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.

I don't love it as much as Nina Simone singing "I loves you Porgy". That sends shivers down my spine.

I adore the Louis Armstrong/ Ella Fitzgerald version. Perfection.

Just when I was on a roll of listening/ reading the notes daily I left my bloody kindle at the in-laws. My phone is too ancient and shit with storage to cope
with the app, so I will wait until I can get it back, hopefully tomorrow, to catch up on the last few days. I know I could listen without reading the notes, but I prefer to do it together!

Nocturno Op. 7: Franz Strauss.

This is a lovely piece of music; expressive, lyrical and charming. It's very nice to hear the French horn as solo instrument. * *It's a nice change. A 'slice of mellow gold' definitely.

String Quartet no. 60 in G Major 1st Mvt.: Haydn.

I thought this was a very enjoyable piece to listen to. It's cheerful, bright and jaunty.
Easy listening with some really lovely moments in the development section.

Joplin I liked a lot - stylish, relaxed and fun. Mendelssohn was pretty but unmemorable. Gershwin I disliked. I think I couldn't get my head around the match of the very classical/operatic voices, and the jazzier melodies and instrumentation. Elgar was fine, but didn't blow me away, unlike the first movement of that concerto which is a proper banger.

The Strauss I found pretty bland. I'm not convinced about the French horn as a solo instrument TBH.

I was surprised that I liked today's Haydn. I think I'd only even heard his symphonies before, and put them in the Mozart-classical-by-numbers box. It's sophisticated, and with lots of interesting contrasts.

I didn’t like the operatic version of the Gershwin much either but the Armstrong/Fitzgerald version was fabulous , I love them both though so I am biased.

I like the tune of the Strauss but agree about the French horn. Better on a cello or an oboe maybe?

Haydn, not too keen.

Sonatine M. 40, 2. Mouvement de Menuet: Ravel.

This is lovely. It does grow on you. I like the unexpected harmonic dissonances which make the piece interesting. And the grand sweeping statement at the end gives it a lovely flourish.

Mendelssohn - I wasn’t specific enough in my YouTube search and ended up listening to the one in D Major, played by Jacqueline Du Pre on cello and accompanied by her mother on piano. I loved that one, was busy adding it to my favourites list then realised it was the wrong one 😆 Today’s actual entry is nice too, but I preferred the cello. I’d like to listen to some more of these though.

Gershwin I’m familiar with a few of the songs from Porgy and Bess, not so much this one though although I have heard it. I really liked it, and I listened to the operatic version. I should really try to watch the full production somehow. I also listened to the operatic version of Summertime (Adina Aaron the soprano) which I enjoyed too, though the Ella version is my favourite still.

Strauss This was lovely, I actually really enjoyed the French Horn. It was so mellow and warm.

Haydn - I enjoyed this more than I was expecting to actually, very cheerful. I’m not quite sure what happened after the 3rd minute that Clemency is so obsessed with though!

Ravel - This was nice too. Took me a bit to get into but agree with Fuzzy it grows on you.

What a great run of pieces!

Three Latin Motets from 'The Last Supper': Harrison Birtwistle.

Birtwistle died on the 22nd of April this year.

These motets are certainly atmospheric.
I don't particularly enjoy listening to them, however.

Canarios: Traditional Improvisation by Jordi Savall.

I love this. It's so energetic and joyful.
I came across the music of Savall fairly recently and I just love it. I stumbled across a rendition of an Irish tune that sounded perfect on the viol.

I also enjoyed reading the notes about 'the Canary'. Some things don't change :)

I'll start a new thread soon, when this runs out, but I don't know how to link threads.

Not been on much lately, but hopping on to say I really liked the last two (Birtwistle and the Canario) in different ways.

Hi Fuzzy, please do kick us off with another thread. I think you can just copy the link to this thread and use the link icon underneath this box.

Ravel - I watched on YouTube and some comments made a connection with the soundtracks for Studio Ghibli films. I think this was a way in for me to appreciate the otherworldly dreaminess and delicacy.

The Birtwistle - I'm here for a bit of Renaissance-style polyphony, do yes, this is what I want from classical music.

Canarios - lovely.

Tabakova - pleasant but I find the piano less exciting.

Nocturne: Dobrinka Tabakova.

I really like this. The rippling effect of the rhythm is rather dreamlike and gentle at first but there is a change of mood which rocks the dreamboat (!) until it settles again.
It feels fresh to me in spite of the fact that the nocturne has been around for a while. It also feels heartfelt for all that it's a short piece of music.

Year of Wonder (Part Two)

New Thread, everyone!

Thank you for the info, Biblio!
My first time doing that. Amazed at myself :)