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

[MamaNewtNewt]

This thread is for the 50 bookers (or in fact anyone else who wants to join in!) who are reading Year of Wonder: Classical Music for Everyday by Clemency Burton-Hill.

The author has selected one piece of music for each day in the year, and includes a brief overview of the piece and the composer to provide some context. There's a playlist on Spotify and we can share links to each piece of music for those without access to Spotify.

I think most of us are planning on (roughly) sticking to the daily setup but feel free to read / listen ahead although the discussions are likely to stay around the music for the current date.

Thanks to @TheTurn0fTheScrew for bringing this book to our attention on the thread. Really looking forward to hearing everyone's thoughts.

Today’s was lovely I thought, however like Best I find it quite hard to distinguish what makes it different/ more modern sounding? I listened to the Byrd again, which I preferred, though once again I seem to lack the terminology to explain why.

I can see how it layered the voices and built to a climax in a similar way to the Byrd, but ‘tone clusters built from a germ of the harmonic language of the Byrd’ is a bit beyond my musical comprehension still!

I really liked todays but I definitely didn't feel this was modern. Again I can imagine it being sung in a medieval church (how much do I want to listen to some music in a medieval church ) and it put me in mind of some of the music in Lord of the Rings.

I enjoy hearing all of your views, those where there's obviously some musical knowledge behind them and those that are a bit more straightforward, like mine. Even if all I can articulate is whether or not I like it and how it makes me feel I reckon that is ok. I know we've got different levels of music knowledge on this chat but as someone who also doesn't know what is meant by different keys etc. I'm just seeing this as a chance to listen to some different music and maybe pick up a little knowledge along the way. Think of what we've already listened to and learned so far this year, so what if some of us don't get all the technical stuff

I’m listening to todays for the third time, and think it is starting to appeal more to me. I like medieval church music too, but am finding this harder to enjoy.
Funny about all the musical kids. Seeing how much fun mine got from playing music inspired me to join a community choir a few years ago which has been great fun even for a very average and underconfident singer!

I love hearing every response to these pieces. The most lovely of all the responses have been when people have shared personal connections to a piece, whether the piece has create a mood or mindscape, or reminds them of a time, place or person.

I enjoyed today's piece, and thought it did feel more modern than the Byrd. I think tone clusters means using adjacent notes on a scale, which gives rise to what I think of as the beautifully unsettling, almost dissonant harmonies here, as opposed to the more traditionally beautiful note intervals employed by Byrd. Hopefully one of the thread's actual musicians will come along to tell me how wrong I've got it!

@MsNorth Oh the choir sounds fun! I might have to think about joining one as I love to sing even if I'm not that good (my husband think I am but in his case love is tone deaf )

@TheTurn0fTheScrew Yes really good point, the personal connection stories have been lovely. Thanks to those who have shared them.

@MamaNewtNewt you should! It’s a wonderful feeling to sing in a group. If you find one that’s part of the natural voice network, they run on very inclusive principles and don’t expect musical knowledge or perfection. No auditions or solo singing. And yet the resulting sounds are wonderful!

I am loving this thread. I love learning about something I know nothing about and enjoying trying to decipher the technical stuff and like TheTurnOfTheScrew I love reading everyone’s responses whether emotional or musical.

I admit to envy of those of you who can play an instrument or sing. London’s Burning on the recorder is about my limit!

I do want to understand more - my logical brain taking over there. Have downloaded a sample of Gareth Malone’s book on Classical music to see how I get on.

I also agree whole heartedly with enjoying everyone’s responses and the diversity expressed.

This thread epitomises unity not uniformity x

Today's piece is Nocturne for violin and piano, by Lili Boulanger

This is one I know, and which I have on my current classical playlist - early 20th century is one of my favourite periods. I love it. The violin is alternately restrained and then soaring. The melody is beautifully wistful. I had no idea that Lili died so young, but she certainly left her mark.

I thought it was beautiful. It had a yearning quality and the resolution was so peaceful. It's a piece that I would like to try and learn to play.

I hadn't heard of either of the Boulanger sisters. Lilli's story is so sad.

Lovely and so sad to hear her story. Imagine what she could have achieved.

Today's nocturne was lovely, it got 3 back to back listens from me. Made me think of a beautiful cool body of water (the piano ) with with bird swooping and soaring overhead (violin). Don't know if that makes sense but it's the picture that came into my head!

I loved the beginning with the repeated quiet piano notes. Very sad, very lovely. And interesting to read about the two sisters.

Really beautiful piece.

Have you listened Clemency Burton Hill’s episode on the How to Fail Podcast with Elizabeth Day?

I listened to it right at the end of 202, choosing it by random, as I had never heard the podcast or of Clemency Burton Hill. I got the book the next day.

I thought todays was beautiful, in a melancholic way.

Liszt 6 Consolations no. 3 in D d flat major

I feel like a child that has just had a hug from its mother.

I know what you mean. It made me feel all relaxed and comforted, like a toasty cinnamon bun.

Can we join please? My son loves classical music

@Mama1980

Can we join please? My son loves classical music

Of course! Very welcome :)

An absolutely beautiful piece of music. Sublime.
I love your descriptions. I see sunshine through raindrops, particularly towards the end .The piece is in a minor key which hives gives it its sad, reflective mood and Liszt changes key very subtly into a major key, only for an instant, weaving in and out from minor to major and back again, giving that dappled effect of light on shadow. Perfect.

Welcome @Mama1980

Ahh, this is lovely. Soft and gentle and soothing.

Thank you everyone

Bernstein: Symphonic Dances (Mambo)

I enjoyed this piece, but more on subsequent listenings than first time round. The opening always gives me a start after the serenity of the Liszt :) It's so loud and discordant! I think Bernstein uses dissonance throughout this piece. It's very well done. Lots of syncopated rhythms too. Altogether, a fun, lively, captivating piece of music. I listened to the other movements of the suite earlier. I skipped over two but I enjoyed the rest.

Great fun, toe tapping. I know this one as my parents had the recording - they saw the musical on honeymoon in 1961 and It was a favourite of DMs.