Friday 31 December 2010

What Happened To The Ears!

I’ve been meaning to write this little postscript for quite some time – since July in fact. As it’s now the end of December 2010, I thought I would finally cross “Write Ears Closing Post” off my jobs list by typing just a little something by way of reviewing the project.

First, let me say that the blog will stay up and available for browsing should anyone be the slightest bit interested. Just because the year I set myself (from birthday to birthday 2009-2010) is completed, doesn’t mean I’ll be taking it down. I had meant to continue posting when I attended a concert, opera, gig or had another significant musical experience, but, as happens with these things, life overtook me somewhat – things changed and priorities altered, so the last “proper” Ears post will remain as July 10th 2010.

Who knows whether there will be future posts about listening. Perhaps priorities will change AGAIN, and I’ll have the time to devote to writing about my listening habits once more? We’ll all just have to wait and see.

So, to the results of the project – first, and most obvious, I now have a listening diary for a whole year! I’ve certainly never done anything like that either before or since. I’m not really very good at keeping diaries (I’m one of the “bad girls” who doesn’t have time ;-)), but I managed this one, just.

Secondly, the project DEFINITELY altered my listening habits throughout the year. It made me more aware of what I was listening to, more aware that I should try to listen to music that was interesting for people to read about, and led me to rediscover parts of my CD collection that had been gathering dust for years.

At first, this was all very new and exciting, and I kept dozens of post-it notes with the music I’d been listening to, all stacked up neatly ready to type up each evening. If I was at home I piled up the CDs by my desk, ready to type straight from the CD covers, and when I listened to music in the car I kept a note of what I’d heard religiously. It also helped spur me on to little listening projects, such as “listening to nine ninth symphonies on 09-09-09”, an idea suggested on Twitter by @DrGeoduck.

There was also a side project, set up by the people at #elevensestime on Twitter: a Spotify playlist of some of the music I listened to. I have to confess I was unable to keep up with maintaining the list – I simply didn’t have time, and I’m not really anything more than an occasional Spotify user – partly because my listening habits are not conducive to a programme I can only get on my computer and listen to through little speakers, partly because the repertoire is limited to somebody else’s taste there, and partly because I know how little money performers and artists make from the music available there. Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I think I shall always enjoy having a PHYSICAL copy of the music. I love my CD collection (and also the large cassette and record (both 33s and 78s) collections I still have) and I love the freedom of being able to listen to it anywhere I go.

However, as the months wore on, there were also some NEGATIVE effects. I’d occasionally decide to put some music on and where, in normal circumstances, I might just press play on the CD player and hear whatever was there, or would put on a favourite compilation, the thought of having to confess that I’d listened to the same piece of music AGAIN, or of having to type out all the different tracks, would put me off, and sometimes I ended up listening to LESS music as a result.

Things were further complicated when I visited people who had the radio on – I had to stop conversation and write down what we’d just heard, or look it up on websites later, yet more work! How much of the piece had I heard? Did I really listen? Did it count, since I could only hear the music in the background? Questions, questions, so many questions!

In general, however, it was an enjoyable experience – although very hard work. These days I keep a blipfoto photojournal – some have said that it’s hard work to post every day – compared to keeping a listening journal every day it’s very very much easier for me and takes up a lot less time!

However, as I intend to get back to music in a much fuller way in 2011, this blog may yet be reborn in a different format. It’s many many years since I wrote about music seriously. Perhaps I shall again do so – maybe on the main blog, or maybe here!

To all of you who followed The Ears on their year-long journey, many many thanks, keep listening to wonderful wonderful music and a very Happy 2011 to you all!

Sunday 11 July 2010

Saturday 10th July 2010

At home:
Beethoven - Symphony No.1, Symphony No.3

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartets 6-9
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Haydn - Harpsichord Concerto in D
Haydn - Hornsignal Symphony

At the opera:
Wagner - Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg

A fabulous end to the year. The Meistersinger was excellent - the Welsh National Opera production at the Hippodrome in Birmingham. Bryn Terfel was a most magnificent Hans Sachs. A great way to spend my birthday! :-)

Friday 9th July 2010

At home:
Satie - Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc.

