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.

These songs are beautiful; definitely my favourite music by Richard Strauss. The violin solo in this song is sublime and it follows on seamlessly in the vocal line, which does feel like the orchestra and voice are equal partners.

The orchestration is excellent. The strings are muted throughout (or for a lot of the time as far as I remember), so it gives a very soft, dreamy feel to the music. The French horn and woodwind sound very mellow too. There aren't any rough edges here, it's altogether very gentle. Good notes today and I always appreciate having the verse and the translation.

I'm listening to the Jessye Norman version too. I'll go back and listen to the whole set again. This is a favourite for sure.

The Strauss was lovely and quite moving with the notes/ translation. I would like to listen to them all and have made a note to do just that when I get chance.

Dipping in after lurking from a distance to say that the 4 Last Songs never fail to reduce me to a puddle. Especially the Jessye Norman version. We had Beim Schlafengehen at my FIL's funeral, at his express request….well, you can imagine.

But I love anything by Richard Strauss, anyway.

Clarinet Sonata in E flat Major Op 167, 1st Movement, Allegretto: Saint-Saëns.

I liked this. It has a charming, wistful quality that is enjoyable to listen to. It's good to hear the clarinet as solo instrument. It's a shame that Saint-Saëns didn't finish his project for the other woodwind instruments mentioned in the notes.

I enjoyed the Saint-Saëns - it wasn’t hugely memorable but it was very enjoyable in the moment.

Yup, exactly that .

Ride Through: Eleanor Alberga.

This is an interesting piece of music as it seems to start out as a modern twentieth* *century piece and turn into a folk song. It's not going to be a favourite with me. While I always love to listen to the cello, I much prefer the Brahms from earlier.

This was quite striking, wasn't it? I'm not sure it will be a favourite, but I did that thing where you listen again straight away to work out was what going on. Although the cello sounded amazing I agree that I preferred the Brahms.

If Ye Love Me: Thomas Tallis

This is lovely. I like it when the playlist has a religious choral piece on a Sunday. The notes are interesting on Tallis. He certainly has some challenges to contend with.

*had !!

I thought this very calming, but it didn't blow me away. Mood music more than something to stop me in my tracks.

Yes, it's quite understated I think.

Duet for two Solo Violins and String Orchestra: Steve Reich.

We had 'Electric Counterpoint' by Steve Reich early on in the playlist and it's good to have another piece by him.

This is a bright, lively piece of music. I find it uplifting. I have an image in mind of birds in flight against a summer sky. It's enjoyable overall and I like the decisive ending too.

I enjoyed the Reich much more than I expected to. To my ears there is far more development of the melody and accompaniment than in Electric Counterpoint, while still retaining a minimalist feel. The drops into the minor key stop it from becoming too saccharine.

Surprised at how much I liked the Reich. - it seems to say that something wonderful is coming.

I thought the Saint-Saëns was nice too. Nothing spectacular but I like the simplicity of it.

Ride Through, again enjoyable but won’t become a favourite.

The Tallis is beautiful but like many of the choral pieces just bores me, sorry.

Reich - I loved Electric Counterpoint and went on to listen to some of his other stuff. I love this too.

I preferred the second half of the Alberga when it started sounding like a folk song but still not really a stand out for me.

The Tallis was lovely, I really do enjoy the choral pieces and this was very soothing and I felt it was gently lapping at my frazzled brain!

Reich Just loved this. Felt modern and classic at the same time.

Great description!

Eyes Shut-Nocturne in C Minor: Ólafur Arnalds after Frédéric Chopin.

I think this is wonderful. I love the reworking of this nocturne. It's very sensitively done. The strings just give it a new frame. It's a bit like restoring an old photograph. A favourite for this month for sure.

I loved the Arnalds too. Wonderful.

I am catching up but just needed to say - why had I never heard the Bach Chaconne before??? Both the piano and the original are absolutely majestic.

Love the Arnalds. The Chopin Project album is brilliant, although I don't know anything about the original pieces that inspired it. The string quartet Verses on there is breathtaking. Planning to go and see him on tour in September.

The Arnalds is so good! Really, this project has brought me so much unexpected pleasure.

The Arnalds is beautiful, just gorgeous.

I didn't get a chance to listen to the Chopin Project album yesterday. I'm looking forward to it!

Violin Concerto in A Minor Op 82, Andante: Glazunov.

I have listened to this piece a few times to get to know it. It's fine, but there are violin concertos that I like a lot more that engage me from the opening bar. This one leaves me feeling a bit neutral.