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 thought today's was very pretty - part Faure, part Gregorian chant - but not memorable.

I liked yesterdays and I liked todays.

I thought it was lovely. Again, it's the human voice that touches me.

Mendelssohn: Octet in E-Flat major, first movement. I like this a lot. Its main theme is so jubilant. Apparently, Mendelssohn was the first to come up with this formation, the octet, in chamber music. Four violins, two violas and two cellos. Up to then, it was predominantly a string quartet (two violins, viola and cello). He said he wanted it to be played in the style of a symphony. It has been adapted for a full string orchestra. It would definitely lend itself to that, adding more players to each part. Overall, it's pleasant piece of music, well structured, balanced and he was only sixteen when he wrote it!

I very much enjoyed today’s. Quite joyous and uplifting. I liked that it instead exactly the time it took me to drink my coffee.
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Today's left me quite unmoved I'm afraid. I've really surprised myself by not particularly enjoying the strings so far (well that's not true Iiked the lute and really love classical guitar -but the other strings!) I always love to hear them live - maybe it's that I'm not finding the best recordings?

There was nothing not to like, it just didn't spark joy

Ooh I’ve not found Monday and Tuesday very interesting but todays was fab - I could definitely ‘hear the joy’. Cannot believe he was 16!

Hello all
I’d love to join you. My copy of the book arrived today and I’m catching up with the music, the notes and this thread.
I’m at home recovering from Covid for probably two more weeks so have lots of time to get into this.
Thanks, great idea.

Hi soyabean welcome to the thread. Get well soon!

Like Alias, the strings aren't doing it for me. I do like a cello, but violins leave me cold.

Loved the Mendelssohn Octet. My personal tastes veer more towards classical/20th century, and strings or woodwind, so I was definitely predisposed to liking this. The light, youthful joy is glorious. I'm listening to the other movements now.

Hi all, I only started listening a few days ago, so I'm trying to listen to a couple of pieces a day to catch up. Annoyingly, Amazon music doesn't have a playlist, but I've found everything so far.
I have hardly any knowledge of classical music, which I find frustrating, especially when watching quizzes! I'm up to the 6th, and I've really enjoyed everything so far.

Im tending to catch up a few days at a time. Once again I find that I am not a massive Mendehlssohn fan. Shame but he doesn't quite reach me. I love the Kapsberger piece from ?the 10th and am playing it again. Beautiful.

I wish the Spotify playlist I found had the days marked on it [lazy]

I agree about wishing the Spotify playlist had the days marked! It’s going to be tricky later in the year.

I think on Spotify you can make that playlist your own play list and then delete songs as you go (which would be a nice way to keep the ones you like). Although am a bit rusty

Hello everyone and hope you feel better soon Soyabean and the music helps lift you.

Oh my word. I loved loved loved today.

It was like that glorious dusky time, where the day has been so hot, and you go for an evening walk in the countryside and you can smell the greenery and you are just ‘being’ and there is still a long time left of summer.

I don’t think I have ever heard a piece of music like this before.

That's a lovely description, Cherry!

If anyone follows Simon @savidgereads on Instagram he is partaking too, sharing his thoughts on stories most days.

Clara Schumann: Three Romances, Andante Molto. This is a short, but sweet piece of music. It's wistful and charming. I like it a lot. It's nice to hear the clarinet as solo instrument. The piece suits it well. It's music for listening to on a Sunday afternoon, reading a book and sitting by the fire.

I was reading about Clara Schumann. What a full life she had. In my music book she was only a footnote alongside Robert Schumann, saying that she was a concert pianist with no mention of her compositions. I wonder how many other talented women there were who were never recognized.

Thank you palegreenstars, I’ve just followed him.

I wanted to like today’s. I liked the melody but I just didn’t like the clarinet. This is going to sound ridiculous but I felt it sounded as if it needed oiling., as though it needed to be more free flowing.

@Palegreenstars

If anyone follows Simon *@savidgereads* on Instagram he is partaking too, sharing his thoughts on stories most days.

Thanks, Palegreenstars. I'm not on Instagram, unfortunately.

@BestIsWest

Thank you palegreenstars, I’ve just followed him.

I wanted to like today’s. I liked the melody but I just didn’t like the clarinet. This is going to sound ridiculous but I felt it sounded as if it needed oiling., as though it needed to be more free flowing.

The flute, in comparison, is more fluid in tone, I think.

Is the flute higher or in the same register? Is register even the right word? I tell you, I know nothing.

And thank you IsFuzzyBeagMise! Fluid is the word I was looking for but obviously failed to find.

The flute has a low, middle and high register, but plays equally well either in the middle or high range. The clarinet plays better in the middle range. It did play some high notes in today's piece but is better suited to the middle range. The flute is more able to play high notes easily and in a more sustained way.
I'm not a woodwind player, so that's how I understand it. I'm totally open to correction!