In the car:
Brahms - Piano Concerto No.2
Saint Saens - Organ Symphony

All good stuff!

Thursday 8 July 2010

Thursday 8th July 2010

At home:
Wagner - Die Meistersinger Acts I & II
Satie - Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc.

That was all.

Wednesday 7th July 2010

At home:
Chopin - Etudes

In the car:
Bruch - Romance for Viola
Rebecca Clarke - Viola Sonata
Hindemith - Der Schwanendreher
Kreisler - Praeludium & Allegro (Viola)
Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata (Viola)
Schumann - Marchenbilder
Shostakovich - Viola Sonata
Brahms - Piano Concerto No.1

At a gig, sets by:
Rabid Gravy
To The Moon
Shirley Said

Interesting sort of a day!

Tuesday 6th July 2010

In the car:
Bruch - Kol Nidrei (Viola)

At home:
Chopin - Etudes

That was all!

Tuesday 6 July 2010

Monday 5th July 2010

In the car:
Bax - Legend for Viola.

That was it.

Sunday 4 July 2010

Sunday 4th July 2010

At home:
Chopin - Etudes

In the car:
Steve Reich - Different Trains, Electric Counterpoint

That was all.

Saturday 3 July 2010

Saturday 3rd July 2010

At home:
Chopin - Etudes

In the car:
Shostakovich - Symphonies 10 & 8
Janacek - String Quartets
Glass - Violin Concerto
Bartok - String Quartets 1, 3, 5
Messaien - L'ascension, Et Exspecto

That was all.

Friday 2nd July 2010

In the car:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10 (start)

That was all.

Friday 2 July 2010

Thursday 1st July 2010

In the car:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10 / I

At home:
Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro Acts 1 & 2

That was all.

Wednesday 30th June 2010

In the car:
Smetana - String Quartets
Shostakovich - String Quartet No.8

At a gig, a set by:
Nikki Loy

That was all.

Tuesday 29 June 2010

Tuesday 29th June 2010

In the car:
Bruckner - Symphony No.7 IV

At home:
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards

That was all.

Monday 28th June 2010

In the car:
Bruckner - Symphony No.7
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
Lady Gaga - The Fame

At home:
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards

At a gig, sets by:
Band of Skulls
The Dead Weather

The Dead Weather were, as usual, awesome. Such a multi-talented group of fabulous performers. BRILLIANT!

Sunday 27 June 2010

Sunday 27th June 2010

In the car:
Brahms - String Sextet No.2

At home:
Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro (Act I)

Got a BIT further today!

Saturday 26th June 2010

At home:
Mozart - Marriage of Figaro Overture (that was as far as I got)
Muse - Start of set from Glastonbury (before falling asleep)

Not very impressive really!

Friday 25 June 2010

Friday 25th June 2010

In the car:
Brahms - String Sextet No.2

At home:
Mozart - Don Giovanni

Don Giovanni is FABULOUS!!!!

Thursday 24 June 2010

Thursday 24th June 2010

In the car:
Brahms - Sextet No.1

At home:
Mozart - Don Giovanni

Nice stuff indeed!

Wednesday 23rd June 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartets 8 & 9
Grieg - Peer Gynt Suites
Smetana - Ma Vlast
Brahms - First String Sextet

That was all!

Tuesday 22 June 2010

Tuesday 22nd June 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Piano Trios

At home:
The Velvet Underground - White Light /White Heat
Sun O))) - Monoliths & Dimensions
Mozart - Don Giovanni

Wow- Sun O))) is certainly a new soundworld to explore! Amazing stuff.

Don Giovanni is pure nostalgic bliss - had forgotten how wonderful the scene with the different dances in the different rooms is. Ace!

Monday 21 June 2010

Monday 21st June 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Piano Trios

At home:
The Velvet Underground - White Light / White Heat

Awesome stuff all round!

Sunday 20 June 2010

Sunday 20th June 2010

At home:
Mozart - Die Zauberflote

In the car:
Mendelssohn - Overtures
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia, Triple Concerto
Haydn - Harpsichord Concerto, Hornsignal Symphony
Mozart - Piano Concerto K488
Schubert - Piano Trios

Too much time in the car going nowhere.

