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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:
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 31/01/2022 10:13

I've been thinking of my favourites for January. It's difficult, because I liked so many of them with no real dislikes in this selection. I narrowed it down to eight pieces, the ones that I felt were a bit special.

In chronological order, I chose Hildegard von Bingen, Verdi, Duruflé, Puccini, Lauridsen, Shostakovich, Hahn and Glass.

Onwards to February!

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 31/01/2022 10:02

Philip Glass; Echorus

I absolutely love this. I enjoy the reworking of the chaconne; it's very clever. It works well to reproduce the echo effect. I think it's beautiful. I don't feel too much by way of serenity and peace when I listen to it. I feel excitement and exhilaration.

AliasGrape · 30/01/2022 22:20

I really liked today's, I agree with IsFuzzyBeagMise there really were some lovely moments that seemed to stand out. I said about some of the earlier pieces that I didn't enjoy the violin so much, but I liked it here with the piano.

Original poster
MamaNewtNewt · 30/01/2022 18:29

I didn't mind todays but I did find the way it started at full pelt a bit odd.

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 30/01/2022 15:05

I wasn't keen on the Faure today, although I love some of his other pieces (Pavane, Apres Un Reve, Siciliene). It didn't grab me melodically, and unlike CBH I did think it became overblown in parts. It just felt too busy.

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 30/01/2022 14:27

I heard this same sonata played on the radio while ago :) also heard a piece by Duruflé :)

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 30/01/2022 11:15

Fauré's Requiem is one of my favourite pieces.
I liked the sonata. It has some lovely moments.

BestIsWest · 30/01/2022 10:55

I will have to listen again later to the Fauré as it wasn’t doing it for me this morning.

Welshwabbit · 30/01/2022 10:45

I had to listen in a bit of a glut again yesterday but I very much liked all those from 26 - 29 January. I thought the first part of the Rosenkavalier trio was absolutely beautiful, although it didn't sustain that peak throughout.

I loved today's Faure. Right up my street. I really like violin and piano together. I don't know very much Faure apart from his Requiem and this made me think I should listen to more.

Cherryana · 29/01/2022 22:40

Me too!! I felt the same. Got bored by the end!! I will look up the voice version tomorrow on YouTube 😃

BestIsWest · 29/01/2022 17:30

Ok, quite enjoyed to start with but got a bit bored and admit I zoned out before the end.

Grawlix · 29/01/2022 17:14

@AliasGrape

I don't know how to comment on today's really- I listened to a couple of versions on YouTube, I just thought it was opera sounding like what I think of opera sounding like - good but not really for me. I know this isn't strictly true as there are certain pieces that I love, but I'm not sure this was one of them

In all the clips I saw, there was a woman taking the male part of Octavian which was interesting. Not sure if that's the standard convention for this particular opera?

Alias, yes, Octavian's always sung by a woman, a mezzo-soprano. It's sometimes called a 'trouser role' Grin There's a convention of this in lots of operas and Strauss's opera was deliberately echoing Mozart's 'The Marriage of Figaro', which also has a young male character - Cherubino - in love with an older woman...also played/sung by a female. On one level it's a homage to Mozart, who was Strauss's great hero.
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/01/2022 14:56

Agreed, AliasGrape. I don't this will go on my favourites list :)

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/01/2022 14:54

The Spotify version is written for orchestra, so it's not accurate. It's the trio that Clemency has written about in the notes, as Turn0fTheScrew has rightly pointed out.
I like both versions. Strauss is a composer who wears his heart on his sleeve. Big sweeping themes, highly-charged, emotional outpourings. His four last songs are lovely. I must look them up again.

AliasGrape · 29/01/2022 14:52

I don't know how to comment on today's really- I listened to a couple of versions on YouTube, I just thought it was opera sounding like what I think of opera sounding like - good but not really for me. I know this isn't strictly true as there are certain pieces that I love, but I'm not sure this was one of them

In all the clips I saw, there was a woman taking the male part of Octavian which was interesting. Not sure if that's the standard convention for this particular opera?

Original poster
MamaNewtNewt · 29/01/2022 11:52

The version on the playlist doesn't have any singing. It was nice enough but nothing special. Thanks for mentioning the alternative versions. I think I'll check those out.

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TheTurn0fTheScrew · 29/01/2022 09:42

I'm not sure how much the recordings will differ today, but I went for one with Diana Damrau, on whom my DH has a bit of a crush.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 29/01/2022 09:39

Strauss - Trio from Act 3, Der Rosenkavalier

For anyone not using the playlist, I think this is "Marie Theres" - "Hab mir's gelobt, Ihn lieb zu haben". I hope so!

This is beautiful. The voices layer and blend so well, and the orchestration builds and swirls. The little Strauss I know I have loved and this is no exception, so I must delve deeper into his catalogue.

Original poster
MamaNewtNewt · 28/01/2022 21:47

I really need to branch out from the spotify playlist, although to be fair I like most of the versions there.

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IsFuzzyBeagMise · 28/01/2022 21:25

It's definitely better when you look up alternatives to what's on the Spotify list. Not all the time, but certainly when the notes refer to songs.

HeronLanyon · 28/01/2022 21:01

Well today’s was totally unexpected, unknown and beautiful ! This is an amazing ride !

Original poster
MamaNewtNewt · 28/01/2022 20:23

I've fallen behind a bit this week. I loved Unsent Love Letters, in fact it is one of my favourites so far. I have a definite preference for the more stripped back music, generally the fewer instruments the better for me.

That said I did enjoy Mozart's Symphony No 14 I especially liked the change of pace where it slows down and then builds back up again (there's probably a fancy musical word for that Smile). Not sure if it's a flute playing but it just sounds like spring to me.

7 Chansons Oh I have a new favourite! I love, love, loved this. I don't even know how to put into words how it made me feel. How can music stir so much emotion? I'm going to have to think and come back to it.

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 28/01/2022 19:08

yes, gorgeous indeed. I love the stillness and restraint. I went for the tenor Ben Bliss's version on Youtube, which was particularly lovely on the quiet high notes. And as ever with the songs it's great to have translation - my rusty A-level French was sadly not up to the job!

bibliomania · 28/01/2022 19:02

Today's was a little slice of gorgeousness.

HeronLanyon · 28/01/2022 17:59

About to listen but wanti catch up with news at 6. I’ll no doubt need something beautiful and tender afterwards !

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