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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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'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).

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

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

Yes. It really suits the cello.

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.

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.

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 :)

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.

Raga Piloo: Shankar, Menuhin.

This is something new for the playlist! Very interesting indeed. I enjoyed it. I wondered to what extent this was composed as a piece and if there was a degree of improvisation as they played it. It sounds to me that the first part of the piece might have some improvisation, but it's hard to say as it's note-perfect.

An excellent collaboration of two musical maestros. I would listen to more of this.

Apologies, I've got behind due to half-term. Will aim to catch up with you all soon.

Just catching up and really enjoying the Satie.
I don’t have the excuse of half term as my youngest is 24 and about to leave home!

Bored by the Tippett but hugely enjoying the Glinka. Very Jolly.

I really enjoyed the Ribers no 8 and will also seek out more.

Khatchaturian - Spartacus aka The Onedin Line of early 70s Sunday night telly, beautiful though it is, unfortunately brings back memories of being very small, of weekly Sunday night baths and having my hair tightly wrapped into rags.

Caught up rather too hastily to do the pieces justice. Glinka - not normally my sort of thing but the joyful speed appealed to me. The Ribers was fine, fairly generic folk. I do like some folk but it's more likely to be Irish - right now I'm a bit obsessed with Port na bPuca (the Fairy's Lament) as I recently visited the place where it was composed.

Spartacus - I'm slightly too young for the Onedin Line but I've heard the music and I'm glad to be able to put a name to the piece. It wears its heart on its sleeve and sometimes that's what you want.

Raga Piloo - interesting to listen to something a bit different and have your horizons expanded.

Abendlied: Schumann

This is beautiful; a little gem of a piece.
Originally written for piano, it sounds lovely too on violin and cello.
Moving words from Clemency on the life of Schumann. He really did write from the heart.

Shankar/ Menuhin - didn't like this one. I thought when the percussion first came in hard and fast that it was going to turn into more of a banger, but it died away, and the call and response structure got on my wick a bit by the end.

Schumann - What a lovely, tranquil, soothing melody. I went off-piste with this one and chose an oboe version.

Great to hear everyone's reactions as usual :)

The Schumann was lovely.