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

I've sung some Byrd (not very well) which was an incredible experience. Inevitably I don't know this particular piece as well and was not quite as gripped. But in general it's extraordinary music.

Catching up on LOADS which isn't ideal, but came on today to say I really loved the Byrd piece. I work next to Temple Church and they have a choir which (in normal times) practises on Wednesdays. It's one of the nicest things about my work, sitting there on a sunny Wednesday evening listening to choral music.

I also liked the von Weber, although it's not the kind of thing I usually like. Very cheering. Think I need to go back and listen to the others again.

I thought this version was sublime

I also imagined myself sitting in my city's cathedral listening to this. It's lovely; quiet and reflective and I thought Clemency's notes were interesting for the background to this piece.

I spent the morning listening back over the January pieces to decide on my favourites for this month. I think I'll get it down to five or six :)

Atheist here but, by god, I’d sit in a chapel regularly to hear this.

Agreed, Heron. I miss soaking in a hot bath by the light of a scented candle with music like this soaring around me. It does not work in the shower.

Absolutely loved this. Felt I was sitting in Hampton court chapel royal on a cold day with the pomanders and incense and quiet contemplation !
Then read he was indeed appointed ‘gentleman of the chapel royal’
Atheist here but, by god, I’d sit in a chapel regularly to hear this.

One I need to listen to a few times I think. I do love the vocal harmonies and it is soothing but a bit dull. I need to listen to a few different versions later.

Didn't like today's - I felt the jollity was overdone. Like being at one of those parties where you feel everyone's trying a bit too hard to have an amazing time. I also bear a ridiculous grudge against the clarinet, in that the novelty of its invention drew composers away from the flute and particularly the oboe, which I much prefer.

The Noise of Time by Julian Barnes was very good - makes you realise why the stuff like the 1st cello concerto and quartet 8 are basically the soundtrack to your worst ever anxiety dream.

I like von Weber, although there's nothing of his that makes my top 10. Very much the 'music to do housework to' category. I also like the clarinet so the piece suited me nicely today.

Well the Weber was a jaunty romp! Not sure I’d ever chose to listen to it again. Think I wasn’t in the right ‘mood’ for it

Jolly enough but I still don’t like the clarinet much.

Today's was very jolly and I enjoyed it. I liked hearing the clarinet. I wouldn't call it a favourite but I might have another listen if toddler ever naps.

Just to add, I think professional musicians from any country would have a very high level of sight-reading :)

Hi PermanentTemporary. I must look up the book you mentioned by Julian Barnes, thanks for that.
I agree, it's probably hard to listen to such varied pieces in one sitting. It's a lot to take in at once. I think most pieces need more than one hearing to fully appreciate them and even then, you will always like some more than others. Your mood might also influence how you feel about a piece on any given day. I appreciate everything I listen to, but there are some I prefer, definitely.
I hadn't thought about how ornamentation might change your perception of the melody. puts on thinking cap

That's lovely bibliomania. I think I'm really going to try to stick to one a day this week. It's not ideal to listen in a way it's not designed for.

I rather liked today's. Very sprightly with a comic edge, like newborn lambs staggering and then bouncing around a field.

Catching up again - Trauermusic by Hindemith, Adagio by Shostakovich, today's Clarinet Allegretto by Weber.

It's not ideal listening in groups- previously I listened to the Hindemith and didn't like it after the Reich and the Schubert. But this time I thought it was beautiful and expressed group mourning and reflection. Though I'm not sure I will always return to it. Great story. Is sight-reading really such a British thing? Google would suggest absolutely not tbh.

The Shostakovich was gorgeous - I started by loving the opening, lost interest and then the final half was amazing. I want to read The Noise Of Time by Julian Barnes about him. Possibly the rest of the opera is less accessible.

Today's Weber i wasn't in the mood for after the Shostakovich. I don't really like woodwind except for saxophone, though I acknowledge that there are lots of great tunes written for woodwind. I think it's too easy for the composer and player to put in loads of decoration and I lose the thread.

Von Weber: Clarinet Concerto no. 1, 3rd Movement, Rondo

This is a happy, cheerful piece of music. I like it, although I wouldn't put it on my favourites list. Forget what I said upthread about the register of the clarinet. It has a great range and can reach upper notes very easily as demonstrated here.

I’ve just listened again - Heron’s version this time and I like it even more. So beautiful.

I feel about this book a little as I do an advent calendar. Cheating to skip ahead but very tempting !

Definitely! It had a feel of a soundtrack to it.

If you don't know Mussorgsky, 'Pictures at an Exhibition', I recommend it. The original version is for piano and there is also an orchestral version. It's very colourful.

biblio fully agree about soundtrack. It strongly reminded me of Korngold brilliant Hollywood composer previously operas etc. I saw Die Katherin at Covent Garden a few years ago and was really blown away (slightly obsessed!).
It also reminded me of some Rachmaninov Preludes which I’m listening to and trying to play at the mo. Such interesting overlaps.