January 18, 2008

Writing to Music

Written by Margo Maguire in Jaunty Post

When I first started writing, I preferred complete silence. Not that it’s ever completely silent at my house but I wanted it reasonably quiet.

But over the past few years, I’ve started to enjoy listening to some background music as I write. I llike lots of different kinds of popular music, and I love classical (I’m a sucker for Mozart and Haydn and Vivaldi) but what I prefer for writing is a good soundtrack. I’ve got several playlists on my iPod that are called “Wordless” soundtracks - because music with lyrics is too distracting. And - happily enough - I received mucho denero in iTunes money for Christmas. So I’ve increased my soundtrack library!

Here are some of my favorite soundtracks, although with some of these, I only like one or two of the tracks (love that iTunes store for picking and choosing!!)

Finding Neverland
Harry Potter
Dancing with Wolves
Jurassic Park
Pride & Prejudice (the Kiera Knightly one)
National Treasure II
Lord of the Rings
Edward Scissorhands
The Girl with the Pearl Earring
Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves
Braveheart
Stardust
Shawshank Redemption

You can listen to clips of these themes if you go to Amazon music or iTunes. Let me know if there are any other great soundtracks you think I’ve missed. I’d love to add a few more to my playlists, and I think I just might send out a prize pack (a book and some Avon coverflats) to somebody who gives me a great music suggestion.

5:00 am | Share This

23 Responses to “Writing to Music”

On January 18th, 2008 at 6:52 am
Shana Says:

I listen to Braveheart and Last of the Mohicans. I guess I need to update my music library!
On January 18th, 2008 at 7:07 am
Kim Says:

I love the music from the Kiera Knightly verison of P & P. I think it adds a lot to the movie. The one soundtrack that I love is Miss Saigon. I’ve played that over and over again. I tend to listen to Native American and nature background music. It seems to be very soothing to me and helps me sleep. Although, that won’t help with writing. lol My favorites are Desert Plateaus and Ancient Canyons by John Hulling.
On January 18th, 2008 at 7:21 am
Robyn DeHart Says:

My all time favorite soundtrack is the Robin Hood - Prince of Thieves, it just works for me. I got the soundtrack for Becoming Jane for Christmas and it’s really great too. I only write to music though when I’m writing outside of the house - like if I go to Panera’s to work. Then I need my iPOD to drown out the noise around me. But more than anything I tend to listen to Mozart and Beethoven.
On January 18th, 2008 at 8:39 am
Taryn Raye Says:

I write with music as well, but I don’t have any that are simply intrumental.

Now, I do have a suggestion, but not sure it would work for you, and it’s not a soundtrack, but it’s still beautiful music-

Jim Brickman’s Picture This. The entire cd is simply instrumental piano with one exception- Valentine, with Martina McBride singing.

I have only have it on cassette or I’d use it when I write here at the computer. I haven’t listened to any of his other albums, but if they are anything like this one, I would imagine they’d work very well when you want non-vocal music.

It’s crossed my mind to invest in a few of his newer cds and possibly some Kenny G.

Hope you find some great suggestions!
On January 18th, 2008 at 9:52 am
brownone Says:

Hey Margo, I actually LOVE instrumental music when I’m cleaning the house every Friday. It’s so soothing to listen to it hen I’m doing something I really don’t look forward to doing.
I just got a the new nano back in November for my birthday and am almost up to my limit! Anyhow, one of my favorites is a two disc set: “The Greatest Cinema Choral Classics” performed by the Cinema of Prague Philharmonic. It has such a great mix of music from “O Fortuna” in Excalibur to “Evenstar” in Lord of the Rings as well as music from Passion of the Christ, Empire of the Sun, Edward Scissor Hands, and The Lion in Winter. It’s really great and you should check it out!
On January 18th, 2008 at 9:53 am
brownone Says:

I MEANT City of Prague Philharmonic. Geeze, sometimes I’ve got diarrhea of the hands!
On January 18th, 2008 at 12:21 pm
ladydawgfan Says:

I was going to suggest the soundtrack to “The Last of The Mohicans” but Shana got there before me. However, you might try the soundtrack to “Somewhere in Time” or “Sense and Sensibility” (Emma Thompson version). Both are wonderfully expressive and have beautiful music to listen to.
On January 18th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Margo Maguire Says:

Oh - great suggestions!
And Brownone, I’ve downloaded several of the City of Prague Philharmonic themes. They’re excellent!
On January 18th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Jane Says:

The HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers” has a great soundtrack. I also like “Don Juan De Marco” and “Amadeus.’
On January 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
ladydawgfan Says:

“Titanic,” “Witness” with Harrison Ford, and “Master and Commander” are also wonderful soundtracks to listen to!!!
On January 18th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
catslady Says:

The only one I didn’t know on your list is The Girl with the Pearl Earrings - I’ll have to try that one. I agree about Titanic and the Last of the Mohicans and Master and Commander and Band of Brothers.
The ones that I would add are: Forever Young (an old Mel Gibson movie that is my all time favorite but you probably have to back order it); A Beautiful Mind (Russell Crowe); The Rock (Sean Connery); Highlander (the original by Queen); City of Angels (Nicolas Cage); and The Time Machine.
Hope you find some new good ones.
On January 18th, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Fedora Says:

With my kids’ music interests in mind, we’ve been listening a ton to the soundtracks to the Star Wars saga–all of them. That’s a lot of John Williams! If you enjoy that type of sound though, he’s amazing–Superman, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Jurassic Park (which you’ve already got on your list)…

We’ve also been listening to the Disney soundtrack for Fantasmic! (their Disneyland show) and the Main Street Electric Light Parade.

