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

Glinka - very pleasant, very jolly, very Russian, but not massively memorable.

Ribers no. 8 - not my cup of tea.

Khachaturian - lush. A great one for team woodwind - love the oboe theme and flute countermelody in the first part.

Adagio from Spartacus: Khachaturian.

This is a very dramatic and colourful piece of music. I know it from having played it before but didn't know the context until I read the notes today. It's full of passion and drama and it does feel like Khachaturian is painting a picture as Clemency suggests. The violin solo brings a peaceful conclusion to the piece.
I enjoyed listening to it although it's rather early for an ill-fated love story :)

Ribers no. 8, trad. Danish arr. Danish String Quartet.

This was an unexpected surprise; I thought I clicked on the wrong playlist for a minute :) I have added this to my playlist of tunes on Spotify.

I think this is brilliant. It's very cleverly arranged and it's well played. It sounds authentic. It's fun, lively and inventive. I enjoyed reading about their album 'Woodworks' and how it was produced. I would definitely go to see them in one of their concerts. In the meantime, I'll enjoy the album.

Overture from 'Ruslan and Lyudmila': Glinka

This is fast and furious and fun to play. I played this one before and I remember being kept on my toes :)

It's perfect as an overture. It's lively and it grabs the attention of the audience before the opera begins. Exuberant is a good word to describe it. I like the sweeping theme by the cellos that is taken up by the violins. And I like the switch into the minor key second time round.

This probably won't be on my favourites list, but it was an enjoyable listen today.

Yes. It really suits the cello.

Loved today. I've never heard it with cello, only vocals, really liked it.

I agree with you TheTurn. I was pleasantly surprised to hear it on the cello.

I've gone for Yo Yo Ma as well, and I much prefer this to vocal versions. This piece is quite over-exposed but I think still lovely enough for that not to matter (like the Bach Celle Prelude earlier this year).

Ave Maria: Charles Gounod.

I had no idea that Gounod based his composition on a fugue by Bach, so I learned something new today. I can hear it quite clearly now :) I also hadn't known that this was originally written for solo violin or cello with piano. I assumed it was always written for voice as that's how I usually hear it, usually at weddings or funerals.

I think this is a beautiful piece of music and I enjoyed Yo Yo Ma's performance today. Very serene. Perfect.

I went back to listen to the version of 'Je te veux' as suggested by TheTurn.

Ah, that really is lovely. It's deep, rich and warm. Heartwarming, as TheTurn says.
I prefer it.

I listened to the Tippett Divertimento a few times today before I felt ready to write something about it. It's fascinating. The form seems to be based on a Renaissance piece (the Round, I suppose) and it feels like there might be a ground bass supporting the higher strings for some of the piece in any case. The harmonies, however, are unusual and they keep shifting around which gives the music an otherworldly aspect.

The solo violin is sublime. Its so eerie, very haunting. Beautiful. The piece gives an unsettled feeling and while the piece finishes on a major chord, the impression on the listener is one of profound sadness and as Clemency says, it does sear into your consciousness.

Tippett - Divertimento on Sellinger's Round: II. A Lament
I can hear Purcell's When I am Laid in Earth here - that's a compliment, not a complaint. This was graceful and stately, but beautifully restrained. Definitely one for the playlist.

Oh that's interesting, TheTurn. I'll look it up, thanks.

I went for an orchestral version (sung by Measha Brueggergosman) on Spotify, which I think is a little grander and less gentle than the solo piano or piano/voice arrangements. It's rich and heartwarming

Really like the Satie today - so pleasant, nice and gentle.

Je te veux: Satie.

This is nice easy listening to start off the month.
I don't know anything about Satie, but he sounds like a bit of a character.

Yes. Mozart and Beach were gorgeous too.

My favourites for May were
Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Shostakovich, Donizetti, James P. Johnson, Falconieri, Beach and Bach.
Not had a chance to listen to the Farrenc yet today.

Ravel should be Saint-Saëns!

I'm listening to the Zemlinsky again. It's very atmospheric. It's worth going back to.

Yes, I loved F. Mendelssohn. And Brahms and Farrenc. Also Dutilleux and Falconieri. The short song by Bolcom grew on me too.

ooh, yes, end of the month favourites for me were Zemlinsky, Brahms, Shostakovich, Johnson, Mendelssohn F, Beach and Farrenc.

I loved the Farrenc. It was exciting to listen to from start to finish. I agree wuth Turn; there was great drive and colour in it.

There was a change of key to a major chord right at the end; a little flash of brilliance. I will try and listen to the rest of the quintet later.

It was a really lovely selection of music this month and I will definitely go back and have another listen to many of them. It's hard to think of favourites because it could be a long list, but Shostakovitch stands out along with Ravel and Cardoso.

Piano Quintet no.1 in A minor, op. 30 1: Allegro by Louise Farrenc
We've had a piano quintet already this month (R.Schumann) and I much prefer this one. Much more drive and colour.

I thought that the bassoon solo at the start of The Right of Spring had a haunting quality and I quite liked it too.

Overture from Candide makes for a rousing start to the week. I agree, it is very full on, TheTurn.

I hear this played very often on the radio. I had no idea about its background, so I found the notes interesting.