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

I really enjoyed today’s piece - I’ve not actually read the notes yet, kindle died and I’ve only just got round to plugging it in, I shall read them when I get to bed. So I listened to the version Heron shared and found it beautiful.

Really liked it. Reminded me of a film soundtrack, which makes sense as it's designed to tell a story.

I think this might be my favourite piece so far. I've listened to it three times so far (same version as Heron) and I'm finding more to it each time. Shostakovich isn't a composer I've really listened to but I think I will now. I definitely want to listen to the whole opera.

I really liked this too. I listened to the spotify playlist version but will listen to the version HeronLanyon posted (when DH is not around and talking to me about his Wordle all the way through it).

I enjoyed this too. Not sure which version's on the playlist, but I went for the Jerusalem quartet. I thought this arrangement sounded great in the faster passages - there's a real sense of ferocity.

Shostakovich: Adagio for strings from 'Lady Macbeth'. I really like this piece. It's interesting. It has depth. I love the climax almost half way through and the whispering viola at the end.

The version that HeronLanyon posted is slower than the Spotify one and it's more accurate, closer to the original. The quartet is not playing 'adagio', they are playing faster than that. I really like it. Strong, dramatic, powerful music.

Shostakovich - Lady Macbeth of the Mtsenk District -Adagio arranged for strings

Sombre. Have not seen this opera. Feels like something I would really love with familiarity.
The book’s entry for this was pretty astonishing and made me laugh out loud a couple of times.

Hello everyone new and legendary!!

I loved todays one. I thought it had reflection and hope within in it. I found it very soothing to listen to and agree it is astounding that it was written in one day.

Also thank you everyone, I like our new convention of the first person of the day who comments also writing the piece’s name x

I really liked Trauermusik. Sombre and stately without being sentimental, the tone of the viola is beautiful, and I liked the pared back accompaniment.

Welcome to the thread greypot and LaDolceVita!

May I join please? I've spent the last few days catching up on this and I'm up to date now. I've thoroughly enjoyed some of the music that I wouldn't normally have listened to.

I'm finding it works best for me to listen to the piece before reading the notes - that way I'm not influenced by knowing any background and it's 'only' the music. I'm also using YouTube and sometimes listen to 2 or 3 different versions of the piece.

I liked Trauermusik - I found it reflective rather than sombre. I was surprised when I read the notes as it certainly hadn't struck me as funereal. It's an amazing feat that it was written and performed in less than one day!

I really liked today’s. Yes it was sombre but soulful. It’s nice for someone like me who has no classical musical knowledge to hear the different instruments and figure out which sounds I like. Cello and violin I like, clarinet not so much.

Today’s was suitably somber but did nothing at all for me I’m afraid.

Thanks @IsFuzzyBeagMise and @TheTurn0fTheScrew this sounds perfect. I'm going to order the book.

Sorry if I've missed this in the thread, but how much time does this take up in your day, for both the reading and listening? I like the sound of it if it's a coffee break kind of commitment, but couldn't manage a symphony a day.

Hindemith: Trauermusik. It's good to hear the viola; it isn't often in the limelight. This piece is suitably dark, mournful and sombre, in keeping with the occasion of the death of King George V. It's very impressive how Hindemith wrote it in the space of a day or so.
The introduction reminds me of the music of 'The Crown', probably because of Clemency's notes. I wouldn't list it as a favourite piece even though I play viola. It doesn't draw me in. I feel I would need to spend a lot of time with this piece and it may grow on me more.

Also going to break with the almost unanimous ranks. I didn’t like it at all. I found her voice to be shreaky. I did like (the translation of the) words of the piece though.

Ooh, A Bryn Terfel version! I much preferred that. I’ve listened to a few versions now sung by men in different ranges and preferred them over the version on the Spotify playlist.

I like this one m.youtube.com/watch?v=t7d-InYHuts

I rather liked An Die Musik - very pretty melody.
Interested to know which recordings people went for. I chose Bryn Terfel. However if anyone fancies a cello version, the beautiful very talented Kian Soltani has recorded a lovely arrangement.

I’m not so keen on today’s. This kind of voice just ain’t my cup of tea. I’m listening to some more though, enjoying educating myself.
Thank you @IsFuzzyBeagMise I do feel a bit more energetic today. Have managed a walk.