for. Most of the band members work for a 501(c)3 that has mentally and physically disabled as clients so we donate gigs for their events.

    I was a singer when I was in school. My voice isn't always reliable now after neck surgery so sometimes I do some back up when needed. With the current band it's usually only on Gloria (Them version). I also play the 6-string guitar and can play around on the Dobro. We sometimes jam with a friend that's a huge Buck Owens fan and I can sleep through all that bass. It's boring.

    Music has always been in my life even if it was only vinyl or CD's.
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    • Posted by UncommonSense 11 years, 10 months ago
      Better late than never on replying...it's cool to know another fellow bass player. I used to play regularly, up until I had my kids...double-diaper duties...12 hour shifts....no sleep, no time to play. Gradually, gave it up to move onto other things. But, occasionally whenever I'm cruising pawn shops for good deals, I'll pick up a bass & play around for bit.

      Love Stevie Ray Vaughn, Rush (no YYZ though :( ) Music is big with me, and can't get through life without it, all kinds too.

      Classical, Jazz (both Classic and Smooth) Rock, Prog-rock, Metal....except rap and most country that's newer than '91~sounds too much like rock, not really 'country'. Got Johnny Cash? Older Hank Williams Jr? Waylon Jennings? Currently? Sima Deep - Underground Resident 029. Good stuff. Cheers.
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    • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 10 months ago
      Very cool that you actively play! And a bass, no less! Very cool. I used to sing in grade school through HS, but haven't done anything with it since. Well, maybe embarrass my kids, but that doesn't count.. :-)
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      • Posted by eilinel 11 years, 10 months ago
        I dabble on Irish whistle. I won't say I'm good, but that's because I know too many folks who ARE good, bordering on great. I've also been involved in music all my life- church choir and piano lessons as a kid, choirs through high school and college. Took up recorder (a sort-of pre-flute) and played medieval/Renaissance music for a lot of years. Sang in madrigal groups here and there. I even thought about a music career for awhile, but knew I didn't have the talent or drive to be a pro, and wasn't about to be a teacher after watching what the kids in HS did to ours. Besides, I also wanted to pursue nursing, and I figured it was easier to be a full-time nurse and part-time musician than the other way around. :)
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  • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 10 months ago
    Growing up, we had this enormous hi-fi cabinet, which had the turntable on one side, and a compartment on the other for the records. My mom would load up a stack of Jimi Hendrix, Chicago, The Fifth Dimension, Three Dog Night, and crank it up! We would clean up with this music blasting, and I loved it!! I played guitar and drums in HS, but never pursued it further.

    I find that somehow, it resonates within me, powerfully, and I always have music playing. I really enjoy most genres, except country. One of my favorite musicians is Kermit Ruffins. He's a New Orleans jazz musician, and just fun to listen to. I recommend checking him out.

    I also find that music motivates me creatively, because I find it so inspiring that music can resonate on such a deeply emotional level, whether it's because it stirs memories, or just makes you feel good.

    That's my two cents. Don't know if that's what you were looking for, but it's what I've got. :-)
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    • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
      what were you listening to when you painted the painting you showed us in the Producer's Lounge?
      when I am producing, some of my favorites are Van Morrison, Bowie, kinks, stones, pretenders, stevie Ray, knofler, elvis costello, Moody Blues, the Band (RIP levon), santana, calexico, jobim-
      say it ain't so, nonmooch, on some country at least-like lyle lovett, john hiatt, tom waits, lucinda williams, anything rockabilly-Jack White is all up in that currently with miss wanda jackson and his blind eye band.

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      • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 10 months ago
        The closest I come to it is Jimmy Buffett and The Eagles. Lyle Lovett is tolerable, mostly. :-) love the Pretenders, Blondie from Autoamerican. I think I was listening to Echo and the Bunnymen when I made the painting. I do really enjoy zydeco, but it tends to fire me up too much when I paint. :-)
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        • Posted by eilinel 11 years, 10 months ago
          Don't own too much of it anymore, but loved the Eagles, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin- all those 70's balladeers. Hubby is a MAJOR Parrothead, and I like Jimmy well enough too.
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    • Posted by eilinel 11 years, 10 months ago
      I also tend to clean house to music. Mostly Celtic, but occasionally throw in some Kermit or my Best of Preservation Hall set.
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      • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 10 months ago
        LOVE Preservation Hall!! What about The Hot 8 Brass Band?
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        • Posted by eilinel 11 years, 10 months ago
          Don't know them. Heard Rebirth Brass Band once, was too much inside a small bar. I expect I'd like them much more in a second line or other outdoor venue.
          My dad has specifically requested N.O. jazz at his funeral, especially "Didn't He Ramble" and "When the Saints".
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          • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 10 months ago
            What a great send off! Years ago when I was living on a sail boat in the Carribbean, I saw a funeral procession in Nassau, Bahamas. Horse drawn hearse w/ the hot pink casket in back, huge black ostrich plumes, and a second line playing. It was fantastic! I thought to myself, that's the way to do it, sans hot pink casket, but the music!
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  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
    I have been playing guitar since I was a youngster, mostly rock from the sixties on. I have an eclectic taste and like all genres as long as they have a melody. That precludes most rap I’m afraid. I love classical music, especially classical guitar (Andre Segovia, John Williams, etc.) and I am quite fond of string quartets.

    For me Gods do exist in one form, Guitar Gods! There are too many to list all. One of my favorite pieces was the duel between Ry Cooder & Steve Vai in the movie crossroads. The ending still gives me tingles up my spine (timeframe on following video 6:00 on). Machio was only a prop.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J3nthADmA...

    If your into speed check out Yngwie Malmsteen. The guy is unreal.

    The vocals from Clare Torry on Pink Floyd’s the great gig in the sky still works for me also.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gwmlq4p7l...

    I could fill the page. Music is such a part of me, if my house was on fire I would rescue my music right after my wife and dog. Then, time permitting; I would go back for the books.
    O.A.
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    • Posted by UncommonSense 11 years, 10 months ago
      David Gilmour. Love his sound. Not just Comfortably Numb either. My fav is A momentary lapse of reason, the whole album.
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      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
        I hear you. Floyd is one of my favorites. Sometimes I enjoy a Floyd-Fest and load Darkside, Wish you were here, Animals, A Momentary lapse of Reason, and the Division bell, then kick back and enjoy!
        Great stuff. Gilmour may not be the greatest technical player but he has inestimable creativity, soul and finesse.
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        • Posted by UncommonSense 11 years, 10 months ago
          That is great. Regarding Gilmour, I think one of the most under-appreciated solos of his is the beginning of the 2nd half of Wish You Were Here. Just amazing, gives me chills.
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    • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
      if you had it all on sticks, it'd be quicker, and I always believe in the multi-taking fire drill-each person saves themselves while saving something important to YOU. I've practiced this many times with good results :)
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      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
        I have been compressing / digitizing my library and I keep a backup of my work off site. It took me three years to play all my LPs and digitize them. Now I am working on my cassettes. The eight tracks are so old they lack fidelity, so I probably won’t convert them. There are also some reel to reel tapes. I don’t even remember what became of the 45s... Boy… I’m feeling old now. :(
        My wife would grab the pictures. She says her jewelry is insured. The dog won’t tell me what she would grab. :)
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        • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
          the reel to reels. hmmmm, Id pul in a professional. the 8 tracks-download digital new.
          my brother born in 66, says there is no way the lps translate well digitally, so if you have turntable you love-store in a secure location, extra needles prepped. cassettes-see that's tricky. compilations, etc. I say rhapsody membership-rebuild libraries in that site.
          shoot, OA, jewelry giver, eh? lucky babe
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          • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
            I have professional associates and some considerable skills myself.
            The LPs turned out satisfactory. I tried four software packages before I found one satisfactory. I had to use my best turntable and a pre-amp, but it is true, that the fidelity suffers from analog to digital. It becomes too clean. Some of the subtlety, richness is lost. They sound like CDs, because of the filtering but they are preserved. Most people don’t notice, but serious audiophiles can. Sometimes I used several filters and enhancements to improve the copy, and remove some of the snap crackle and pop from the really worn ones. The wrong filtering can leave it flat and muffled. I will not part with the originals or my turntables. The tapes come out fine, but it takes time to play all of them real time for the copy, followed by a few minutes of track labeling and saving.
            Rhapsody… not so much, because it would deprive me of the walk down memory lane (listening/ labeling deep cuts).
            Ref. Jewelry and the lucky babe: I like to think so, but I’m really the lucky one. I might be Hank, but thankfully, she is no Lillian. She values her Reardon bracelet as much as the gold bangles. :-)
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            • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
              hey, OA, go comment on jml's rant-which he is posting under another user name. seriously-put your name to your thoughts-less you be less
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              • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
                I see you have identified KingJamesSpaceKastle as jml below. How did you determine this? Is there some other entry I should investigate? If so could you please direct me?
                Regards,
                O.A.
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                • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
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                  • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
                    Yes, I see the similarity in prose.
                    I wondered what became of him. He is quite challenging, though I find his poetry to be ambiguous enough to question intent.
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                    • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
                      actually this one is quite moving and chock full good stuff. I like it-but why not take credit for it? the other one was a rant mostly at DK and myself.
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                      • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
                        Yes, I liked it as I interpreted it, but with jml I wonder sometimes if he is making an assertion or a chastisement. It is the intent I am uncertain of, taken in context with his previous entry...
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                        • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
                          I don't care-I love it! makes my wheels turn and I enjoy the defiant tone. take the first line:
                          " $ are abundant. Words are copper. Desperate hearts are the shopper.'
                          we have the visual dollar sign, so stamp of AS, the dollar, worth of money, plenty to go around, printed paper. " words are copper". value of copper, all that penny implies, AS stamp, copper is the taste of blood-blood money, blood words, fighting words, "desperate hearts are the shopper" in here is the chastisement- he has been clear before that he sees success as distinguished between need and want, and questions many in here over their pursuits, both monetarily and what is said- but in a broader context, a cultural statement
                          what do you think?
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                          • Posted by ObjectiveAnalyst 11 years, 10 months ago
                            I like it! It is brain food. But, who is to be the arbiter of what is need and what is want? If you earned it, it is not for me to decide...
                            How do you read " Perfect is your prison price."?
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                            • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
                              I think it is a statement about morality-but maybe larger. Rand's assertion that man strive for perfection . a critical response to this is man's inability to be perfect, therefore an unattainable goal-there is no solution(stuck and paid a high price to boot). and I'm not sure what the chastisement is-but, I bet there's one in there for us, maybe about (Rand) never intending "followers" or would not want the discussion of Objectivism tainted by producers' (in here) real life concerns over how they manage the freedom slide in the US-outside of philosophical discussion. Of course, I would turn that back, if that is the chastisement. what do you think?
                              I'm frankly stuck on the 12 sails. I think it's about Christianity-and ineffectual-ity, but hell, it could be top 12 point earners in here and inability to make anything important happen in the world (sails opposed to engines). we also had a discussion in here for fun about becoming pirates. the very kind of discussion that would annoy jml (the firehouse effect post)
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          • Posted by Non_mooching_artist 11 years, 10 months ago
            She is!

            I have too much music to transfer, at least that I want to take the time to do so. Daunting! At least in my Beetle, even though it was an '04, actually had a tape deck, as well as the 6-disk changer and XM. Now, not cassette, and they grow brittle and funky. My lp's are in a box with the turntable. They work, just not using them. Sigh
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  • Posted by khalling 11 years, 10 months ago
    esklo, good questions. LS has a book discussion post on We the Living in the Lounge. I posted this there, originally, but believe it is germane to this one.
    http://objectivish.blogspot.mx/2009/03/m...
    I am sadly not a maker of music, but a serious paying taker. I gobble it up, like books. at the same time. I do love to sing, not the karaoke variety, but if the supply is less than the demand, I'll do that too :)
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