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Year of wonder 2024

77 replies

Thebookdragon · 02/01/2024 12:11

This thread is for anyone wanting to do a year of wonder or wants to dip in and out. Yesterday was:
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0wNTNEZYoHg&list=PLVQnaCD0GZRgl8VfVIxZYzHRiFYXC5rvZ&index=1&pp=iAQB8AUB
Bach and Sanctus which I think means Holy. To me I loved this and listened to it after a very long walk around the coast near here and I felt it was like a proper renewal with waves crashing.

Today is Chopin

JS Bach - Mass in B Minor - Sanctus

JS Bach's Mass in B Minor, Sanctus. Performed by the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Bavarian Radio Chorus conducted by Eugen Jochum, 1982

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0wNTNEZYoHg&list=PLVQnaCD0GZRgl8VfVIxZYzHRiFYXC5rvZ&index=1&pp=iAQB8AUB

OP posts:
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12
BaconAndAvocado · 16/01/2024 17:10

This looks intriguing.....

What is Year of Wonders and why is it in What We’re Reading? It seems to be about listening to classical music!

ReadyForPumpkins · 16/01/2024 17:44

@BaconAndAvocado Welcome onboard if you wish to join. It's a book about classical music.

BaconAndAvocado · 16/01/2024 19:09

Oh!
Do you need prior knowledge of classical music to join?

Buttalapasta · 16/01/2024 20:08

BaconAndAvocado · 16/01/2024 19:09

Oh!
Do you need prior knowledge of classical music to join?

No! You can read along. Every day there is a new piece described in the book and hou can listen to it on YouTube or Spotify. On Spotify there is a playlist dedicated to each month of the book.

MissMarplesNiece · 17/01/2024 06:46

@BaconAndAvocado The book, written by Clemency Burton-Hill, suggests a different piece of music to listen to each day for a year. Clemency writes a few paragraphs about the piece she's suggesting - about the composer, why she's suggesting it etc.

I'm enjoying finding new pieces I haven't come across before and learning a bit about them. I have no background in music but love classical music and this adding a lot to my appreciation and understanding.

I'm now about to listen to today's piece: The Adagio from Albinoni's Oboe Concerto in D minor.

BaconAndAvocado · 17/01/2024 08:40

That sounds fabulous. It’s on YouTube?

ReadyForPumpkins · 17/01/2024 08:44

@BaconAndAvocado You have to purchase the book. But all the music are on both YouTube and Spotify. For example, today is a Baroque piece, Oboe Concerto in D minor op 9 no 2 by Tomaso Alibnoni. I typed in 'oboe concerto albinoni' in YouTube and find lots of recording. I'm listening to this one while typing this.

You don't need to know classical music. You just need to love music and are interested to listen to a wide variety of music written from a long time ago to very recent. Clemency Burton-Hill gives interesting facts about each piece. For example, today's apparently the first oboe concerto ever written.

Albinoni Oboe Concerto Op. 9 no. 2 in D minor

Aldo Salvetti, solo oboeRichard Brunner, conductorSt. James' Church 29.05.2016

https://youtu.be/dLxJLrjvl8A?feature=shared

BaconAndAvocado · 17/01/2024 08:45

That sounds really interesting.
Is the book spendy and where's the best place to get it?

Just thought it would make a brilliant present for my Dad!

Does it have to run from the beginning of the year?

ReadyForPumpkins · 17/01/2024 08:47

Today's Oboe Concerto by Tomaso Alibnoni is a lovely piece, very typical Baroque sound. It's lovely to hear some of the rarer instruments getting a concerto. I didn't really know what shepherds pipes sound like, so I'd just have to trust the Burton-Hill on that one.

ReadyForPumpkins · 17/01/2024 08:49

@BaconAndAvocado Does he read on a kindle? https://www.amazon.co.uk/YEAR-WONDER-Classical-Music-Every-ebook/dp/B073B569GM
It's £4.99 on Kindle but £14.75 on paperback. Each day is separate so he can start on any day. He can also just start on 1 January and ignore the dates entirely.

BaconAndAvocado · 17/01/2024 08:50

£14.75 is fine.
I thought it might be a huge, glossy coffee table type book!!

BaconAndAvocado · 17/01/2024 08:53

He doesn't have Spotify and wouldn't know how to use Apple Music....is YouTube a reliable source?

ReadyForPumpkins · 17/01/2024 08:55

@BaconAndAvocado Yes, I think YouTube is fine.

MissMarplesNiece · 17/01/2024 09:24

@BaconAndAvocado I bought my copy off ebay and it didn't cost me very much. I didn't start listening to the pieces at the beginning of the year.

AliasGrape · 17/01/2024 10:29

@BaconAndAvocado I’m on my second go round of the book, and the first time I used YouTube for all the pieces as I don’t have Spotify - it’s fine in the main part, very occasionally it’s a pain to find the particular piece or version Clemency is referring to, but i think that’s true with spotify too that there’s a rare time when the version on the playlist is not the one referred to in the text. The vast majority are easy and straightforward to find though!

He doesn’t have to start from 1st Jan - I think some people just listen as and when, whatever the day happens to be.

From the past few days the Messiaen is an incredibly moving story which again I find difficult to separate from the piece itself.

The Scriabin is rich and lovely. I didn’t ‘favourite’ it last time but have done this time (as in I add it to a playlist of faves to come back to!)

I like today’s oboe piece too, though I also listened to the first movement which I somewhat preferred as it’s so jolly!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 17/01/2024 11:00

I'm making a favourites list as well as like Alias, I'm also on my second listen.

I added the Scriabin as well :)

The opening phrase of the Messiaen is stunning. The simplicity of the solo cello is beautifully devastating. It's not an easy piece to listen to. The tension of the second half reminds me of pulling on an elastic band. An amazing piece.

ChessieFL · 17/01/2024 11:28

I haven’t found much I’ve really loved so far - just the Bruch and the Bingen. I am enjoying listening to different things though and reading the background to the piece/composer.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 03/02/2024 12:53

I just want to say hi to @AliasGrape today as today's piece is by Francesca Caccini that we both really liked. We have a fondness for a lively Renaissance tune. Hope you enjoy dancing to this one again, Alias :)* *And even better, Stefano Landi is coming up very soon too!

AliasGrape · 03/02/2024 13:12

Hi @FuzzyCaoraDhubh! Yes loved today’s, really put a smile on my face as did your message!

Yes to the lively renaissance tunes! They’ve been a real gift of reading/ listening along with the books - I can’t say it’s something I’d have known I would enjoy or sought out before.

Beyond excited for the Landi - think it’s my favourite discovery from both books.

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 03/02/2024 13:21

Yes! L'Arpeggiata and Christina Pluhar are amazing. It would be my dream job to play with this group if they ever needed another fiddler or a viola player :)

Buttalapasta · 04/02/2024 13:18

I listened to Stefano Landi out of sequence and then looked it up. I couldn't believe the dates as I thought it sounded really modern. I wonder if anyone has done a modern interpretation.

AliasGrape · 08/02/2024 09:05

Happy Landi day to all who celebrate 😃Absolute banger!

FuzzyCaoraDhubh · 08/02/2024 13:11

Happy Landi Day!😄
There are other good tunes on the album that this is taken from.

AliasGrape · 08/02/2024 21:06

I didn’t bother with the rest of the album last time @FuzzyCaoraDhubh but I’ve had it on today and you’re right there’s some brilliant tunes.

Completely agree @Buttalapasta - it sounds ancient but so modern at the same time, I think that’s what really surprised me when I first listened.