Saturday 19 June 2010

Saturday 19th June 2010

In the car:
Mendelssohn - String Quintet Op.18 I & II

At home:
Chopin - Etudes Op.10 & Op.25
Mozart - Die Zauberflote (start)

Huge waves of Mozart nostalgia - studied Operas & Singspiels for A-Level. *LOVE*

Friday 18th June 2010

In the car:
Beethoven - Piano Concertos 2-5
Schubert - Symphonies 3-9

That was all!

Friday 18 June 2010

Thursday 17th June 2010

In the car:
Haydn - Symphonies 101-104
Schubert - Impromptus
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.1

In HMV:
Schubert - Songs sung by Elly Ameling

At a gig:
Set by the fabulous chanteuse Anne Pigalle, accompanied on keyboard by the wonderful and totally triffic @aaronmcahill!

Thoroughly excellent day!

Wednesday 16 June 2010

Wednesday 16th June 2010

In the car:
Haydn - Symphony No.101 (opening)

That was it - lots of time playing the piano (which was tuned today) and talking pianos.

Tuesday 15 June 2010

Tuesday 15th June 2010

In the car:
Beethoven - Sonata Op.111 (I know, it's still there)

At home:
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos 4-6
Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos 1-4

That's how it goes today folks!

Monday 14 June 2010

Monday 14th June 2010

In the car:
Beethoven - Sonata Op.111

At home:
Schubert - Symphony No.9
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos 2-5, Concerto for Harpsichord etc & Strings

That was all.

Sunday 13 June 2010

Sunday 13th June 2010

In the car:
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas Op.110 & 111

At home:
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos 1-3, Violin Concertos

Sorry this is getting a bit samey, but it's all good stuff nonetheless!

Saturday 12th June 2010

At home:
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos 1-3, Violin Concertos

In the car:
Mozart - Concertos for Clarinet, Bassoon & Oboe
Beethoven - Piano Sonatas from Op.81a-109

At a concert:
Wagner - Lohengrin

Fabulous evening out listening to a splendid performance of Wagner's Lohengrin by CBSO. Brilliant stuff, and a great time with friends too. Wonderful!

Friday 11 June 2010

Friday 11th June 2010

In the car:
Chopin - Piano Concerto No.2

On a walk:
The Kills - Midnight Boom
ACDC - Back in Black (start)

At home:
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos 1-3, Violin Concertos

I love the Brandenburg Concertos muchly! OK! Got that?

Thursday 10 June 2010

Thursday 10th June 2010

In the car:
Chopin - Piano Concertos

At home:
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos, Italian Concerto

Sorry it's a bit samey!

Wednesday 9 June 2010

Wednesday 9th June 2010

In the car:
Chopin - Piano Concertos

At home:
Satie - Piano Music (as before)
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos

That was it.

Tuesday 8 June 2010

Tuesday 8th June 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Piano Trio No.2
Chopin - Piano Concerto No.1

That was all!

Monday 7th June 2010

At home:
Wagner - Lohengrin
Bartok - Mikrokosmos

In the car:
Schubert - Piano Trios
Holst - Planets Suite

At a lecture:
Various music examples, many of which were played by the lecturer, Alfred Brendel, on the piano. Included quite a lot of Beethoven and Mozart examples.

Sunday 6 June 2010

Sunday 6th June 2010

At home:
Satie - Piano Music (Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc).

That was all!

Apologies that it's exactly the same as yesterday. I'm currently haunted by the beauty of Satie's music. The Gnossiennes particularly are absolutely captivating.

Saturday 5 June 2010

Saturday 5th June 2010

At home:
Satie - Piano Music (Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc).

That was all!

Friday 4th June 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Symphony No.9
Mendelssohn - String Quintet Op.18, Various Overtures
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia, Triple Concerto
Haydn - Harpsichord Concerto, Hornsignal Symphony
Schubert - Piano Trios

At a recital by James Rhodes:
Marcello (arr Bach) - Adagio from Oboe Concerto
Beethoven - "Waldstein" Sonata
Bach (trans Busoni) - Toccata, Adagio & Fugue
Blumenfeld - Etude pour la main gauche (Encore)
Grieg (arr ?) - Hall of the Mountain King (Encore)

Awesome stuff!

