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.

La Nuit et L'Amour: Augusta Holmès.

It's good to hear that Holmès succeeded where many women did not and she became a prolific composer, writing what she wanted to rather than what was expected of her. Her status as an independent woman of means definitely must have helped.

This piece is pleasant to listen to. It's stirring and passionate with some wistful moments. It reminds me of music for a ballet. That's what came to mind before I read the notes. It's enjoyable, but I don't think I'll list it as one of my favourite pieces this month.

I could see it as the soundtrack to a Doris Day film. Likeable.

The Varese wasn’t for me, though I like the idea of music as organised noises.

Goodness Holmes was a popular woman wasn’t she? She sounds a very interesting character. I thought the piece was lovely.

I read that she put a grave accent on the e in Holmes to make it French :)
Yes, she does sound like an interesting character.

Piano Quintet in F Minor, 1st Mvt.: César Franck.

This is certainly a very passionate and turbulent piece of music. If it reflects Franck's feelings for Holmès, she certainly had him in a spin! I find it amusing how you could read Franck's intentions towards Holmès into the music. As soon as I listened to that Quintet, I just knew you were up to something!!

I liked this one, particularly the moments when the strings play the theme in unison. It's magnificent.

The Franck was very dramatic but I didn’t much like it

Suite no. 2 in D Minor, Sarabande: J.S. Bach.

I love the second cello suite. It's fabulously deep, dark and mysterious.

I looked up the footage of Rostopovich playing at the Berlin Wall during that momentous time in 1989 when it came down. It was an amazing moment and it is brilliant to have a record of it.

I looked up the footage of Rostropovich too. Amazing.

I really wish I could say I enjoyed the piece after that but honestly not really!

Pieces for keyboard, 'La Couperin': François Couperin.

I like this piece for its clarity and its simplicity (not that I ever found it easy to play the piano!). I never knew that up to this point they only used their fingers only, no thumbs. That must have been awkward!

The Franck reminded me a bit of a tango in it's sultry intent.

Like Alias, I liked the story of Rostropovich more than the piece - it requires more investment than a single listen.

Liked the Couperin and I agreeFuzzy, the snippet about the thumbs is a fun fact.

'Brittany': Ernest Farrar.

I think this song is quaint and charming, restful and calm.
I hate to think of the loss of life that occurred as a result of WW1 and the effect it had on survivors.

A very poignant piece, the Farrar.

Definitely.

I like your description of the Franck as a sultry tango, Biblio.

Loved the Couperin, what a lovely piece. I did like the idea of him having the brainwave of ‘wait … what if we used thumbs? … crazy but it just might work!!’

Yes the Farrar was very poignant. I really liked
the piece in itself but so very moving in context of the day and reading what happened to him, and Clemency’s notes.

I've been listening daily, but neglecting to post. Perhaps that's because I haven't found this week's selections massively inspiring, although things improved as the week went on.

Holmès was ok, pretty bland, can't remember much of it now. As something interesting for solo flute I really wanted to like the Varese, but nope. Franck I disliked - moody in the wrong ways, like the soundtrack to a dramatically wronged teenager. Bach I can never fault, but there's other Bach material I'd go to first.

The Couperin I like very much. Delicate and graceful. I think it might be both to my DD's taste and within her skill set, so I'm going to nag her to borrow the sheet music.

Farrar was gorgeously warm and very apt.

Today we have Five Pieces for two violins and piano 1: Praeludium by Shostakovich

I think I have listened to the right piece. Google/spotify can't seem to find "three pieces" which my Kindle lists, so I've cracked on with this from Five Pieces, which I know well and love. This is beautifully simple, but with lovely rich tones. Perfect for cool autumn sunlight. I like how the lighter, folkier passage lifts it in the middle, before returning to calm quietness.

I also hope I'm listening to the right piece! I'm still following the Spotify playlist.

I really liked the Shostakovich I thought it was very warm, very expressive and I could imagine it being played in a salon as something relaxing to listen to. It was rather short. I need to find the other four in the set!

'Forgotten Memories': Nicolai Medtner.

This is a dark and brooding piece of music. I didn't find it particularly engaging, however.

I found the Shostakovich under the ‘Five Pieces’ title and also as ‘Three Duets for 2 violins and a piano’ - from what I could tell they’re the same piece. Either way I thought it was beautiful and a bit sad - but then I’m feeling a bit sad anyway so probably reflecting that.

Had naming issues with the Medtner too, as I could only find Forgotten Melodies rather than melodies. Assume it’s the same thing as rest of title was the same - I didn’t like it much anyway!

I felt I should have liked it more, Alias.
I usually like piano music, but this didn't* grab me.
You are right. The Shostokovich piece was a bit sad. Nostalgic, I think. *

Soooo behind, had to listen to everything in a glut again.

I love Vltava so was glad to see it on here. The theme coming back in at the end is one of my favourite musical moments. Also love Beethoven's 9th; I went to the last night of the Proms for the first and only time in 2001, when they performed it instead of the usual programme because it was only days after 9/11. Cried then and cry every time I hear it.

Of the November pieces, I really liked the Morales, the Couperin and the Shostakovich and I always enjoy hearing the Handel.

Today's is too long at the end of that lot so I'll have to listen again. Oh, and just to say, I was completely entranced by Pachelbel's Canon the first time I heard it as a teenager and I have loved it ever since. Never gets old for me.

Fantasia in G Minor: Fanny Mendelssohn

I'm very pleased to have one more piece by Fanny Mendelssohn on the playlist.

This is gorgeous; I love it. The partnership between the cello and piano is perfect, so well-balanced. I love the first half of the piece especially. Superb opening. The melancholic theme makes a brief return before the cheerful conclusion. A little gem of a piece.

I also really liked the piece by Fanny Mendelssohn today - it did make me sit up and listen when it got all jolly half way through! Lovely piece.

Symphony no. 2 in C Minor, 4th Mvt.: Gustav Mahler.

As I started listening to this piece, I had a feeling of déjà vu, that I knew it from somewhere. I might have played it before. It's very familiar from the second section, where the violin solo comes in.

This is solid, sonorous piece of music, suitably grave as befits the title of the symphony 'Resurrection'. There is a ray of light and hope in the second section which lifts the mood. The ending is lovely and tranquil.

While I appreciate this, I probably won't list it as a favourite for this month.

I loved the Mahler. Serious stuff.

Definitely :)