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

I thought today's was beautiful too.

Today’s made me think of those I have lost (whether it was because of the notes or whether the music would have for me there without I don’t know), and I did find it comforting. I found it beautiful really.

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem 1: Selig sind, die da Leid tragen

I have listened to this a fair few times. It has taken me a while to get to know it. I think the quiet interludes cause me to lose concentration. It's a long piece too. It might be easier to understand it if I listen to the entire requiem.

The notes were helpful in appreciating Brahms' approach to writing this work and understanding what a requiem meant for him, that it should console the living. The music is tender and empathetic but passionate too.

I’d been doing so well listening daily, but not so much the last week, just struggled to fit it in somehow which seems crazy considering how short many of the pieces are. A reminder perhaps I need to take a breath and reset a bit.

Anyway I enjoyed hearing the theme from Schindler’s List again, sad as it is and agree it’s impossible to hear without images from the film coming to mind.

The Spheres was just sublime and otherworldly. I’ve realised I need to start recording my favourites in a list or something somewhere so I can go back to them, this will definitely be on there.

The Grainger was cheery and upbeat and it made me laugh when Clemency said she found it cheering when it accompanied her emptying the dishwasher. I’ve developed a bit of an angry response every time I have to empty ours, like FFS AGAIN WITH THIS? (First world problem I know). Perhaps I’ll try playing this in the morning when it inevitably will fall to me again.

I enjoyed both the Gjeilo and the Grainger. Very different pieces -.from grandeur to playfulness.

I've also been listening even though I'm behind with posting. I liked the Poulenc a lot, but my favourite of the last few days was The Spheres. The piece and the composer were both new to me. It's lovely to hear something contemporary for both voices and orchestra. Will definitely listen to the whole work.

I’ve been listening every day but not keeping up here. I enjoyed the Poulenc. Not keen on Handel in the Strand- it seems like something from a musical to me, which would be ok with all the accompanying action but doesn’t stand alone.
I absolutely love The Spheres though. It’s kind of wonderful and terrifying!

Percy Grainger: Handel in the Strand

This is a pleasant piece of music. It reminds me of music that you might hear at the Proms, while you walk around and have a chat with people. It's nice and cheerful, but it's not going on my favourites list.

I agree, the build up to the chorus at the end was sublime. I really liked this one.

The Spheres: Ola Gjeilo

I really like this piece. It has a magical, mystical quality. It shimmers. I find the chorus of 'Kyrie Eleison' towards the end of the piece very moving to listen to. It's very powerful.

Yes. I've been trying to listen objectively to the 'theme' without thinking of the film and it's impossible. It's very fitting. Beautifully sad.

The Poulenc is beautiful, so sad. Certainly tugs at the heart strings.

*John Williams - Theme from Schindler’s List’

Also a beautiful piece of music and moving - it fitted the film so well.

These two pieces go together well.

I love the solo piano. A beautiful piece today and once again knowing the background really does enrich the experience whilst adding to the sadness.

Poulenc: Mélancolie

This is lovely, tender, bittersweet. I'm enjoying listening more to solo piano pieces since the start of the year. I'm usually into strings but I'm definitely appreciating piano and choral music now too.

Hello, So I listened to the Bach one and then todays one back to back. The Bach one matched my mood which was a bit fraught and then with the slower piece helped me come down and relax and breathe.

Alias I think it’s perfectly excusable not to know the names of all of Bach's 20 or so children!

@TheTurn0fTheScrew @Grawlix thank you! I feel very ignorant!

Today and yesterday felt like a language I don't understand - mellifluous but I don't quite connect.

@AliasGrape, yes, Bach had an enormous number of children, and as TheTurn0fTheScrew says, several of them (all boys, though, afaik - not sure the girls got much of a look-in ) were composers as well. One of them, Johann Christian, moved to London and took Mozart (aged 8) under his wing when he and his father visited on their European travels.

JC's buried in the churchyard of St Pancras Old Church.

yesterday's CPE was nothing special. I have a reasonably good junior flautist in the house and there are better baroque flute pieces heard coming from her room fairly often.

Today's R Schumann is a beaut. I love a piano quartet, and I love the Romantic feel here. It's nice to hear the cello doing lots of the heavy lifting with regards to the wonderful, lyrical melody.

Ah todays was lovely. I imagine I will have this playing in the background quite often.

Catching up again, I really must go back to making time every day. Still only a day behind this time.

The CPE BachIt made me feel rather breathless and hurried, I was thinking more about the skill and energy that would be required to play the piece rather than the music itself I think. I didn't even know there was a Bach Jnr. Learning lots

Schumann Beautiful.and sad. I like strings far more when there's a piano too. This made me think about battling through winter and longing for spring (probably because I was looking out at grey sky and my muddy bare garden as I listened). The very end surprised me a bit and yes did feel perhaps a little more optimistic

Schumann: Piano Quartet in E Flat Major, third movement

I am familiar with this piece already and it's an absolute favourite of mine.
I think it's utterly beautiful, soulful, divine.
The opening notes are like a sigh, before the main theme is presented on the cello. The middle section reminds me of a prayer, everyone in unison and then there is new hope with the reprise of the theme in a change of key again on the cello, before an utterly peaceful conclusion.

I like todays too. A jolly piece.