Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

Year of Wonder: Classical Music For Every Day (Part Two)

505 replies

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 18/07/2022 09:18

Year of Wonder (Part One)

New thread to accompany the book Year of Wonder by Clemency Burton Hill.

All welcome to join in.

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 28/07/2022 10:35

The Original Partita by Bach

This is indeed amazing and I prefer it to yesterday's. It is beautiful on the violin. I am in awe of the ease with which the violinist (Joshua Bell on Spotify) achieves clarity of tone with the string crossings and double stops. It's incredibly skilful.

The piece is both beautiful and impressive.

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 27/07/2022 10:37

Hi Alias! You and me both. I'm also fond of a Renaissance dance :) irresistible!

Partita no. 2 in D Minor BWV 1004 Chaconne: JS Bach. Transcribed by Ferruccio Busoni.

It's a double bill of Bach today and tomorrow. Today's piece is the transcribed work. Tomorrow's is the original. It made sense to me to listen to both of these pieces side by side to get sense of the original piece as I don't know it and to compare both.

The Busoni version of the Chaconne is very impressive. It must have been a mammoth task to transcribe this for piano. It's very skilful. After listening to it carefully a few times, I'm beginning to recognise the framework that is Bach and the embellishments that are Busoni's. There is a contemporary virtuosity in his piece and techniques that sound more modern to my ear.

This is definitely a piece that needs time to process but it is marvellous.

OP posts:
AliasGrape · 27/07/2022 09:50

🙄I literally thought I was typing Canarios but listening to my aunt scrolling through the playlist as saying ‘who is this, John Field?’ so obviously that’s what I typed. I enjoyed the Canarios. I do love a Renaissance/ baroque folk dance it seems.

AliasGrape · 27/07/2022 09:46

Hello all - I fell off the thread again. Another work trip and then visitors (still here) this time. Catching up one or two at a time, I’ve got as far as Mozart’s Requiem which since that is where this thread starts thought I’d jump in now. Utterly beautiful, even though I was like ‘urgh that sounds heavy’ when I saw the notes.

Of the past few days I’ve really enjoyed the Field too.

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 26/07/2022 22:40

@AKnitterofThings welcome aboard! I don't even follow the playlist, just stick the title in youtube or Spotify and often have a try with a couple of different versions to see what I prefer.

The last few days weren't a great run from my perspective. Neither of the choral pieces did it for me. The Szymanowska I feel is the sort of thing I usually like but for some reason it didn't grab me. I think I might be on some sort of post-Dvorak grumpy mid week comedown Grin.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 26/07/2022 08:46

Déploration Sur la Mort de Jehan Ockeghem: Josquin des Prez.

I like this choral piece. It's suitably somber. I found the notes interesting too. The invention of the printing press was such a significant event in the history of music.

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 25/07/2022 08:48

Nocturne: Maria Szymanowska.

This is a charming piece of music, but it has depth too, particularly in the minor section. It does remind me of Chopin's music. I like this a lot. I can imagine it being played in a salon.

Poor Maria Szymanowska to have died of cholera; presumably taken before her time.

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 24/07/2022 12:09

You are very welcome @AKnitterofThings !

I'd say just make a habit of listening daily.
I usually listen and post on the thread early on. I often listen to the next day's as well or two or three ahead, because sometimes a piece is an instant like or I know it already, but other pieces need more time before I start to appreciate them. I play Wordle or I read while I listen to music.

I hope you enjoy the experience!

OP posts:
AKnitterofThings · 24/07/2022 11:45

I know I am jumping in mid year but I am still excited! My book is arriving tomorrow and I have saved the Apple Music playlist. Is there anything else I need to do? Apart from listen that is 😂

bibliomania · 24/07/2022 10:54

I enjoyed learning about the Chevalier see Saint-Georges - that definitely heightened my appreciated.

I liked the Firsova, although I don't particularly require any discordant elements.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 24/07/2022 09:35

Stabat Mater: Alissa Firsova.

