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.

Shostakovich Agree that the historical context was helpful. It felt like an angry piece and that makes sense.

Tavener yes it was a very somber piece. I didn’t like it initially but gave it a couple of goes whilst once again sorting laundry, and I did appreciate it more on subsequent listens, don’t think I’ll ever love it though.

Definitely not, Biblio. It suggests sadness to me. Clemency doesn't go too much into ho ho ho :)

Theme from A Clockwork Orange: Wendy Carlos.

I really enjoyed this piece; it brought a smile to my face today. It's jazzy and cool and I love the piano in it.

Tarrega I found bland, but I did like that it reminded of the theme to Bagpuss
JC Bach was lovely - I agree that it feels warm and tender.
I quite liked the Shostakovich - the flute parts create incredible furious energy. I'd be keen to hear the rest of the symphony.
Taverner I LOVE The Lamb. It's on my Christmas playlist. I'd not clocked before that there are only seven notes. The harmonies are both rich and mournful. Although the overall feeling is sombre I think there's a warm peace to it that feels right at Christmas. I love The Coventry Carol and I think it has similar vibes.
Carlos There were a few versions of this on spotify, and I preferred the very 1970s piano/orchestra version to the original Moog heavy recording. The original is dark and brooding, the piano version is jazzy and a little daft.

Carlos - you can't fault Our Clem's range of references. Unexpected and enjoyable.

Hi TheTurn, The Lamb is on the compilation of carols that I have somewhere around the house, a CD box set. I'm used to listening to it too. I agree with your thoughts on it and the comparison with The Coventry Carol which is also lovely.

Carlos - agree that you can’t fault Clemency for the variety and range of pieces, this one brought a smile. It’s been a long long day and this was a little pick me up at the end of it (but also has the sense that it could turn murderous - which is also appropriate for how I feel today!)

Cradle Song: Michael Berkeley.

This is lovely. A really soothing and gentle lullaby.

Berkeley I found quite dull I'm afraid.

I listened to the Berkeley earlier in the day and now I come to comment I can’t remember a thing about it! I didn’t dislike it, just didn’t stand out at all.

Morning! Today we have the Overture from Nutcracker Suite by Duke Ellington, after Tchaikovsky

For me, this is Christmas bottled. I think Big Bands and Brass Bands lend themselves perfectly to Christmas, and so this version of the Nutcracker is just perfect for wrapping presents and making mince pies (yes, my annual leave has started). If you enjoyed this, the whole album's worth a listen, especially Sugar Rum Cherry, and Peanut Brittle Brigade. Perfect.

Good morning! I agree, the Berkley was nice but not memorable. I listened* *to it more than once, otherwise I wouldn't have recalled it.

I love this version of The Nutcracker. It's fabulous. I came across it last year when I came across Christmas jazz. I think I listened to the whole album before but it's time for a revisit. And it's not just for Christmas either :) Enjoy your Christmas preparations, TheTurn.

Today we have another carol, What Sweeter Music? by John Rutter
Perfectly pleasant, but not memorable, and IMO insufficiently festive.

Yes, I agree and was thinking the same, TheTurn. It's very nice and pleasant to listen to. I have heard it before during the year, definitely.

I did the Rutter was Christmassy, albeit in a carols by candlelight rather than ho ho Santa way.

I absolutely loved the Ellington - listened last night whilst wrapping presents and have had it on several times today too.

I liked the Rutter too actually. Not stand out memorable but I thought it was very pleasant and I don’t mean that in a damning with faint praise way!

Evening Prayer: Engelbert Humperdinck.

I found this a bit sweet to listen to, but on reading the notes it made sense that it's a prayer sung by children. I don't like the Spotify version at all. The singing is too sacherine. I prefer the more operatic renditions of the piece. It's fine, but not a favourite for me. I prefer the Rutter from yesterday, which seems a bit more wholesome.

I enjoyed the Humperdink actually, I listened before the notes and did think there was something very childlike about it. Again, not an all time favourite but I will probably listen again at some point.

Siegfried Idyll: Richard Wagner.

I like the story behind this piece and it helped me to appreciate* *it. It does seem to have a gentleness to it, a personal touch. It's pleasant to listen to, although it does go on a bit. Cosima was a slow riser, I take it :) I would have preferred something more christmassy on Christmas Eve, but anyway! It's nice, but one I wouldn't be inclined to go back to.

Cosima was a slow riser, I take it Ha, Fuzzy, too true. I thought it was quite nice but didn't make it so the way through. My mother came into the kitchen and told me to put something more cheerful on.

Hilarious, Biblio 😅 I think your mother nailed it :)

Christmas Oratorio: J.S. Bach.

This is a lively, bright and cheerful* *piece of music that I think is perfect for today. There is a great sense of excitement in it. I think the orchestration is excellent and the voices too of course. It's a lovely piece of Bach. I especially love the introduction, the drums and woodwind leading the way.

Wishing all fellow Year of Wonderers a very Merry Christmas 🎄

Christmas Oratorio - yay!
Trumpets, drums, a brilliant choir. What more could you want?
Merry Christmas everyone.

Found the Wagner a bit boring.

The Bach was great.

Merry Christmas fellow Year of Wonder-ers 🎄

Stabat Mater: Giovanni Battista Pergolesi.

I think this is a gorgeous piece of music; really haunting and atmospheric. I love the overlapping dissonance in the vocal lines. * *A favourite for sure.