Thursday 3 June 2010

Thursday 3rd June 2010

At home:
Satie - Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc.

In the car:
Schubert - Symphony No.9

Sorry, a bit familiar! Good stuff though!

Wednesday 2 June 2010

Wednesday 2nd June 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Symphony No.9

At home:
Mendelssohn - Elijah
Satie - Gnossiennes

Nice!

Tuesday 1 June 2010

Tuesday 1st June 2010

At home:
Mendelssohn - Elijah

In the car:
Eminem - Relapse
Schubert - Symphony No.8

That was all!

Monday 31st May 2010

At home:
Mendelssohn - Elijah

In the car:
Pendulum - In Silico
The XX - The XX

At a gig, sets by:
Sub Focus
Pendulum

Second time we've seen Pendulum live. They're AWESOME!!!! Fab gig!

Sunday 30 May 2010

Sunday 30th May 2010

At home:
Mendelssohn - Elijah

The Elijah phase continues!

Saturday 29 May 2010

Saturday 29th May 2010

In the car:
Guns N Roses - Chinese Democracy

At home:
Mendelssohn - Elijah

For kitsch:
Eurovision Song Contest!

Take that mix Ears!!!!

Friday 28 May 2010

Friday 28th May 2010

In the car:
White Denim - Fits

At home:
Pendulum - Hold Your Colour
Mendelssohn - Elijah

That was all!

Thursday 27 May 2010

Thursday 27th May 2010

In the car:
Creature with the Atom Brain - Transylvania

At home:
Schubert - Symphony No.9

The Schubert was on loop all day - music to do maths to!

Wednesday 26 May 2010

Wednesday 26th May 2010

In the car:
Beethoven - Triple Concerto (end)
Haydn - Harpsichord Concerto in D

At home:
Gregson - Tuba Concerto
Steptoe - Tuba Concerto
Vaughan Williams - Tuba Concerto
Golland - Tuba Concerto
Jacob - Tuba Suite
Satie - Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc.

In the car:
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
Lady Gaga - The Fame
Pendulum - Immersion
MGMT - Congratulations
Creature with the Atom Brain - Transylvania

At a gig by James Rhodes:
Marcello (arr Bach) - Adagio from Oboe Concerto
Beethoven - "Waldstein" Sonata
Bach (trans Busoni) - Toccata, Adagio & Fugue
Grieg (arr ?) - Hall of the Mountain King (Encore)
And another encore I wasn't bright enough to identify!

Quite a day!

Tuesday 25 May 2010

Tuesday 25th May 2010

In the car:
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia, Triple Concerto

At home:
Bach - Musical Offering
The Dead Weather - Sea of Cowards
J.C. Bach - Concerto in C Minor (Viola)
Hoffmeister - Viola Concerto
Telemann - Viola Concerto

That was all!

Monday 24 May 2010

Monday 24th May 2010

In the car:
Mendelssohn - Overture: Calm Sea & Prosperous Voyage
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia (opening)

At home:
Berlioz - Symphony Fantastique
Kasabian - Kasabian
Pendulum - Immersion
Schubert - Symphony No.9
Bach - Musical Offering

That was all!

Sunday 23 May 2010

Sunday 23rd May 2010

In the car:
Mendelssohn - String Quintet Op.18
Mendelssohn - Various Overtures

At home:
Grieg - Piano Concerto
Schumann - Piano Concerto
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique

That was all!

Saturday 22 May 2010

Saturday 22nd May 2010

At home:
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique
Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol, Sheherazade, Russian Easter Overture
Grieg - Piano Concerto
Schumann - Piano Concerto

Music to do maths by today!

Friday 21 May 2010

Friday 21st May 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Symphonies No.8 & No.9

At home:
Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos 1 & 2

That was it!

Thursday 20 May 2010

Thursday 20th May 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Symphony No.6

At home:
Britten - Violin Concerto
Walton - Viola Concerto
Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante, Concertone

That was all!

Wednesday 19 May 2010

Wednesday 19th May 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Symphony No.6

At home:
Coldplay - X&Y

That was all!

