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.

I'm up for it!

Violin Concerto in D Major Op 35, 1st Mvt: Peter Ilych Tchaikovsky.

An old favourite. I hadn't listened to this for a while and really enjoyed revisiting it. I think it's a fabulous piece of music and white it's technically brilliant, it's got great appeal in its musicality. I think there is a wonderful sense of excitement in it that is sustained from beginning to end. The orchestral tutti when the strings play the main theme is like a great crashing wave and I remember playing it and enjoying the moment.

On reading the notes, perhaps the excitement in the music reflects Tchaikovsky's excitement and joy in his new relationship? It's a shame that it didn't end well.

Somewhat to my surprise, the Tchaikovsky won me over - a big-hearted piece.

Symphonie Fantastique, Op. 14, 2 Un Bal: Hector Berlioz.

Another old favourite and a trip down memory lane today with this piece. I think this is a cheerful and charming movement from the 'Symphonie Fantastique' which I recommend listening to in its entirety if you don't know it already. It's a very colourful and exciting piece of music. It has been a while since I listened to it, so I will do that now :)

The Tchaikovsky I do like - it combines tender romanticism with great verve and joy. Being super-picky I could happily cut the cadenza section, and was relieved when the flutes came back in. I felt like we we back in the piece proper if that makes sense.

Berlioz today was light and lively. The quiet moment towards the end with the woodwinds and harp was especially pretty. I saw the Aurora Orchestra version of this with Mat Baynton as Berlioz on telly as part of the Proms a couple of years back - worth a look on YouTube.

I feel every bit the musical ignoramus that I am as I started off loving the Tchaikovsky but have to admit to getting bored in parts. Having looked up what a cadenza is, I can agree with TurnoftheScrew that I could have lived without that part (assuming I’ve correctly identified it!!) and just in general I far preferred the calmer, more mellow sections. There were some really lovely moments.

The Berlioz was lovely, very cheery. That’s quite a ‘how we met’ story too.

The cadenza is never particularly interesting. It's where the soloist is supposed to improvise and show off how brilliant they are. They were originally made up on the spot but over time came to be written down and learned as part of the concerto. I think that sometimes there are one or two official cadenzas per concerto that people like to play. But yes, I agree, they aren't the best part of the piece. Usually it's best if they don't go on too long!

Lux Aurumque: Eric Whitacre.

I like this, especially the opening. I think it's quite atmospheric and I agree with Clemency that it has a luminous quality in the high notes. Lovely conclusion.

If I'm correct, the Aurora Orchestra is the one that performs without reading parts, just from memory. I'm always amazed how they manage it. I would be a disaster.

Just catching up and listening to the Tchaikovsky (which I'm not familiar with) and boy, he was really in love wasn't he? What a shame he didn't feel able to dedicate the piece as he wished.

Symphonie Fantastique is an old favourite (I enjoy how completely over the top it is) and I also liked Lux Aurumque - very beautiful when all the voices come together.

The fourth movement 'Marche au Supplice' is brilliant.

I thought Lux Aurumque was gorgeous. It was indeed ‘shimmery’.

In the Mists 1. Andante: Leoš Janáček.

This is a short piece for piano. It's moody and quite dreamlike. I like the recurring five-note motif that runs through the first and last parts. The middle section is quite vigorous by comparison. The final bars seem to evaporate rather like mist.
I like this and would be interested in listening to the other movements.

I liked the Janáček too. Again, preferred the calmer, quieter beginning and end sections but overall another really enjoyable piece.

Ave Verum: Philip Stopford.

This is nice, although it gives off a slightly mournful air. I like the fact that it was written for practical purposes with a real choir in mind and that it's accessible and not overblown. I also appreciate the commissioning of the piece which brought two communities together and how it was performed.

Improvisation on 'Winter' from The Four Seasons: Gabriella Monterro after Vivaldi.

I really like this. I think it's very clever and I enjoyed hearing the Winter theme reveal itself gradually. I'm impressed by how Monterro took the theme and made her own of it. I'm in awe of musicians who are this good at improvisation. I'm going to listen to other pieces from the album later on.

Listening along although not much to say about the last few pieces. They fall into my "nice enough to have on in the background" file.

The Stopford was nice if not particularly memorable (apart from the idea behind its composition which was more special).

I had to listen to the original Winter first as I know I’d heard it (often possibly) but couldn’t remember it. I enjoyed Monterro’s piece, it was clever.

Ave Maria: attributed to Giulio Caccini.

I think this is very beautiful, restful and soothing. I didn't like the Spotify version so I went to YouTube and found two versions that I preferred. I'm just noticing that it's Katherine Jenkins on Spotify. I think that the tempo in her version is too fast and there's too much going on in the accompaniment. It sounds a bit hectic where it should be solemn and dignified, in my opinion.

I thought today'sAve Maria was rather lovely.

I also thought today’s was lovely.

Piano Concerto No. 18 in B flat major 1. Allegro Vivace: Mozart.

I liked listening to this. I thought it was bright and lively (as per the title!). I liked reading about Clemency's fondness for Mozart'a piano concertos. I might make it a plan to discover them next year.

The Mozart is too much for me. My fault, not his, clearly. I don't have the bandwidth at the moment.

I really loved the Mozart actually. There was a lightness to it that surprised me - not sure why I was surprised since, as IsFuzzy says, it's right there in the title. But it was a pleasant surprise how much I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Whiteacre was pretty but unmemorable
Janacek was interesting. Cool and graceful at the start, but gathering pace rapidly. I did like it less as it went on. I don't have the technical vocab here, but I prefer my solo piano more "tinkly" and less "big" .
Stopford I loved the notes here. The reason for the commission is a beautiful and important gesture, but I love the idea of writing accessible music for amateurs even more, and I think the piece stands up well alongside the other choral pieces we've heard.
Montero - I love the Four Seasons even though that's probably an unfashionable view. I enjoyed this take. The Winter II motif is clearly present, but she's created something with a really different feel. I think the opening two minutes where the motif was kept shorter and there was more of a improvisation was more successful.
Caccini was very pretty - the orchestration on the version I listened to (Elina Garanca) was lush and rich, which made it sound far more modern without being jarring.
Mozart - nope. Also LONG!

Today we have Jesus Christ the Apple Tree by Elizabeth Poston
Quite simply a lovely, warming, bright carol. I definitely hear the Vaughan Williams-like folk influence, and like it very much.