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'm just catching up with the Messaien from yesterday. I knew the story of this piece from Suzy Klein's brilliant series Tunes for Tyrants, which I would totally recommend if it's still on iPlayer.

It's good to be reminded of how beautiful and tragic this is. I left it until today when I knew I would have some time alone to concentrate properly and absorb it. One that stops you in your tracks, particularly the long crescendo about 2/3rds of the way in. The resolution at the end feels like a tiny glimmer of hope.

Definitely, TheTurn0fTheScrew. It certainly does.

Todays was ok, quite enjoyed but didn’t really leave me wanting more.

Not a fan of today's especially. Nothing Wrong with it, but didn't find it sparked joy, or indeed any other emotional response.

I enjoyed yesterday’s Scriabin piece, but I had to listen to it again this morning as I couldn’t remember much about it.

The oboe piece today was beautiful, I really enjoyed it. It made me think of springtime and the countryside and lots of lovely pastoral images, but that may just have been because the notes mentioned shepherds

I agree the Scriabin was nice to listen to but hasn’t made any real impression on me. The Albinoni is gorgeous. Will listen to more of his music today.
Thank you so much for this thread and the book recommendation. I can tell it will be what I think of when I remember these days at home recovering from covid!

Albinoni: Oboe Concerto. I love it. It's a gorgeous piece of music. It makes me feel instantly relaxed; it's so calm and serene.

I agree the Albinoni is lovely and I will listen again. It's exactly the kind of music I like. I surprised myself by quite liking the Puccini but unfortunately didn't take to the Scriabin and just couldn't get on with the Messiaen at all although I really did do my best to listen carefully. The story behind the piece is haunting and I would like to know more.

I am enjoying this process but feel like such an amateur with it all and rarely have anything intelligent to say about the music other than I enjoyed it, or didn't. Perhaps this will improve!

I feel the same way WhippetWoman I have nothing to say about todays except that I enjoyed it. I’m enjoying the process though.

I wasn't keen on todays but I think that was more to do with the oboe than the tune.

Usually I just think I like it not. I have never thought about it before but I am really enjoying the experience too.

I thought that todays one made me think of summer and green fields too! It also made me feel like I was being washing in cool refreshing water!

I got the right day today as well 😉

Morten Lauridsen: Chanson des Roses, no. 5. This is beautiful, I love it. It's like a balm for the soul, it's so soothing. If I make a playlist of favourites from these pieces, this will be on it.

I totally agree, very soothing. I wasn't as keen when the men were singing on their own but that's a minor part.

just catching up on yesterday's.
I thought it was fine, nothing special, a bit Baroque by numbers. I do love a bit of oboe, but didn't think the piece showed it off as well as it might.

Gorgeous, I loved it. I got a shiver down my spine when the men came in on their own. I love those deep bass? Baritone? voices.
Definitely preferring the vocal pieces so far, followed by cello.

Today’s was beautiful and easily my favourite so far. I’ve just listened to it 3 times through whilst DD naps on me.

I wonder though if it’s because it sounds quite similar/ comparable to music I listen to more often if that makes sense - I could easily imagine that melody in a modern pop song or in musical theatre - wouldn’t be quite as beautiful as the lovely choral versions maybe. Once again my complete lack of knowledge/ vocabulary is letting me down on what I want to say. It might be something as simple as it’s a more modern piece maybe.

Dirait-on wasn't my cup of tea, I'm afraid. I have a bit of a mental block with more modern music sung in a very classical style. Reminded me of the Vicar of Dibley.

that being said, I think it's good to listen to stuff outside my comfort zone. they won't all be winners, but some will.

It's interesting to hear of everyone's reactions, they vary quite a bit! This one just melted my heart. I must look up the theme tune of 'The Vicar of Dibley'
I was just going to say in response to AliasGrape that it is quite modern, composed in 1993. Lauridsen started composing in the late 1960s.

I liked today's. Nice and gentle.

Really liked the Albinoni piece (which I think I may have heard before). I enjoyed listening to Dirait-on, but not as much.

Reich: Electric Counterpoint 1. Interesting! This is far from what I usually listen to. I wouldn't call it a mood-booster personally, although it is bright and lively. I'll listen to more of it later on. I'm not very knowledgeable about Reich or most modern composers.

I wouldn't choose to listen to today's selection again. I do prefer the 3rd movement (Fast again), which I think is because it sounds like a more traditional jazz guitar piece and feels more accessible. Or it might be because it's sampled on The Orb's Little Fluffy Clouds .

Not what I was expecting at all (especially as I listened before reading about it) but I quite liked it.

I don’t feel in the mood for it today (tired, achey) but would definitely try it another time!