music

my definition of "music" is very vague--i consider most anything music, whether it's a socially accepted genre or rain hitting a pond.
having grown up attending church every Sunday morning, i learned to like the sounds of organ and piano, as well as strings, horns, and woodwinds on special occasions. this, coupled with my father's listening to 96.3 FM, allows me to call "classical music" my first and favorite genre.
over time, i began listening to orchestrated movie soundtracks. having seen a movie, i can listen to the soundtrack and play scenes in my head. i believe today's composers are influenced greatly by the works of those passed, and in listening to contemporary orchestrations i have built a stronger connection with those of the past.
some classical pieces include vocals, and whether they are of past or modern composers, i prefer vocals to be in a language i do not understand. sometimes, it helps to understand what is being said; but in music, i believe singing just adds to the harmony.
soon, i was able to distinguish the instruments simultaneously playing a piece, as well as hear them play as one (seeing the forest and the trees). this technique has allowed me to appreciate all forms of music, common genres and rainstorms alike.
i have favorites in many styles of music: rap, rock, metal, techno, country, etc. others have been surprised to find me listening to certain songs, because the lyrics contradict my nature. for some of these songs, i ignore the lyrics and focus only on the sounds. for others, i do listen to the words, because only i know how i feel at a given moment, and i'll listen to music which echoes that emotion.

percussion - known for giving rhythm to a musical piece, it is also easy to drown out their presence in many orchestral works. i appreciate them more when they add harmony, applying different tones instead of merely providing a beat--which can be created by other instruments. (Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends)
woodwinds - i adore the soothing sounds of these instruments, and would rather hear them played slowly. i believe they have the ability to calm an animal. the saxophone has the greatest potential for this, and i appreciate it most when played with synthesized strings. (Kenny G. - What a Wonderful World)
brass - while they can be played softly, i believe they should provide power in a piece, playing lower octaves with more volume. these instruments often produce the rhythm otherwise yielded through percussion. (Hans Zimmer - Gladiator, Barbarian Horde)
strings - i hold this to be the most versatile group; whether a cello, violin, or guitar, any string instrument can be played solemnly or energetically, passively or boldly. in symphonies, strings perform the emotion in a movement. orchestras often contain more strings than other instruments, and i believe this to be because they can offer the strongest contribution to any piece. guitars appear more so in contemporary bands, providing the melody in most songs. (Thomas Newman - The Shawshank Redemption theme)
piano - technically a string instrument, i love the sound of a piano over all others. a pianist can play melody and harmony together, but i think a piano sounds just as sweet as part of an orchestra. (Rachmaninoff - Piano Concerto 2)