Tuesday 18th May 2010

At home:
Britten - Albert Herring

In the car:
Beethoven - Piano Concertos 1-5
Schubert - Symphonies 3-5

At a concert:
Mozart - Symphony No.38
Tchaikovsky - Rococo Variations
Bach - Sarabande from Cello Suite No.1
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherazade

Pretty good day I'd say! Loads of music!

Monday 17 May 2010

Monday 17th May 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Impromptus (more)

At home:
Britten - Paul Bunyan (conclusion)
Britten - The Turn Of The Screw

Definitely a rediscovering Britten day!

Sunday 16 May 2010

Sunday 16th May 2010

At home, the beginning of:
Britten - Paul Bunyan

Great stuff Britten! Brilliant! Should listen to more.

Saturday 15 May 2010

Saturday 15th May 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Impromptus

At home:
Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante for Violin & Viola

That was all.

Friday 14th May 2010

In the car:
Haydn - Symphonies No.s 102-104

At home:
Schubert - Symphonies 1-4

A symphonies day then!

Thursday 13 May 2010

Thursday 13th May 2010

In the car:
The Dead Weather - Horehound
Beethoven - Piano Sonata Op.111
Haydn - Symphony No.101 (Clock)

At home:
Schubert - Symphonies 8&9, 5&6

And:
Tainted Love, with flumpophone, by @5357311!

That was all!

Wednesday 12 May 2010

Wednesday 12th May 2010

In the car:
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations

At home:
Shostakovich - Viola & Violin Sonatas
Schubert - Symphonies 8 & 9

That was it.

Tuesday 11 May 2010

Tuesday 11th May 2010

In the car:
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations

At home:
Shostakovich - Viola Sonata, Violin Sonata

That was all.

Monday 10 May 2010

Monday 10th May 2010

At home:
Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante K364, Concertone K190
Schubert - Piano Trios D898 & D929
Mozart - The Marriage of Figaro

In the car:
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations

That was it!

Sunday 9 May 2010

Sunday 9th May 2010

At home:
Mozart - Sinfonia Concertante K364, Concertone K190

That was all!

Saturday 8 May 2010

Saturday 8th May 2010

In the car:
Blur - Midlife

That was it!

Friday 7 May 2010

Friday 7th May 2010

In the car:
Blur - Midlife

At home:
Mahler - Symphony No.2

That was all.

Thursday 6th May 2010

A very slow and tired day today, so just, in the car:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (end)

Not much, is it? Sorry.

Wednesday 5 May 2010

Wednesday 5th May 2010

In the car:
Kasabian - Empire

At home:
Bach - Harpsichord Concertos BWV 1060-62 & 1065

That was all.

Tuesday 4 May 2010

Tuesday 4th May 2010

In the car:
The Kills - Midnight Boom

At home:
Mahler - Symphony No.2
Bruch - Concerto for Clarinet & Viola, 8 Pieces for Clarinet, Viola & Piano, Romance for Viola
Schubert - Symphonies No.5 and No.6

That was all.

Monday 3 May 2010

Monday 3rd May 2010

At home:
Bach - Harpsichord Concertos BWV 1060-2 & 1065

That was all!

Sunday 2 May 2010

Sunday 2nd May 2010

In the car:
Muse - The Resistance

The rest of the day was spent asleep or in front of the TV.

Saturday 1 May 2010

Saturday 1st May 2010

In the car:
Pendulum - In Silico

At home:
Bach - Harpsichord Concertos BWV 1060-2 & 1065

That was all!

Friday 30th April 2010

In the car:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

At home:
Bach - Musical Offering

At a "rehearsal":
Wagner - Prelude to Act III of Die Meistersinger
Elgar - Cello Concerto
Brahms - Symphony No.1

The "rehearsal" was the Berlin Philharmonic in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford. It was a phenomenal experience - the Brahms in particular was amazing. A picture of the event can be found here!

Thursday 29 April 2010

Thursday 29th April 2010

In the car:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

At home:
Bach - Musical Offering (CD of the Koopman performance arrived from Amazon)

Musical Offering is MAGIC!!!

