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 felt pleasantly sophisticated listening to the Marquez. I should be wearing something racy and about to burn up the dancefloor.

'Goldberg' Variation no. 5, BVW 988: Bach.

Short and snappy!

The daily listen didn’t happen so here comes the catch up.

Enjoyed the Schoenberg it was an engaging listen with some nice variety in there.

Rimsky Korsakov - this was rather lovely

Webern - I got a bit bored honestly. Maybe I should give it another go.

Like everyone else, adored the Marquez, just fabulous.

Bach - I’m sure technically and mathematically brilliant, can’t claim to understand that. Was a nice little burst of energy though.

Between the snappy pace of today's Bach and my ear being rubbish the mathematical intricacies were lost on me, even though I deliberately picked a video with a sheet music readalong. But it's utterly charming so I don't mind at all.

Sovvente il sole: Vivaldi.

Clemency is right; this is really beautiful.
A big enthusiastic yes from me.

Yesterday's Vivaldi was lovely - restrained, elegant, kind of sexy if that doesn't sound too weird. I really liked this.

Today's piece is:

Ave Maria by Paweł Łukaszewski
I can appreciate that the harmonies were complex and it builds very cleverly but for some reason it left me unmoved. The head/heart battle continues!

Coincidentally it does seem a very apt piece for the strange day that today is, for UK based posters at least.

I'm normally wary of contemporary choral music, but I like this. I find it rather soothing. It's a piece of contrasts; tension and release.

I'm glad the playlist has provided a sacred piece today. A sympathetic choice on the day of the Queen's funeral.

Enjoyed the Vivaldi and the Lukaszewski and yes, the latter feels appropriate to the day (setting aside any Catholic v Anglican nuances).

Violin Concerto in D Minor Op.47. 2nd Mvt: Sibelius.

I liked listening to this movement today. I never came across it before. It feels similar to the other romantic concerti of Mendelssohn, Tchaikovsky, Bruch; a strong and passionate piece.

I always like hearing about characteristics of composers, in this case, Sibelius's acute stage fright. Very relatable :) I was thinking that he couldn't have been too bad a violinist if he could play the Mendelssohn and Tchaikovsky concerti!

Coming back to say I recognise the third movement. It's a cracker. I didn't like the first one. It seems like a long cadenza. Too much solo violin going on.

Autumn Crocus: Billy Mayerl.

This is lovely; very charming. It's an instant like from me. Sometimes it's good to listen to something pared back and easy.

I like todays as well. Melancholy.

The Vivaldi really is lovely isn't it? Beautiful.

I also enjoyed the Lukaszewski.

I wasn't blown away by the Sibelius the way Clemency describes, it was pleasant but didn't hugely move me - sometimes that just means I need to listen again in another mood though!

I really liked today's piece by Mayerl - simple and charming. * *

'Wer Dank opfert, der preisert mich' Cantata BWV 17, Part 2 no. 7: J.S. Bach.

This is a very satisfying listening experience. I love Clemency's enthusiasm for Bach. It seems to bounce off the page :)

'Casta Diva' from Norma: Bellini.

For me, this is one of those pieces that is very recognisable that you can't put a name to.

This aria is beautiful, expressive and solemn. Also prayerful, as Norma is singing a hymn to the moon, now that I have learned that from the notes.

Bellini was apparently singing opera arias at eighteen months. 'Do you think my child is gifted?' 😄

A brisk trot through the last 4 days. The Sibelius, Mayerl and Bach were fine but didn't touch me. The Bellini did, perhaps partly because I listened to an old recording of Maria Callas, and the age of the recording as well as the setting and the composition made me think of all the generations gone and the passions spent.

over the last few days I found the Mayerl a bit bland and uninspiring. The JS Bach was very soothing - not normally the sort of thing I'd choose but it definitely felt good at the end of a long day. The Bellini was fine - a pretty aria, but opera is never really my thing.

the Sibelius on the other hand - this is amazing. I love this in its entirety. The second movement is my least listened to of the three though. It's warm and lyrical and lovely, but I prefer the very Scandinavian frostiness of the first. I am going to see this performed next month

Les Barricades Mistérieuses: François Couperin arr. Thomas Adès.

I liked listening to this. I thought the arrangement by Adès was clever and quirky and it was enjoyable to listen to.

That's great, TheTurn! Enjoy the concert!

Les Boréades Act 4 Scene 4: Jean-Philippe Rameau.

The list of favourite pieces for this month gets longer and longer! This is beautiful. Lovely contrapuntal writing between the strings and woodwind. Perfectly balanced.

Du bist die Ruh, D.776: Schubert.

This is lovely for a moment of peace and quiet when you are in a calm and contemplative mood.

Romance in E flat Major, Op 11: Gerard Finzi.

I like this very much. It reminds me a lot of Elgar's music. It's tender, poignant and has a regretful air to it. I'm finishing a book at the moment (The Road to Lichfield by Penelope Lively) and this piece goes very well as an accompaniment. Love it when that happens :)

I liked both the Schubert and the Finzi and may be emboldened to explore both composers further.

Love your book and music pairing. Fuzzy. You may need a nice glass of sherry to wash them down...

Now you're talking Biblio 😅

Membra Jesu Nostri, 2 'Ad genua': Dietrich Buxtehude.

I like this; it's so rich and resonant.

I remember reading that about Bach, that he walked 250 miles in all weathers to meet Buxtehude and hear him play. Very humbling.