I realize that a lot of my other favorites soundtracks have words–Ally McBeal, Working Girl, When Harry Met Sally, Stand By Me… and of course, all the Disney movies and The Prince of Egypt.

Oh, and I also like Chariots of Fire

Hope you find some new music you enjoy to write to!
On January 18th, 2008 at 3:02 pm
Anne Mallory Says:

The theme from Robin Hood is one of my faves of all time too, Robin. I listen to a lot of movie soundtracks - LOVE movie soundtracks. I don’t see this one on your list, Margo, and it’s FABULOUS - Gladiator. It is one of the best all around soundtracks. If you are looking for tracks, the battle (track 3) is probably the most well known. But there’s a different track that makes my heart sigh. I’m not telling though, cuz’ I think it’s a soundtrack worth the entire price.
On January 18th, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Helen Says:

Someone has already mentioned the soundtrack from Titanic I really like that one and I am not sure whether you can get any but the band from the 60’s The Shadows have a lot of instrumental music which I really love.
Have Fun
Helen
On January 18th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
Lois Says:

Oh geez, now this is a subject I sure know plenty about, seeing how most of the music I have are soundtracks. But I don’t know what they have on itunes, so I can only go by what I have. . .

of course, shame on you for not mentioning any Star Wars soundtracks, even including Shadows of the Empire. I mean, really.

Then every single Star Trek one, including the uncut versions.

ET, any Disney ones, Apollo 13 (gotta love it when Tom Hanks says “Houston, we have a problem!”), Father of the Bride, Great Muppet Caper, Hunt For Red October, the Indiana Jones movies, any James Bond theme song and the newest movie albums (especially love music-wise Tommorrow never Dies myself), Jurassic Park here too!, Muppets Take Manhattan, Pride and Prejudice - 1995, Return to me, Robin Hood Prince of Thieves here too, but also Men In Tights, Sister Act, The Mummy movies, The Rock, Wizard of Oz, various X-Files albums, oh and Young Sherlock Holmes.

Then of course there is every single incarnation of Phantom of the Opera you can possibly own. LOL You have the ALW stage versions, then the movie. . . then there’s the Lon Chaney one, then the two other musicals, then the miniseries. . . plus the other Phantom soundtracks that I don’t have. Sigh, so much music, so little time!

Lois
On January 18th, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Jane Says:

Some other great ones are “West Side Story,” “Purple Rain” and “Sound of Music.”
On January 18th, 2008 at 5:20 pm
ladydawgfan Says:

Okay, a few more suggestions. Try the soundtrack to “The Lakehouse,” “Sleepless in Seattle,” “St. Elmo’s Fire,” “The Three Musketeers,” “Beaches,” and “On Golden Pond.”
On January 18th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Shirley Karr Says:

How come no one has mentioned the soundtracks to all three Pirates movies? The overture in CotBP especially is becoming popular stadium music — it makes you want to get up and do something heroic. Or maybe just clean house.

A friend (also a writer) is really fond of the soundtrack to O Brother Where Art Thou.

I only have three soundtracks (might add Sweeney Todd’s) because mostly I listen to classical instrumental when writing, expecially Vivaldi and Mozart or Brandenburg and Haydn.
On January 18th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
Nathalie Says:

I love to listen to instrumental when I am studying… love Bond, they have enhanced and modernized a lot of the classics and their repertoire is great… so wouldn’t get bored easily!
On January 18th, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Mary Says:

I love Out of Africa, Lord of the Rings and the first Pirates soundtrack. I also love The Commitments, The Mummy soundtracks, Phantom of the Opera (movie version), O Brother Where Art Thou and the first two Grey’s Anatomy soundtracks.
On January 20th, 2008 at 4:35 pm
Dorothy Says:

I love most any kind of music. The music varies with the mood. I love most of the ones you mentioned, Ms. Maguire. I, personally, loved the soundtrack to the movie, Master & Commander: Far Side of the World. There are also some cd’s that can be had that play music that Captain Aubrey and Dr. Matterin would have played onboard the ship. Would love to get those but so far they are cost prohibitive to me. Ah well, I do have the soundtrack and love it!
On January 23rd, 2008 at 2:32 am
Kay Says:

I have a jukebox and keep an array of tunes on it. Naturally for different moods I choose different sounds. I have many cd’s, some titled, “For Lovers Only,” which is a perfect stimulus for prepping the writer into a romance state of mind for writing~

It works for me Kay
On January 27th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Notte Says:

I adore listening to instrumental music while I’m writing, my favorite being the violin. Ave Maria is the most beautiful when it is just violins playing.

Within Temptation is a beautiful alternative band and Sharon has a haunting voice that will linger with you even after she stops singing. They are great to listen to for relaxation or inspiration.

January 18, 2008

Writing to Music

23 Responses to “Writing to Music”

Leave a Reply