Wednesday 28th April 2010

In the car:
The Dead Weather - Horehound

At home:
Bach/Busoni - Toccata, Adagio & Fugue (played by James Rhodes)

That was all.

Tuesday 27th April 2010

In the car:
Kasabian - Empire
Blur - Midlife
Muse - Black Holes & Revelations

At a concert:
Bartok - Violin Concerto No.2
Shostakovich - Symphony No.4

Fantastic concert - CBSO at Symphony Hall. Brilliant stuff! And I met tweeps too: @5357311, @Orchid99 and @HopBarn! Picture of the hall available here!

Monday 26 April 2010

Monday 26th April 2010

In the car:
Schubert - Piano Trio D929

At home:
Christi Warner - I Found My Rhythm
Bartok - Violin Concerto No.2
Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos 1 & 2

That was all.

Sunday 25th April 2010

In the car:
Mozart - Piano Concerto K488 2nd & 3rd Movements
Schubert - Piano Trio D898

At home:
Satie - Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc etc.

That was all.

Saturday 24th April 2010

At home:
Satie - Gnossienne No.1

At a concert:
Bach - Musical Offering
Bach - Concerto for 2 Harpsichords (the one also known as the Concerto for 2 Violins)

Comment: absolutely brilliant concert at Birmingham Town Hall, with Ton Koopman and members of the Amsterdam Baroque orchestra. Stunning. See here for a picture of the harpsichords!

Friday 23 April 2010

Friday 23rd April 2010

In the car:
Mozart - K488 1st Movement

At home:
Satie - Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc etc.

That was all.

Thursday 22 April 2010

Thursday 22nd April 2010

In the car (I finally sorted the stereo out so it plays from both speakers again):
Beethoven - Choral Fantasia, Triple Concerto
Haydn - Harpsichord Concerto in D
Mozart - Piano Concerto K488 (1st Movement)

That was all.

Wednesday 21 April 2010

Wednesday 21st April 2010

Nothing to report.

Car stereo was playing up - just a bit of random Muse out of one speaker - and too cold for me to fix it by taking the stereo out and wiggling the bits.

Heard some REM coming from Wonderspouse's study.

Bits of music on TV.

Beethoven's Op.111 going through my head all evening, but not out loud.

Odd day.

Tuesday 20 April 2010

Tuesday 20th April 2010

In the car:
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco
Muse - The Resistance

At home:
Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos 3 & 4

Comment: I really must sort out the MP3 files for the car. Been round this particular loop too many times now. It's one of those things that has been totally ignored while I've been ill.

Monday 19 April 2010

Monday 19th April 2010

In the car:
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid (end)

At home:
Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos 1-4

That was all.

Sunday 18 April 2010

Sunday 18th April 2010

In the car:
Radiohead - The Best Of
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

At home:
Rachmaninov - Piano Concertos 1 & 2

That was all.

Saturday 17th April 2010

In the car:
Nirvana - Nirvana
Radiohead - The Best Of

At home:
Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No.1

That was all.

Friday 16 April 2010

Friday 16th April 2010

In the car:
Pendulum - In Silico
Reverend & The Makers - A French Kiss in the Chaos

At home:
Mozart - Clarinet Quintet, Horn Quintet, Oboe Quartet, Sinfonia Concertante

That was all.

Thursday 15th April 2010

In the car:
Pendulum - In Silico

At home:
Mozart - Clarinet Quintet

That was it.

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Wednesday 14th April 2010

In the car:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Pendulum - In Silico

At home:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

Not very varied I'm afraid. Sorry!

Tuesday 13th April 2010

In the car:
The Dead Weather - Horehound

At home:
Palestrina - Missa Papae Marcelli, Missa Brevis

That was all. Still not doing massively well with the listening excitement I'm afraid.

Monday 12 April 2010

Monday 12th April 2010

In the car:
The Dead Weather - Horehound

At home:
Brahms - Violin Concerto
Bruch - Violin Concerto
Beethoven - Violin Romances
Mozart - Violin Concerto No.5

That was all!

Sunday 11th April 2010

In the car:
Muse - The Resistance
The Dead Weather - Horehound

At home:
Duffy - Rockferry

That was it.

Saturday 10 April 2010

Saturday 10th April 2010

Gosh, another day where I didn't really listen to anything. Too much gardening, sleeping and TV.

