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

@Cherryana I'm not sure what players you're using bit if you search youtube/ Spotify etc for the title you will mostly be given the vocal versions - I listened to the Pavarotti version and also Placido Domingo and my favourite was Kauffman.

Today was another very moving story in the notes and as I listened I could vividly picture that performance. Again, I'm not sure if I would have.got as much out of the piece itself without knowing that, and as purely a piece of music I don't think I would have appreciated it, though I would have recognised it was mournful and sad. I'd like to listen to the rest of the work and may do that next time j don't have a toddler hanging off me.

Todays was definitely atmospheric and I really liked yesterdays. I have only been to see an opera once when I was 17. I enjoyed it. What makes todays piece an opera? Is there a version with words?

goodness, that was gut-wrenchingly lovely. the solo clarinet is really atmospheric, and I loved how the drama built from there. I don't know much opera, and am looking forward hopefully to hearing more throughout the year.

I have enjoyed going to the opera a few times but I’m not very keen on just listening to it without all the theatrical side. So this wasn’t something I’d choose to listen to. I did follow up yesterdays with more Clara Schumann though and enjoyed it.

Yes. Good notes today.

I listened to various versions of this with different tenors- just beautiful all. Really enjoyed today, and appreciated the context and translation in the notes.

For once, I’m familiar with today’s and I adored it. I saw the Welsh National Opera do Tosca a couple of years ago - only the second opera I’ve ever seen live and I absolutely adored it so I’ve listened to this a few times.
Absolutely gorgeous. My favourite so far I think.

Puccini: Tosca 'E lucevan le stelle'. A well-known and well-loved aria, for good reason. This is a lovely piece of music; passionate and despairing. I love the solo clarinet at the start of the piece, perfectly mournful. I think it helps to know the context of the aria and to know what the singer is saying to appreciate it properly.

Thank you, Terpsichore. I'll definitely look it up.

That's a gorgeous version of the piece, BestIsWest. Thanks for putting it up. I'm tempted to learn that. It doesn't sound too difficult.

It must have been transcribed for clarinet at some stage. It makes sense that it was originally written for the violin.

I had forgotten that we're not all following the playlist on Spotify. TheTurn0fTheScrew is saying 'Clarinet? What clarinet?!'

I’m wfh and start about 7 most days so around 10am I’m ready for a coffee break and I’ve found that’s a good time to listen for me.

I’ve found myself with an hour or so to kill (million boring things I could be doing but I’m not going to) and am going back over some of the previous days - funny how I’m enjoying them more now I can just sit here, not trying to ‘fit it in’ like a task to tick off. I’m actually really liking the Bruch and I remember not being taken with it on it’s given day.

I love the one piece a day format but I really need to find a way to approach it more like a pleasure and less like homework, I think it might be affecting my enjoyment of the pieces.

Although revisiting the Corelli and still felt weirdly antsy and like I wanted it to hurry up, wonder what that’s all about?

Today’s piece the Clara Schumann - the version I listened to was violin and piano. I liked this - can’t think of much to say beyond that though sorry!

Ah, now I’ve gone and listened to a few different versions I like it much better as a violin piece. Much more fluid. I liked this version:

The clarinet chat confused me a little. I know this as a violin piece, and have the Janine Janssen recording on my current classical playlist. I love it. Warm and romantic and yearning.

The flute has a low, middle and high register, but plays equally well either in the middle or high range. The clarinet plays better in the middle range. It did play some high notes in today's piece but is better suited to the middle range. The flute is more able to play high notes easily and in a more sustained way.
I'm not a woodwind player, so that's how I understand it. I'm totally open to correction!

And thank you IsFuzzyBeagMise! Fluid is the word I was looking for but obviously failed to find.

Is the flute higher or in the same register? Is register even the right word? I tell you, I know nothing.

The flute, in comparison, is more fluid in tone, I think.

Thank you palegreenstars, I’ve just followed him.

I wanted to like today’s. I liked the melody but I just didn’t like the clarinet. This is going to sound ridiculous but I felt it sounded as if it needed oiling., as though it needed to be more free flowing.

Clara Schumann: Three Romances, Andante Molto. This is a short, but sweet piece of music. It's wistful and charming. I like it a lot. It's nice to hear the clarinet as solo instrument. The piece suits it well. It's music for listening to on a Sunday afternoon, reading a book and sitting by the fire.

I was reading about Clara Schumann. What a full life she had. In my music book she was only a footnote alongside Robert Schumann, saying that she was a concert pianist with no mention of her compositions. I wonder how many other talented women there were who were never recognized.

If anyone follows Simon @savidgereads on Instagram he is partaking too, sharing his thoughts on stories most days.

That's a lovely description, Cherry!

Hello everyone and hope you feel better soon Soyabean and the music helps lift you.

Oh my word. I loved loved loved today.

It was like that glorious dusky time, where the day has been so hot, and you go for an evening walk in the countryside and you can smell the greenery and you are just ‘being’ and there is still a long time left of summer.

I don’t think I have ever heard a piece of music like this before.