Tuesday's Inspiration - Music to write by

Many writers use music to help them concentrate when they write. What kind of music inspires you? Today I was inspired by the music I hear but also by a question in an interview that I recently completed.

For me, there can be no lyrics. I find I am diverted by the lyrics and somehow the words end up in my prose. I am prebably not the average writer. For me there classical music does it for me. No opera though for even here I become diverted by the words and the voices of the singers. Could this be because I'm eternally curious about people? Not sure. So what kind of music helps me when I write?

If I'm writing an action scene I choose a stormy kind of music like the 1812 Overture or some stormy Beethoven or Mahler. Ther planets is another favorite choice. For love scenes I turn to waltzes. Who can not imagine a couple moving in harmony, or some ballet music especially ones where I've seen a pair moving across the stage. Then there are those moments in writing when poignancy is needed. There I turn to things like Swan Lake, some of the nocturns and other bitter sweet pieces. I also find overtures from the operas to help establish the mood in my head for writing a particular scene.

I do envy those who can choose music with words and voices when they write. How about you? What kind of music inspires you?