I'll try to do better than this.

Friday 9 April 2010

Friday 9th April 2010

In the car:
Pure Reason Revolution - Amor Vincit Omnia

At home:
Duffy - Rockferry

In the car:
Haydn - Symphony No.104
Schubert - Impromptus

That was all.

Thursday 8th April 2010

In the car:
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Pure Reason Revolution - Amor Vincit Omnia

At home:
Mozart - Symphonies 40 & 41
Duffy - Rockferry

That was all.

Wednesday 7 April 2010

Wednesday 7th April 2010

In the car:
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

At home:
Satie - Gnossiennes, Gymnopedies etc. on loop

That was all.

Tuesday 6 April 2010

Tuesday 6th April 2010

In the car:
Velvet Underground - "Banana" Album

At home:
Wagner - Lohengrin Prelude & Act I

That was it.

Monday 5 April 2010

Monday 5th April 2010

At home:
Prokofiev - Piano Sonatas 5, 6, 7 (revised version of 5)
Wagner - Lohengrin Prelude & Act I

That was all!

Sunday 4th April 2010

In the car:
Gary Numan - Best Of (end)
Velvet Underground - "Banana" Album

At home:
Haydn - Baryton Trios 1-7

That was all!

Saturday 3rd April 2010

At home:
Haydn - Baryton Trios 1-7

That was all!

Friday 2 April 2010

Friday 2nd April 2010

In the car:
Santana - Very Best Of (end)
Gary Numan - Best Of (start)

At home:
Brahms - Violin Concerto
Bruch - Violin Concerto
Beethoven - Violin Romances

That was all!

Thursday 1st April 2010

In the car:
Santana - Very Best Of

Another not very musicy day!

Wednesday 31 March 2010

Wednesday 31st March 2010

In the car:
Santana - Very Best Of

That was all - owing to appointment, sleep, TV & tuba practice!

Tuesday 30th March 2010

In the car:
Santana - Very Best Of

At home:
Monteverdi - 1610 Vespers
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Creature With The Atom Brain - Transylvania

That was it!

Tuesday 30 March 2010

Monday 29th March 2010

Very little music today, sleep, viola practice, medical appointment, tuba practice, all conspired to keep me from listening. So just, in the car:
Santana - Very Best Of

I love that album!

Sunday 28th March 2010

At home in the morning:
Brahms - Symphony No.1, Serenade No.2
Eurythmics - Greatest Hits

In the car:
The Velvet Underground - "Banana Album"
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black
Pure Reason Revolution - Amor Vincit Omnia
The Smiths - The Queen is Dead
Santana - The Very Best Of

At a concert:
Dvorak - Carnival Overture
Shostakovich - Piano Concerto No.2
Liadov - Musical Box (encore)
Brahms - Symphony No.4

A fantastic concert. Sparkling in the first half, and profound in the second (although the first movement of the Brahms was just a shade under the tempo I usually like it). Was also lovely to meet some twitter friends, @wheresrunnicles and @_jojohnson_. And always wonderful to hear live music of course.

Saturday 27 March 2010

Saturday 27th March 2010

Plans to listen to Janacek Opera were thwarted by a love for:
Brahms - Symphony No.1, Serenade No.2

That was all - on repeat. Toscanini at the helm of recordings from 1941 & 1942.

Bliss, paradise, wonderment!

The 1st Symphony has 2 of my top moments (2nd & 4th movements)
The 2nd Serenade has no violins! Hurrah for the alto clef brigade who lead this one! :-)

Friday 26th March 2010

In the car:
Santana - The Very Best Of (end)
Gary Numan - The Best Of

Comment: I always forget how fabulous Gary Numan is. We saw him live a couple of years ago and he was AWESOME! :-)

Friday 26 March 2010

Thursday 25th March 2010

In the car:

Pendulum - In Silico (a bit)

Bach - Christmas Oratorio (beginning)

Santana - Very Best Of (part)

An odd combination. Twas an odd day. Ultimately good though I think.

Wednesday 24 March 2010

Wednesday 24th March 2010

In the car:
Pendulum - In Silico

At home:
Pendulum - Hold Your Colour

Bit similar to yesterday really!

