Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Everyday (Part 1)

I saw my 11yo perform the Romanian Folk Dances at the start of the month, in an arrangement with her children's orchestra accompanying a professional violinist (although DC2's instrument was tacit for a good 60% of the time). I wasn't keen especially keen the piece even when it was my own kid on stage . A listen to the original piano scoring hasn't particularly changed my mind.

Romanian Folk Dances: Bartok

This was lovely, but very short. I would have liked to listen to more of it. I was confused because I let it run on to the next piece, also a piano piece, which didn't make sense at all.

This was indeed lovely and very pleasant to listen to. Made me think of taking a lovely walk by a lake in the sunshine (maybe that’s just what I wish I was doing today instead of work and clean the house!).

I shall listen to the whole thing whilst I crack on with work.

This is lovely. I’m discovering that I like Baroque and I like the viola much more than the violin.

Viola Concerto in G Major, First Movement: Telemann

I'm very fond of this piece as it was the first piece I learned to play on the viola when I started playing it at sixteen.
It highlights the deep, dark tone of the viola beautifully. The music is calm, reflective, serene. I always think of it as a conversation between the viola and orchestra and even in the viola line itself the conversation continues before coming to a resolution.

It's a short concerto for anyone who wants to listen to it in its entirety and it's pleasant to listen to. Very baroque :)

That made me laugh Best

@IsFuzzyBeagMise I tweeted the day after it was on the list, but she says she's not on Twitter much, so I guess it was re-tweeted in a catch up. Although I am still listening to it fairly frequently!

Haha Welshwabbit

Huw Edwards once retweeted me. I was beside myself with excitement.

I was rather intrigued by todays and didn’t dislike it. It reminded me of the kind of singing I do in the bath when no one’s in the house. With a bit of mooing thrown in for good measure.

That's very cool Welshwabbit! You're still enjoying the Zelenka then

It sounds like a unanimous 'no' on the piece today. I'll look Meredith up and see what else she has done.

[Entirely unconcerned about being outed, don't worry]

Also, I posted on Twitter about how much I loved Zelenka's Miserere tagging CBH and she just re-tweeted me!

Today's was also not for me.

yeah, I didn't love this either, and wouldn't want to listen again.

Coincidentally I first heard of Anna Meredith on Monday, as one of my DC might be involved in a performance of her body percussion piece HandsFree, so I had a watch of that on YouTube. HandsFree sounds (and looks - it's very visual) more fun.

I really strongly disliked today’s.
I actually found it uncomfortable to listen to, like you IsFuzzy I did try again a bit later but same response. Anna Meredith sounds great and I’d be interested to listen to something else by her, but definitely not this again.

Heal You: Anna Meredith

I listened to this piece a few times to see if my first impressions of it would change, but no, I don't like it. It meanders along in a gentle way until the halfway point at which it becomes loud, insistent and unpleasant and then it (thankfully) fades away.

I really want to listen to Spring 1 now to see if I recognise it :)

This was new to me too, and I really liked it. I will listen to the other movements.

I looked for Spring 1 and discovered it was featured in Bridgerton, so not strictly new to me I’m so lowbrow haha

Also really enjoyed today's and it's new to me, so I shall seek out some more. Wasn't Max Richter on Desert Island Discs recently?

I know and love this. I think it's clever and fresh without being cheesy or disrespectful to the original, and shows off Vivaldi's genius perfectly. the whole work is well worth a listen, but most notably Spring 1 - I don't particularly care for that movement in the original, but Richter's version I love.

Spring 2: Max Richter

I'm not usually in favour of reworking an iconic piece like Vivaldi's Four Seasons, but I really like this. It is very skilfully done to keep some original features in a nod to the original but it also becomes a piece in its own right. I will listen to the other movements and hope I will like them as much as I do this one.

Well done to your son Welshwabbit !

I did enjoy the Monteverdi, I like the Renaissance pieces so far.

The Mendelssohn was just beautiful. Very calming and just perfect.

Congrats to Welshwabbit junior.

I did not like the Monteverdi one bit.

The Mendelssohn is lovely though. One to add to the playlist.

congratulations to young Welshwabbit. It's a joy to have music played in the house.

I really enjoyed the piano trio today, and love that the melody line passes between the strings and the piano, allowing each to shine.

Thanks @IsFuzzyBeagMise!