If I remember correctly, this thread started out with a focus on what items constitute the "standard repertoire." To me, just opening a Schwann Opus publication provides those answers. the thread has moved on to the question of "enough time" to devote to the standard, non-standard, and the new. I find this theme somewhat amusing. Why worry about it? The important thing is to have the works and recordings "at hand" that you want. Everything will fall into place. I don't have any particular storage strategy. When I want music, I open up a drawer and select a few discs out of 70 or so. When I'm done listening, I just repeat the process. With this helter-skelter approach, I end up listening to a wide variety of standard, non-standard, and new works. Just don't ask me to compare all the versions I have of a particular work; it would take hours to find them all. Bernard commented that music can be too accessible; I think I see his point but can't agree. The best things in life, be they free or costly, can't be overly accessible: music, love-making, tenderness, great movies, championship athletic events, family, pets, and amateur boxing fall into this category for me. I would say that being with "people" can be too accessible - that must not be one of my best things in life. People can sure be a pain in the neck. Take the people I work with----please. Don Satz [log in to unmask]