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:
BestIsWest · 31/10/2022 12:52

Thought the Copeland was pretty dull tbh!

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 31/10/2022 11:38

Smetana was rousing and pleasant. I did prefer the more mellifluous flute parts at the start though.

Shamefully I didn’t know the Gershwin, but it was very pretty and easy on the ear. What a perfect first dance song @BestIsWest

Not a massive fan of the Copeland, and it’s pretty overexposed in our house. The 15yo’s borough youth orchestra played it last year, and as one of the principals she practised it to death. I was quite happy not to hear it again after the concert. However she joined a new orchestra in September and guess what they’re currently rehearsing Grin? However if I had to pick a movement it would be this one - the woodwinds do blend beautifully

Today’s piece is Missa Papa Marcelli 1. Kyrie by Palestrina

It’s fine, it’s lovely renaissance choral music, but there was nothing that stood out to me about it.

Favourites for October are Glass, Bridge, Rautavaara, Bach, Puccini, Morley, and Boulanger.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 30/10/2022 10:42

Appalachian Spring 1.: Aaron Copeland.

This is nice, quiet and gently musing. It has a cinematic feel to it. The excerpt is too short to say much else about it!

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/10/2022 20:08

That's lovely, Best.

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 29/10/2022 16:53

Just popping back in to say I have been listening though not every day.
The Gershwin is ‘our tune’ and was our first dance when we got married so is very special to me anyway. Lovely to hear it.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/10/2022 15:58

bibliomania · 29/10/2022 15:53

I'll take your word for it, Fuzzy. I went to ucc and was allegedly present for some of the jazz but recall nothing. Alcohol may have been involved.

I went to UCC too. Happy days.
I remember asking for a pint of Murphy's one time and getting odd looks for not ordering Guinness!

OP posts:
bibliomania · 29/10/2022 15:53

I'll take your word for it, Fuzzy. I went to ucc and was allegedly present for some of the jazz but recall nothing. Alcohol may have been involved.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/10/2022 15:44

The jazz festival is synonymous with heavy rain as per tradition, Biblio and it would be the same if you didn't squelch from one venue to the next :)

OP posts:
bibliomania · 29/10/2022 15:21

It's all about learning to dance in the rain, Fuzzy...

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/10/2022 15:18

Yes, Biblio ;) it's a lovely day if you avoid the heavy downpours showers!* *

OP posts:
bibliomania · 29/10/2022 14:51

Celebrating by the Lee, Fuzzy?

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/10/2022 10:55

I've just remembered that the annual jazz festival is on this weekend, so Gershwin is very appropriate :)* *

OP posts:
bibliomania · 29/10/2022 10:29

Agree that the Gershwin was a treat on a rainy October weekend morning.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 29/10/2022 10:18

Yes, I also loved the Gershwin/Turrin.
A joy to listen to.

OP posts:
AliasGrape · 29/10/2022 09:54

I loved the Smetana and though I was only sorting washing this morning, I felt it was a suitably rousing accompaniment. One of the longer pieces (anything over 4 minutes goes in this category for me!) that when I see the time I always think oh dear, I’ll either get bored or just forget to listen whilst I do something else. Neither happened here, it was very engaging.

I LOVE Someone To Watch Over Me, I’d never have thought of it as classical really but this book/ year is expanding my understanding. This Turrin arrangement was just beautiful and I will be listening to this a few more times today I think.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 28/10/2022 18:50

I'm really fond of the Smetana and know it well. The viola part is good and fun to play :) I was very pleased to see it featured on the playlist.

This is a very colourful piece of music with a lot of contrasts in mood and tone. I like your description of it Biblio. It's definitely majestic but its also playful and tender at times. It's a piece that holds your interest. I love the rise and fall of the melody that mirrors the swell of the river as a motif throughout the piece. It ends on such a joyful note and it's a pleasure to listen to from start to finish.

It never occurred to me that there are other movements to listen to. I always thought of it as a stand-alone piece. I'm curious about them now.

OP posts:
bibliomania · 28/10/2022 18:05

The Paganini was warm and cosy.

Today's Ma vlast 2. Vlatava by Smetana was not warm and cosy, but a castle with all flags flying. I was surprised how much I liked it. I now need to go to Prague and stride along with this in my ears.

AliasGrape · 27/10/2022 19:46

The Beamish wasn't for me at all, agree that it sounded like tuning up

Scarlatti was lovely and calm

Paganini - this was also lovely, still felt quite romantic but not OTT

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 27/10/2022 13:31

Wee catch up from me:
Pachelbel is objectively nice, but for me overexposed. And imagine being the cellist stuck with those eight notes...
Also not liking the Malibran
Beamish I didn't get on with. Sounded like tuning up.
Scarlatti was lovely. Calming but still lots of interest. Will listen again.

Today's Paganini was a pleasant surprise. I'm used to his stuff sounding tricksy for the sake of it, and it's nice to here that the old devil had a softer side.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 27/10/2022 10:35

bibliomania · 26/10/2022 21:26

I thought it was pleasant but unmemorable, although I was cooking so may not have given it the attention it deserved.

I don't think it was particularly memorable Biblio, but it was pleasant to listen to.

Cantabile: Niccolò Paganini.

This piece is also pleasant to listen to and continues the restful vibe following yesterday's Scarlatti. I think it's warm and lyrical and I might prefer the chilled-out, informal Paganini to the usual fiery extrovert one based on this.

OP posts:
bibliomania · 26/10/2022 21:26

I thought it was pleasant but unmemorable, although I was cooking so may not have given it the attention it deserved.

Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 26/10/2022 10:15

Sonata in A Major: Domenico Scarlatti.

I liked this. I thought it was quiet and restful. Interesting point about Scarlatti crossing over between the Baroque and classical eras. It does remind me of both; a rather expressive melodic line but pared back and expressed in a clean, precise way.

OP posts:
Original poster
IsFuzzyBeagMise · 25/10/2022 19:40

I liked the Beamish, but agree that it's a piece that you need to be in the mood to listen to.
I thought the story was good about her daughter making her a viola to replace the one that was stolen from her.

OP posts:
bibliomania · 25/10/2022 18:16

Gala Water, by Sally Beamish
I didn't love this. I could see, once it was pointed out, how it tried to convey the pain and rupture of loss, but I'm not in the mood.

bibliomania · 24/10/2022 21:31

The Malibran was amusing but I wouldn't rush to hear it again.