Do you suffer from music anhedonia

Colls

I have something different. All my life some music has made my far too emotional. As a child, songs like Puff The Magic Dragon, and On Top Of Old Smokey, I'm forever Blowing Bubbles, Edelweiss, just made me cry.
Of course my family found fun in surprising me with one of these. It was so bad even the sight of the record player being put on would start me off bawling.

Some songs get into my brain and I cannot sleep. Eg. Sailing to Philadelphia or Alexandra Leaving. I enjoy some music but have to take care even now and limit myself to songs that don't do that.

This is interesting to me (about mid-scale on music anhedonia - ie take it or leave it now). I used to cry as a child if my mother sang to me, perhaps the emotion it aroused was too strong for me. I also get earworms if I listen more than a little to music, so that tends to put me off. On the other hand, I love the musicality of spoken words, as in 'word-painting' in poetry, onomatopaeia, and learning to speak foreign languages. I use radio and audio much more for spoken word than for music.

I was once much offended by someone who scorned me for liking Saint-Saens' The Swan. He said he was disappointed in me, because the piece lacks depth. Well it was not intended to have depth, it is just a charming melodious section of 'Carnival of the Animals', written for children. However I was myself disappointed later to learn that Saint-Saens himself did not wish the piece to be played in isolation, because he thought it would bring his reputation down.

My father told me that when I was a small child he stopped playing "Danny Boy" ( The Londonderry Air) on his violin because it always made me cry.

It still does! Nigel Kennedy. Most beautiful.

Has music ever made your scalp prickle? Mine did, literally, when I first heard Caruso on the "wireless". He was singing Vesti La Giubba, though I had heard of neither of them at that time.
I listen to Mario Lanza singing it now.

@Jennerdysphoria, The Swan is a beautiful, descriptive piece of music and, despite Saint-Saëns' reservations, has, rightly, stood the test of time. Your acquaintance was a musical snob, who obviously affected to despise a popular piece simply because it is popular. My view is that these popular pieces are so because they are so well-written that they we never tire of them, however many times we hear them. Classic FM understands this concept, which is why it attracts so many listeners. I have taught children and adults for over forty years and I often get people, especially teenagers and adults, to learn simplified versions of famous pieces. Very often, the title of the piece might not be recognised but, as soon as I play the opening, there will be cries of "oh, this was in such and such a tv programme/advert." I remember the first time I played a famous piece and the thrill it gave me and I really enjoy seeing the same pleasure with others.

I have something called aphantasia. I’ve only just discovered this. I don’t have any visual imagery. I lack a “minds eye” so can’t visualise. It doesn’t stop me loving reading. I understand many people see the story in their heads like a film. I don’t.
It estimated between 1-4% of the population have this. I’ve discovered my siblings and daughter have it too as there is a strong genetic link.

I couldn’t live without music. Mostly classical, but I’m not averse to other genres at all.
The only music I don’t care for is the more modern type with no melody. When they play any of that on R3 I will usually give it a try, but will soon turn it off.

Like a pp, I love Sailing By! Very comforting, and to me it’s so evocative of the view of a boat, with the wake and water generally, sparkling in the sunshine.

I’m not often reduced to tears, though, except when it’s little kids singing Away In A Manger, or a recording of a niece’s beautiful soprano solo of Panis Angelicus with her school choir. We played that at my mother’s funeral.

Musicgirl

@Jennerdysphoria, The Swan is a beautiful, descriptive piece of music and, despite Saint-Saëns' reservations, has, rightly, stood the test of time. Your acquaintance was a musical snob, who obviously affected to despise a popular piece simply because it is popular. My view is that these popular pieces are so because they are so well-written that they we never tire of them, however many times we hear them. Classic FM understands this concept, which is why it attracts so many listeners. I have taught children and adults for over forty years and I often get people, especially teenagers and adults, to learn simplified versions of famous pieces. Very often, the title of the piece might not be recognised but, as soon as I play the opening, there will be cries of "oh, this was in such and such a tv programme/advert." I remember the first time I played a famous piece and the thrill it gave me and I really enjoy seeing the same pleasure with others.

Thank you for these points, Musicgirl. You allow me to articulate something similar about sensitivity to poetry. I love to 'hear' the sound patterning in poetry. Some people go overboard in finding meanings there that possibly the author never intended (though the unconscious is known to play a role). If the reader can support their interpretation with good argument, all well and good and will add to other readers' pleasure. This is one of the ways to get good grades in Literature.

Isobelw

I have something called aphantasia. I’ve only just discovered this. I don’t have any visual imagery. I lack a “minds eye” so can’t visualise. It doesn’t stop me loving reading. I understand many people see the story in their heads like a film. I don’t.
It estimated between 1-4% of the population have this. I’ve discovered my siblings and daughter have it too as there is a strong genetic link.

I think l must have this because I never see pictures in my head while reading, l only "hear" the words. It doesn't stop me from being critical of whether or not the correct actors have been chosen for the characters in TV/film adaptations of books.
@Jennerdysphoria, l, too, love the rhythm of poetry, especially when it rhymes. John Betjeman's poetry is wonderful but, possibly, my favourite poem of all is Adlestrop by Edward Thomas. I did A level English and it was all the hidden meanings that put me off as I could never be sure if they were true or not. Well, hidden meanings were probably 40% of the reason why I was put off and Henry James was the other 60%. I have often wished that English Language was available at A level in 1983 as it is now because it would have suited me much better.

AN41 the piece that makes my raises the hairs on the back of my neck is Hubert Parry’s “I Was Glad”. Paul McCreesh and his Gabrieli Consort do the whole bag of mashings with orchestra, an enormous choir, trumpet fanfare and the lot. It’s truly magnificent. Just thinking about it now is having that effect.

Greyduster, I understand.