I think that this is a piece of music that needs time to get to know properly. I think it could grow on me. It has some very fine moments. I like that it isn't too discordant; just enough to create a little tension.

On Spotify, this is taken from an album that has a few versions of 'Stabat Mater' by various composers. It could be interesting to listen to.

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 23/07/2022 14:35

Am behind again so just marking my place on the new thread.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 23/07/2022 09:16

Symphony in G Major Op 11 No. 1. First Movement, Allegro: Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

This is perfectly pleasant to listen to and it is certainly reminiscent of Mozart and Haydn. It pales in comparison to other pieces that we have been listening to recently, which have been very colourful.
However, it's good to have a range of music to listen to. It can't be exciting all the time.

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 23/07/2022 09:05

The Guebrou I wasn't bothered about. The relaxed feel was lovely, but the lack of movement or structure left it feeling a bit backgroundy for me.

Today's piece is the Allegro from Symphony in G major, op. 11 no. 1 by Joseph de Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Not my cup of tea, I'm afraid.The big, very symphonic, classical era stuff is my least favourite classical music - I can't get on with most Mozart and Haydn stuff either.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 22/07/2022 19:41

I never heard of the term Éthiopique before.
I agree, that would be a brilliant idea for a book. I would definitely be interested in it.

OP posts:
bibliomania · 22/07/2022 10:23

Really liked today's - I've listened to some Ethiopiques before now and I recognized the style. I'd like to explore more world music as well as classical music - free idea for another book, if someone wants to give it a go!

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 22/07/2022 09:37

bibliomania · 18/07/2022 19:53

Agree that this was a majestic start and I liked the notes. I felt pleased that my soul was worthy of such an epic battle.

Just read this 😁

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 22/07/2022 09:22

The Homeless Wanderer: Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou.

I really enjoyed listening to this. It's a contemplative piece of music. I'm not hearing the classical influences that Clemency refers to. It suggests a jazz improvisation around a theme to me.
I enjoyed this and Guèbrou's life sounds like it would be an interesting biography to read too.

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 21/07/2022 13:41

Thanks for the recommendation TheTurn. That video was hilarious. How did they get even close to the tune on those tiny instruments!

Yes, it has a brilliant part for the viola.
I played it through once, back in the day.
It has been great to hear this work again.
I'll revisit it more often!

OP posts:
TheTurn0fTheScrew · 21/07/2022 11:54

I love the American quartet to bits. I prefer the first and third movements though, both of which are on my current playlist. Great to hear the viola getting so much of the action. The whole piece has such a great energy.

If you fancy a laugh TwoSet violin did a youtube video where they performed it on decreasing sized instruments, starting on full size and finishing on 1/16th.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 21/07/2022 08:43

String Quartet No.12 in F Major 'American', 4th Mvt: Dvořàk.

This is an old favourite of mine, so I was very pleased to listen to it again.

I love the lyricism and the energy of this movement and in the quartet as a whole. I definitely recommend listening to the entire work if you like this. The second movement is beautifully haunting.

The quartet on the Spotify recording is excellent.

OP posts:
bibliomania · 20/07/2022 19:29

I'm a bit wary of piano concertos but this one was lovely.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 20/07/2022 11:17

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, 2nd Movement, Romance (Larghetto): Chopin.

This is lovely. It's quiet, calm and restful. Good music to play if you want something soothing. The muted strings and the silvery notes of the piano make me think of a moonlit garden.

OP posts:
bibliomania · 19/07/2022 14:29

Quite a contrast to yesterday's! I wouldn't have guessed the composer. I liked it and I admire his assertion of the dignity of black people - not easy in that time and place.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 19/07/2022 09:34

Three Black Kings - No. 1. King of the Magi: Duke Ellington.

I thought that this is a very exciting piece of music with a strong cinematic feel to it. Very colourful. It held my interest from beginning to end.

I enjoyed reading about Duke Ellington. I had no idea that he was such a prolific composer.

OP posts: