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.

Hello, So I listened to the Bach one and then todays one back to back. The Bach one matched my mood which was a bit fraught and then with the slower piece helped me come down and relax and breathe.

Poulenc: Mélancolie

This is lovely, tender, bittersweet. I'm enjoying listening more to solo piano pieces since the start of the year. I'm usually into strings but I'm definitely appreciating piano and choral music now too.

I love the solo piano. A beautiful piece today and once again knowing the background really does enrich the experience whilst adding to the sadness.

The Poulenc is beautiful, so sad. Certainly tugs at the heart strings.

*John Williams - Theme from Schindler’s List’

Also a beautiful piece of music and moving - it fitted the film so well.

These two pieces go together well.

Yes. I've been trying to listen objectively to the 'theme' without thinking of the film and it's impossible. It's very fitting. Beautifully sad.

The Spheres: Ola Gjeilo

I really like this piece. It has a magical, mystical quality. It shimmers. I find the chorus of 'Kyrie Eleison' towards the end of the piece very moving to listen to. It's very powerful.

I agree, the build up to the chorus at the end was sublime. I really liked this one.

Percy Grainger: Handel in the Strand

This is a pleasant piece of music. It reminds me of music that you might hear at the Proms, while you walk around and have a chat with people. It's nice and cheerful, but it's not going on my favourites list.

I’ve been listening every day but not keeping up here. I enjoyed the Poulenc. Not keen on Handel in the Strand- it seems like something from a musical to me, which would be ok with all the accompanying action but doesn’t stand alone.
I absolutely love The Spheres though. It’s kind of wonderful and terrifying!

I've also been listening even though I'm behind with posting. I liked the Poulenc a lot, but my favourite of the last few days was The Spheres. The piece and the composer were both new to me. It's lovely to hear something contemporary for both voices and orchestra. Will definitely listen to the whole work.

I enjoyed both the Gjeilo and the Grainger. Very different pieces -.from grandeur to playfulness.

I’d been doing so well listening daily, but not so much the last week, just struggled to fit it in somehow which seems crazy considering how short many of the pieces are. A reminder perhaps I need to take a breath and reset a bit.

Anyway I enjoyed hearing the theme from Schindler’s List again, sad as it is and agree it’s impossible to hear without images from the film coming to mind.

The Spheres was just sublime and otherworldly. I’ve realised I need to start recording my favourites in a list or something somewhere so I can go back to them, this will definitely be on there.

The Grainger was cheery and upbeat and it made me laugh when Clemency said she found it cheering when it accompanied her emptying the dishwasher. I’ve developed a bit of an angry response every time I have to empty ours, like FFS AGAIN WITH THIS? (First world problem I know). Perhaps I’ll try playing this in the morning when it inevitably will fall to me again.

Brahms: Ein deutsches Requiem 1: Selig sind, die da Leid tragen

I have listened to this a fair few times. It has taken me a while to get to know it. I think the quiet interludes cause me to lose concentration. It's a long piece too. It might be easier to understand it if I listen to the entire requiem.

The notes were helpful in appreciating Brahms' approach to writing this work and understanding what a requiem meant for him, that it should console the living. The music is tender and empathetic but passionate too.

Today’s made me think of those I have lost (whether it was because of the notes or whether the music would have for me there without I don’t know), and I did find it comforting. I found it beautiful really.

I thought today's was beautiful too.

I enjoyed the Grainger. It made me think of the kind of jolly 1960s British films with Margaret Rutherford on a bicycle that I would have watched as a child.

I was a bit bored by today’s.

Today's almost felt a bit too grand for everyday listening.

I found it hard to connect with it. It might be better to see it performed.
I still have 'Spheres' in my head. I think it's overshadowing it.

Hello, I started a new job and so have been MIA.

I didn’t connect with todays as much as The Theme for Schindler’s List which I loved. I even liked yesterdays more.

I really enjoyed the Gjeilo and it was very evocative of the Northen Lights.

Good luck in your new job Cherryana!

Mozart: Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major, Second Movement

I think this lovely. It's a real pleasure to listen to. I'm loving the piano at the moment and two pianos playing together is even more joyful.

I have a strong feeling that this is the music that I played to DD when she was a newborn nearly eighteen years ago. I bought this CD called 'Mozart for Newborns' or something similar, promising calm, restful nights for me and baby who would absorb the tranquil beauty of the music and sleep through. Sadly, this did not happen. We came home from hospital after a complicated birth. I was exhausted, baby was fretful. After playing the CD for three days and nights I banished the music of Mozart to the cupboard and it never came out again. I think it's still there!

I'm really enjoying the piano pieces. I liked this. You know I'm going to be subjecting the precious firstborn to it daily now in am attempt to 'Mozart Effect' her, shall report back should I notice any signs of budding genius, or indeed any calm restful nights IsFuzzy , we've not had many of those the last 18 months so disappointing to hear it didn't work for you!

Wishing you luck with it AliasGrape! I think I raised the bar a bit too high. Mozart is good, but he's not that good

Today's is Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso by Ennio Morricone
A bit too schmaltzy for me, not keen.

Didn't like the Mozart yesterday. I was a bit bored. I have discussed my Mozart blind-spot before, and fully accept that I am wrong and the world is right.

The Brahms from Monday though...