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Original poster

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

990 replies

MamaNewtNewt · 04/01/2022 15:50

This thread is for the 50 bookers (or in fact anyone else who wants to join in!) who are reading Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Everyday by Clemency Burton-Hill.

The author has selected one piece of music for each day in the year, and includes a brief overview of the piece and the composer to provide some context. There's a playlist on Spotify and we can share links to each piece of music for those without access to Spotify.

I think most of us are planning on (roughly) sticking to the daily setup but feel free to read / listen ahead although the discussions are likely to stay around the music for the current date.

Thanks to @TheTurn0fTheScrew for bringing this book to our attention on the thread. Really looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.

OP posts:
AliasGrape · 06/02/2022 20:59

@TheTurn0fTheScrew

Today's was ok, bright and breezy, but not especially memorable. I can't really recall any detail about the different themes and melodies even though I've only just listened.
Well that makes me feel better because I listened this morning but haven’t had chance to comment, and now that I have I find I can’t remember a thing about it!
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 06/02/2022 20:37

Today's was ok, bright and breezy, but not especially memorable. I can't really recall any detail about the different themes and melodies even though I've only just listened.

BestIsWest · 06/02/2022 17:29

The seemed very grand and majestic to me. I got interrupted every time I tried to listen to it though so my concentration wasn’t what it should have been.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 06/02/2022 10:32

Wagner: Die MeisterSinger von Nürnberg

I like this piece. The main theme is bright, joyful and majestic. The secondary theme is gentle and wistful. This was one of the first pieces I played as part of an orchestra, so it brings back happy memories.

MsNorth · 05/02/2022 20:35

I loved it too! 🎺

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 05/02/2022 10:46

@BestIsWest

Loved this. Went off and listened to a few similar pieces and discovered I like a bit of Baroque trumpet. Who knew?
Grin who knew indeed?!
BestIsWest · 05/02/2022 10:35

Loved this. Went off and listened to a few similar pieces and discovered I like a bit of Baroque trumpet. Who knew?

AliasGrape · 05/02/2022 09:40

I thought today's was lovely too, agree about the lightness to it. I haven't read the notes yet, off to do that now.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 05/02/2022 09:20

I thought this was beautiful, simple, perfect. I agree with Cherryana, there is a lovely lightness to this music. I'm listening to the other movements to the concerto which are also short and sweet.

I like how Clemency is giving a voice to lesser-known musical figures. There is a concerto by Telemann for viola that's on the list for later on in the year which is lovely too.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 05/02/2022 09:20

I thought the Telemann was pleasant enough, but it didn't especially grab me. Nothing to dislike at all, but no emotional response.

Cherryana · 05/02/2022 07:51

Trumpet Concerto in D major - Telemann

I thought it was short and sweet. There was a lightness I didn’t expect. I must connect trumpets with loud noise. It sounded regal and familiar although I haven’t heart it before to my knowledge.

Cherryana · 05/02/2022 07:48

I really liked the Fanatasie piece as well - alias and best and I also liked the weaving of different musical influences as well Isfuzzy.

And I have found the backstories of the female composers over the past few days very interesting.

The word that comes to mind is discovery!!

Turnoftheascrew - to enjoy your child’s piano practice is a complete joy!

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 04/02/2022 15:56

I wasn't bothered about today's piece. I have a bit of a blind spot for big-sounding solo piano works for some unknown reason. I do like Price's symphonic stuff though, and love that she incorporates jazz and spiritual rhythms into classical pieces. My 11yo is currently rehearsing Juba Dance for orchestra and it's a joy to hear it practised on a good day.

AliasGrape · 04/02/2022 13:43

Wow, I thought today’s was beautiful. Florence Price sounds like an amazing woman too.
I will definitely return to this piece.

BestIsWest · 04/02/2022 10:44

Really enjoyed todays too.
Went back and listened to yesterdays again and then listened to the Purcell and liked that very much too.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 04/02/2022 09:23

Fantaisie Negre; Florence Price

I think this is excellent, it's superb. It's a powerful piece of music. I really like the interweaving of the spiritual in the music. It's masterfully done.

The album from which this is taken on Spotify looks interesting and worth checking out.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 03/02/2022 21:34

I loved yesterday's bit of Fanny. Light and lyrical. I enjoyed listening to the whole quartet.

Today's piece was interesting and fun. It was refreshing to have something with early instruments. Reminded me a little in mood of Purcell's Curtain Tune, which I love.

bibliomania · 03/02/2022 18:45

Agreed, today's was very cheering.

BestIsWest · 03/02/2022 17:36

Todays is just great, I didn’t want it to end and have listened about 6 times. So cheering. I can imagine courtly dancing. Love it.

MsNorth · 03/02/2022 15:57

I enjoyed listening to and reading about, this one. I’m now listening to the rest of the opera but that has just confirmed that I don’t really like ‘operatic’ voices. Love the instrumental parts though.

AliasGrape · 03/02/2022 12:08

I enjoyed today’s piece too, agree it was bright and light and made me smile.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 03/02/2022 09:56

I really like this too. What a refreshing change. It's fun, bright and lively.

Original poster
MamaNewtNewt · 03/02/2022 08:43

‘Il cavalier di Spagna’ – ‘A Spanish Knight’* from La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Ancina* by Francesca Caccini (c. 1587–1641)

I really liked this one, a very medieval sound to my ear, and a nice lively song to start the day. Yet another example of a female composer where little of their music remains. Listening to this I'd like to hear what else she composed.

OP posts:
Original poster
MamaNewtNewt · 02/02/2022 19:32

I've fallen a bit behind again, work is crazy at the moment!

Echorus I quite liked this one, stripped back and strings seems to work for me. I actually found it quite relaxing.

Che gelida manina I wasn't keen on this but don't generally like opera. I probably sound like a total philistine but I wonder if it would make a difference if I could understand what they were singing.

Adagio ma non troppo I really liked this one. I definitely have a preference for strings!

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 02/02/2022 15:57

Didn’t do much for me either but yes, how depressing that we see so much of this over the history of just about everything.

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