Year of Wonder: Classical Music For Every Day (Part Two)

[IsFuzzyBeagMise]

Year of Wonder (Part One)

New thread to accompany the book Year of Wonder by Clemency Burton Hill.

All welcome to join in.

Thanks @IsFuzzyBeagMise

Mozart's Requiem is a pretty good way to start a new thread! I know it is sacrilegious to say so but I am not the biggest Mozart fan. This, though, there's no arguing with.

Thanks Fuzzy! Haven't listened yet but will do so this evening.

Requiem in D Minor-Introitus: Mozart.

This is such an impressive work and the introductory movement here is amazing. I was lucky to have played it once during my orchestra years and I have never forgotten how brilliant it is. I must go back and listen to the entire requiem again soon.

The text in the notes gave me the chills. Wow indeed.

A brilliant piece to start the new thread with :)

Agree that this was a majestic start and I liked the notes. I felt pleased that my soul was worthy of such an epic battle.

Thank you for the new thread @IsFuzzyBeagMise!

Ravel is probably one of my favourite composers and the Sonatine a few days ago did not disappoint. Shining and elegant.

Birtwistle I didn’t enjoy. Not fussed about Savell either.

The Tabakova was beautiful. Quiet and understated and calming.

I really am not a massive fan of Mozart, but will gladly make an exception for the Requiem.

Three Black Kings - No. 1. King of the Magi: Duke Ellington.

I thought that this is a very exciting piece of music with a strong cinematic feel to it. Very colourful. It held my interest from beginning to end.

I enjoyed reading about Duke Ellington. I had no idea that he was such a prolific composer.

Quite a contrast to yesterday's! I wouldn't have guessed the composer. I liked it and I admire his assertion of the dignity of black people - not easy in that time and place.

Piano Concerto No. 1 in E Minor, 2nd Movement, Romance (Larghetto): Chopin.

This is lovely. It's quiet, calm and restful. Good music to play if you want something soothing. The muted strings and the silvery notes of the piano make me think of a moonlit garden.

I'm a bit wary of piano concertos but this one was lovely.

String Quartet No.12 in F Major 'American', 4th Mvt: Dvořàk.

This is an old favourite of mine, so I was very pleased to listen to it again.

I love the lyricism and the energy of this movement and in the quartet as a whole. I definitely recommend listening to the entire work if you like this. The second movement is beautifully haunting.

The quartet on the Spotify recording is excellent.

I love the American quartet to bits. I prefer the first and third movements though, both of which are on my current playlist. Great to hear the viola getting so much of the action. The whole piece has such a great energy.

If you fancy a laugh TwoSet violin did a youtube video where they performed it on decreasing sized instruments, starting on full size and finishing on 1/16th.

Thanks for the recommendation TheTurn. That video was hilarious. How did they get even close to the tune on those tiny instruments!

Yes, it has a brilliant part for the viola.
I played it through once, back in the day.
It has been great to hear this work again.
I'll revisit it more often!

The Homeless Wanderer: Emahoy Tsegué-Maryam Guèbrou.

I really enjoyed listening to this. It's a contemplative piece of music. I'm not hearing the classical influences that Clemency refers to. It suggests a jazz improvisation around a theme to me.
I enjoyed this and Guèbrou's life sounds like it would be an interesting biography to read too.

Just read this 😁

Really liked today's - I've listened to some Ethiopiques before now and I recognized the style. I'd like to explore more world music as well as classical music - free idea for another book, if someone wants to give it a go!

I never heard of the term Éthiopique before.
I agree, that would be a brilliant idea for a book. I would definitely be interested in it.

The Guebrou I wasn't bothered about. The relaxed feel was lovely, but the lack of movement or structure left it feeling a bit backgroundy for me.

Today's piece is the Allegro from Symphony in G major, op. 11 no. 1 by Joseph de Boulogne, Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Not my cup of tea, I'm afraid.The big, very symphonic, classical era stuff is my least favourite classical music - I can't get on with most Mozart and Haydn stuff either.

Symphony in G Major Op 11 No. 1. First Movement, Allegro: Joseph Boulogne Chevalier de Saint-Georges.

This is perfectly pleasant to listen to and it is certainly reminiscent of Mozart and Haydn. It pales in comparison to other pieces that we have been listening to recently, which have been very colourful.
However, it's good to have a range of music to listen to. It can't be exciting all the time.

Am behind again so just marking my place on the new thread.

Stabat Mater: Alissa Firsova.

I think that this is a piece of music that needs time to get to know properly. I think it could grow on me. It has some very fine moments. I like that it isn't too discordant; just enough to create a little tension.

On Spotify, this is taken from an album that has a few versions of 'Stabat Mater' by various composers. It could be interesting to listen to.

I enjoyed learning about the Chevalier see Saint-Georges - that definitely heightened my appreciated.

I liked the Firsova, although I don't particularly require any discordant elements.

I know I am jumping in mid year but I am still excited! My book is arriving tomorrow and I have saved the Apple Music playlist. Is there anything else I need to do? Apart from listen that is 😂

You are very welcome @AKnitterofThings !

I'd say just make a habit of listening daily.
I usually listen and post on the thread early on. I often listen to the next day's as well or two or three ahead, because sometimes a piece is an instant like or I know it already, but other pieces need more time before I start to appreciate them. I play Wordle or I read while I listen to music.

I hope you enjoy the experience!

Nocturne: Maria Szymanowska.

This is a charming piece of music, but it has depth too, particularly in the minor section. It does remind me of Chopin's music. I like this a lot. I can imagine it being played in a salon.

Poor Maria Szymanowska to have died of cholera; presumably taken before her time.

Déploration Sur la Mort de Jehan Ockeghem: Josquin des Prez.

I like this choral piece. It's suitably somber. I found the notes interesting too. The invention of the printing press was such a significant event in the history of music.