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

Or indeed, a motet...I have a tenuous grasp of the technicalities.

The Sicilienne was pleasant, although it didn't blow me away.

I used 'motet' as my starter word today in Wordle and it was a great choice.

Or a motet, at a push 😁

Loved the Gibbons. I've learnt, somewhat to my own surprise, that I'm always up for a nice madrigal.

Good to hear from you AliasGrape :)

I went from 'Oh a lovely piece about a swan!' to 'Oh the poor swan!'

I’m ridiculously behind, I had already missed a few days anyway then we went on holiday and then I went away for work and have been frantically trying to finish a piece of work based on that trip whenever I wasn’t wrestling a toddler who is having an average of three tantrums every ten minutes at the moment.

I am slowly catching up a few pieces a day, but far too many to post about. So I’m just going to join in from today and then try to catch up the rest as and when.

The Gibbons was nice, not my favourite we’ve heard from this era.

Madrigals and Motets: Orlando Gibbons.

I love music from this era. It's wonderfully pure, no frills. This a beautiful piece of music, short and sweet. The clarity of the voice is gorgeous. The verse is sad however and I'm struck by the sweetness of the melody which delivers such a sad message.

Agree, it's a lovely piece, reflective and gentle and lyrical.

Yes, it was a real mood-booster. I woke up humming it today.

The Seasons: June (Barcarolle): Tchaikovsky.

It must be one of those June days when the sun is hiding behind a heavy blanket of cloud :) This is a melancholic piece of music, but it's lovely and I did like listening to it.

Scaramouche is a great piece for a sunny day - mind you, I can see it being cheery on a gloomy day too. A mood-improver.

Scaramouche, Brazileira: Milhaud.

A really fun, light-hearted piece of music.
Very enjoyable.

Mercy: Max Richter.

This is beautiful and profound; I love it. Hilary Hahn's tone is amazing on this recording, especially at the beginning. It has gorgeous depth.

One of the highlights of this playlist is discovering the music of Richter.

The Lang was a bit eerie. It was interesting to listen to but I don't expect it to become the soundtrack to my days. The Lizst and Abel were both pleasant.

Haven't been on for a while and too many to catch up with. I really liked I Lie. Also liked the Franck (particularly the last part). And I loved today's. I really agreed with Clemency's write-up too. It felt like a massage in musical form.

I love the Prelude by Abel. It reminds me of the Cello Suites by Bach and the first Prelude in G Major, similar arpeggiated chords.
I love how the viol had a carved face as a scroll. I wish they had been kept for string instruments :)

The Franck I loved. Gorgeous melodies. I will listen to the rest of the work.
The Liszt was perfectly pleasant but not memorable.

Today's piece is Carl Friedrich Abel - 27 Pieces for Viola da gamba: Prelude
This is lovely - cool and calming. It's nice to hear a more historical instrument.

Der Fischerknabe: Liszt.

This is lovely. Gorgeous* *introduction on the piano and I enjoyed the singing. Very gentle and dreamy. This one could grow on you in time.

Violin Sonata in A Major 4th mvt: Franck.

I'm familiar with this piece from hearing it often. I really like it. It's bright and optimistic, passionate and powerful. It's a very enjoyable listen.

Frog Galliard cute, like it.
Lang I do like this but agree it’s odd on such a lovely day.

Catching up:
The Britten was not for me. I don't often love folk music in it's purest forms TBH, although I do usually love folk melodies woven into more orchestra pieces so now sure what's going on in my head there.
Vaughan Williams I know well and loved. Poetic and dramatic all at once. I think he's one of my favourite composers. He's so good at capturing different moods and writes such beautiful melodies.
Kapustin There were so much going on here I went straight back for another listen. I can't say yet that I love it, but I can already feel I'll be going back again. I think it's going to be a weird grower like the Zemlinsky last month.
Dowland left me cold I'm afraid.
Lang was eerie and haunting. My issue with this one was that it was the most ill-fitting piece for a summer morning, and so I couldn't really get on with it. I think it would be a very different story on a stormy October night, so I'm going to make a mental note to go back to it.

I Lie: David Lang.

An interesting piece of music today, this modern folksong. It's very atmospheric. I really like the singing in unison. It's sung very well. I've liked this more after repeated listenings, but I don't think it will become a favourite by the end of the month.

The Frog Galliard: Dowland.

I think this is very enjoyable. It's calming and soothing and definitely one to listen to when you are feeling frazzled, as Clemency says. Vive la Renaissance :)

I did like today's lute piece. It seems I'm more of a pop girl (clear line of descent from the lute piece) than a jazz girl (the Kapustin).

Wasn’t keen on the Kapustin either.

The Kapustin is not for me at all. I found it quite unpleasant to listen to.