Is music influenced by the time of the day you play it?

thisismyusername · 01-08-2014, 05:22 PM

Hi guys,

I have a friend who plays Sitar (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar), a North Indian stringed instrument. I myself play a little bit of Guitar and Piano.

We were having a conversation about Eastern & Western music and he brought up something unusual. He said that the time of the day you play Sitar influences the kind of music that comes out. What he meant was that there are certain music compositions that can only be played well at a certain time of the day. I did not believe an ounce of it and I still don't. Wondering what you guys think..

DriveYourCarDownToTheSea · 01-08-2014, 07:02 PM

Hmmm. During certain times of day I'm more likely to listen to certain kinds of music, and maybe if I play my guitar during certain times of day I might be inclined to play one thing over another ... but somehow I don't think my guitar knows what time of day it is, and will make Kathy's Song sound different in the morning than in the afternoon. Unless I happen to play it differently.

**Frownland** · 01-08-2014, 08:42 PM

Replace "time of day" with "mood" and your friend would have a very valid point. Maybe his mother told him that so he wouldn't be playing sitar at 2 in the morning.

Taxman · 01-09-2014, 05:34 AM

Of course mood matters a lot. It is obvious. The kind of music I listen depend heavily the way I feel, the kind of music I play depends heavily my mood. Also If I'm to write a song (which is what I do sometimes, it is also heavily influenced by the way I feel.
As a whole, our feelings are very important when it comes to music.
And as it is, this is the reason it's great to listen to so different music. I probably don't feel the same when I put Pet Sounds on than when I put Ramones on, if you know what I mean.

thisismyusername · 01-09-2014, 09:43 AM

Thanks for your comments guys. My friend has sent me this link which provides some traditional rules/guidelines for this specific type of music. But I still don't see how the music that comes out can be affected by the time of the day you play it. I do agree that the environment you are in may influence your mood and thus the type of music that comes out. But the key is that it is your mood.

kumaraditya2210.hubpages.com/hub/Seasons-Timings-of-Ragas-in-Indian-Classical-Music

Mr. Charlie · 01-09-2014, 11:37 AM

Apparently time influences mood, so it makes sense that musicians feel like making different types of music at different times of the time of day. The human body - again supposedly - is fitted with a very accurate internal clock which regulates all manner of functions.

Screen13 · 01-10-2014, 02:03 PM

I seriously don't play my music as much during the day although I listen to a hell of a lot. This might sound pretentious, but the evening is best suited for creating and also for listening to my occasional listens - through the headphones by the way - to Dark Ambient, Underground Metal, and Prog (I need to keep my place to live, and I'm in an area that will not understand).

Lisnaholic · 01-11-2014, 05:35 PM

There´s a Van Morrison lyric that goes, "...listening to Debussy in the morning when contemplation is best..." and, sure, what I listen to depends on the time of day. I like to start out with something clean and light; Zap Mama, the Beach Boys or something acoustic. After breakfast I´m ready for something that rocks a bit more, but I don´t normally play jazz until the sun has gone down - unless of course I´m in the car, in which case fusion/afrobeat/jambands are essential to pump up that go-get-em adrenaline and drown out the weird rattling noise from the front suspension.

Neapolitan · 01-11-2014, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thisismyusername

Hi guys,

I have a friend who plays Sitar (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar), a North Indian stringed instrument. I myself play a little bit of Guitar and Piano.

We were having a conversation about Eastern & Western music and he brought up something unusual. He said that the time of the day you play Sitar influences the kind of music that comes out. What he meant was that there are certain music compositions that can only be played well at a certain time of the day. I did not believe an ounce of it and I still don't. Wondering what you guys think..

I think your friend was right!

Raga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

Many Hindustani (North Indian) rāgas are prescribed for the particular time of a day or a season. When performed at the suggested time, the rāga has its maximum effect.

Lisnaholic · 01-12-2014, 06:58 AM

After the liner notes, on this cd it says the following:-

Quote:

CONSUMER ADVICE: This CD should be played only after 6pm in a peaceful environment, while your guests are arriving for dinner or when your love-object has left you.

I once played the CD at 4:30, but that´s the kind of guy I am. Deal with it, Euis!

01-08-2014, 05:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
thisismyusername Groupie Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 2	Is music influenced by the time of the day you play it? Hi guys, I have a friend who plays Sitar (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sitar), a North Indian stringed instrument. I myself play a little bit of Guitar and Piano. We were having a conversation about Eastern & Western music and he brought up something unusual. He said that the time of the day you play Sitar influences the kind of music that comes out. What he meant was that there are certain music compositions that can only be played well at a certain time of the day. I did not believe an ounce of it and I still don't. Wondering what you guys think..

01-08-2014, 07:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
DriveYourCarDownToTheSea AllTheWhileYouChargeAFee Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kansas City Posts: 1,157	Hmmm. During certain times of day I'm more likely to listen to certain kinds of music, and maybe if I play my guitar during certain times of day I might be inclined to play one thing over another ... but somehow I don't think my guitar knows what time of day it is, and will make Kathy's Song sound different in the morning than in the afternoon. Unless I happen to play it differently. __________________ Stop and find a pretty shell for her Beach Boys vs Beatles comparisons begin here

01-08-2014, 08:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,548	Replace "time of day" with "mood" and your friend would have a very valid point. Maybe his mother told him that so he wouldn't be playing sitar at 2 in the morning. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x

01-09-2014, 05:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
Taxman watching the wheels Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Finland Posts: 470	Of course mood matters a lot. It is obvious. The kind of music I listen depend heavily the way I feel, the kind of music I play depends heavily my mood. Also If I'm to write a song (which is what I do sometimes, it is also heavily influenced by the way I feel. As a whole, our feelings are very important when it comes to music. And as it is, this is the reason it's great to listen to so different music. I probably don't feel the same when I put Pet Sounds on than when I put Ramones on, if you know what I mean. __________________ ...

01-11-2014, 05:35 PM	#8 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	There´s a Van Morrison lyric that goes, "...listening to Debussy in the morning when contemplation is best..." and, sure, what I listen to depends on the time of day. I like to start out with something clean and light; Zap Mama, the Beach Boys or something acoustic. After breakfast I´m ready for something that rocks a bit more, but I don´t normally play jazz until the sun has gone down - unless of course I´m in the car, in which case fusion/afrobeat/jambands are essential to pump up that go-get-em adrenaline and drown out the weird rattling noise from the front suspension. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

01-09-2014, 09:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
thisismyusername Groupie Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 2	Thanks for your comments guys. My friend has sent me this link which provides some traditional rules/guidelines for this specific type of music. But I still don't see how the music that comes out can be affected by the time of the day you play it. I do agree that the environment you are in may influence your mood and thus the type of music that comes out. But the key is that it is your mood. kumaraditya2210.hubpages.com/hub/Seasons-Timings-of-Ragas-in-Indian-Classical-Music

01-09-2014, 11:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Mr. Charlie Shoo Thoughts Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: These Mountains Posts: 2,308	Apparently time influences mood, so it makes sense that musicians feel like making different types of music at different times of the time of day. The human body - again supposedly - is fitted with a very accurate internal clock which regulates all manner of functions.

01-10-2014, 02:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
Screen13 Music Addict Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 1,388	I seriously don't play my music as much during the day although I listen to a hell of a lot. This might sound pretentious, but the evening is best suited for creating and also for listening to my occasional listens - through the headphones by the way - to Dark Ambient, Underground Metal, and Prog (I need to keep my place to live, and I'm in an area that will not understand).