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.

Today's was different! I didn't love it but it was quite interesting and as I'm listening on YouTube via the TV I quite enjoyed watching the guitarist too.

I was surprised when todays started because it was very different. It was okay - I think I had higher hopes for it because of the explanation in the book.

Today's mainly reminded me of Kraftwerk. Which is no bad thing.

Very interesting. I get the Kraftwerk reference. Made me think of trains, mainly being on the platform in our little station and express trains hurtling through. I don’t love it but liked it enough to listen to the other movements.

I actively disliked it and found that it was getting on my nerves.

Oh interesting re Kraftwerk, I didn't pick that up on my first listen but will keep an ear out.

I listened to another group today. Really enjoyed the Albinoni and LOVED the Steve Reich. There's another piece of his I listen to a lot (Music for Eighteen Musicians) and I like all the minimalists as a rule,.so it was great to be introduced to something new.

@BestIsWest

Very interesting. I get the Kraftwerk reference. Made me think of trains, mainly being on the platform in our little station and express trains hurtling through. I don’t love it but liked it enough to listen to the other movements.

BestIsWest sounds as though you might perhaps enjoy Reich's Different Trains ?

I was given this for Christmas an really enjoying it. A lot of Messiaen - but surely just crazy coincidence when looking at various dates.

Such a great idea.

I noticed the write up for Different Trains Grawlix when I looked up this piece so I just had a listen. Thank you. It was weirdly wonderful.

Schubert: An die Musik. It's a pleasant song. That is all (as per the notes!) It's good to have the verse and its translation though. It definitely helps to know what is being sung.

Soyabean I hope you're feeling a bit better today.

@PermanentTemporary

I listened to another group today. Really enjoyed the Albinoni and LOVED the Steve Reich. There's another piece of his I listen to a lot (Music for Eighteen Musicians) and I like all the minimalists as a rule,.so it was great to be introduced to something new.

I’m just listening to that now, really enjoying it!

Schubert today - it was nice. I can’t think of anything else to say about it really!

@AliasGrape

Schubert today - it was nice. I can’t think of anything else to say about it really!

Neither can I!

It might be a unanimous decision

I’m not so keen on today’s. This kind of voice just ain’t my cup of tea. I’m listening to some more though, enjoying educating myself.
Thank you @IsFuzzyBeagMise I do feel a bit more energetic today. Have managed a walk.

I rather liked An Die Musik - very pretty melody.
Interested to know which recordings people went for. I chose Bryn Terfel. However if anyone fancies a cello version, the beautiful very talented Kian Soltani has recorded a lovely arrangement.

I like this one m.youtube.com/watch?v=t7d-InYHuts

Ooh, A Bryn Terfel version! I much preferred that. I’ve listened to a few versions now sung by men in different ranges and preferred them over the version on the Spotify playlist.

Also going to break with the almost unanimous ranks. I didn’t like it at all. I found her voice to be shreaky. I did like (the translation of the) words of the piece though.

Hindemith: Trauermusik. It's good to hear the viola; it isn't often in the limelight. This piece is suitably dark, mournful and sombre, in keeping with the occasion of the death of King George V. It's very impressive how Hindemith wrote it in the space of a day or so.
The introduction reminds me of the music of 'The Crown', probably because of Clemency's notes. I wouldn't list it as a favourite piece even though I play viola. It doesn't draw me in. I feel I would need to spend a lot of time with this piece and it may grow on me more.

Sorry if I've missed this in the thread, but how much time does this take up in your day, for both the reading and listening? I like the sound of it if it's a coffee break kind of commitment, but couldn't manage a symphony a day.

@greypot

Sorry if I've missed this in the thread, but how much time does this take up in your day, for both the reading and listening? I like the sound of it if it's a coffee break kind of commitment, but couldn't manage a symphony a day.

About ten minutes! It's quite short.

@greypot

Sorry if I've missed this in the thread, but how much time does this take up in your day, for both the reading and listening? I like the sound of it if it's a coffee break kind of commitment, but couldn't manage a symphony a day.

Greypot, it's very much a coffee break thing, which is why it's so good. The notes are a few paragraphs, and off the top of my head I reckon nothing yet has broken the 9 minute barrier. Often single movements of concerti have been chosen - we've not had a symphony yet but my guess is when we do it will be a single movement. Join us!

Thanks @IsFuzzyBeagMise and @TheTurn0fTheScrew this sounds perfect. I'm going to order the book.