Tuesday 23 March 2010

Tuesday 23rd March 2010

In the car:
Pendulum - In Silico

At home:
Pendulum - Hold Your Colour

It's been the sort of day where Pendulum is deeply soothing. I went to a Pendulum gig a year and a bit ago when I was very ill and found it very therapeutic. Going to see them again this year, which is VERY good news!

Monday 22 March 2010

Monday 22nd March 2010

In the car:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

At home:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
The Libertines - The Best Of
Rimsky-Korsakov - Suites from: Pan Voyevode, La Fille des Neiges, Le Coq d'Or
Carter - 90+, Retrouvailles, Night Fantasies, Diversions, Matribute, Sonata, Thoughts

That was all!

Sunday 21st March 2010

In the car:
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco (end)
Muse - The Resistance
The Dead Weather - Horehound

That was it.

Saturday 20 March 2010

Saturday 20th March 2010

At home in the morning:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherezade, Capriccio Espagnol

In the car:
Radiohead - The Best Of
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco (start)

That was it.

Friday 19th March 2010

In the car:
Bruckner - Symphony No.7
Smetana - String Quartet No.1

At work, on the radio, on earphones:
Antonio Vivaldi — Concerto No. 4 in A minor RV 357
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — Adagio from Symphony No. 4 Arranger: Rees Williams Performer: The David Rees-Williams Trio
Giacomo Puccini — Madame Butterfly: Aria: Un bel dì vedremo (One fine day we’ll see)
Carl Stamitz — Quartet for flute, violin, viola and basso continuo in A major, Op 4 No. 6
Bohuslav Martinu — Le Jazz
George Harrison — Here Comes the Sun Performer: Christian Rivet (archlute)
Glen Ballard — Branles de village (Village dances)
Georg Friedrich Händel — Concerto for organ in B flat major Op 4 No. 6
Carl Maria von Weber — Overture: The Ruler of the Spirits
Robert Schumann — Stille Tränen (silent tears) Op 35 No.10
Elizabeth Maconchy — Overture: Proud Thames
André Caplet — Viens, une flute invisible soupire (come, an invisible flute sighs)
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart — Sonata for piano in E flat major, K 282
Traditional — Shenandoah
Samuel Wesley — Wash Me Throughly

That was all!

Thursday 18 March 2010

Thursday 18th March 2010

In the car:
Brahms - Sextet No.1 Mvmt 4

At home, following a tweeted Spotify link by @wheresrunnicles:
Dvorak - Symphony No.7 & Symphony No.8 (link here)

At home, finally finding the space to listen to "now would all freudians please stand aside", the new disc by James Rhodes:
Bach/Busoni - Toccata, Adagio & Fugue in C major BWV 564
Beethoven - Sonata No.30 Op.109
Bach - Partita No.6 BWV830
Bach/Marcello - Adagio from Concerto No.3
Chopin - Prelude No.4, Etude No.12

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherezade

In the car on the way to a gig:
Brahms - Sextet No.2

At the gig, sets by:
Relik
SpeakoWire
Secret Rivals
Inlight - Set list tweeted (what a cool idea that is): inlight: for those who asked about tonight's set: Fragile, Who Will Save Me Now, Spotlights, Give Me A Try, Bridges, Disappear, Paranoia, Icarus..

On the way home in the car:
Bruckner - Symphony No.7 1st & 2nd Movements

Comments: 2 amazing musical experiences today!!!

1. Wonderful wonderful playing by James, as I've now come to expect. The mix of excitement and sensitivity in his interpretations is just brilliant! I could quite literally feel the last movement of the Beethoven tugging at my heart strings.

2. Inlight were STORMING!!! Fabulous! Highlight of the evening for me was the bassline for "Dissapear", which was just amazing! Totally AWESOME! Nights in the Jericho don't get much better than this! Great gig guys!

Wednesday 17 March 2010

Wednesday 17th March 2010

In the car:
Brahms - Sextet No.1 Mvmts 2-4

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Symphony No.3, Symphony on Russian Themes

That was all!

Tuesday 16 March 2010

Tuesday 16th March 2010

In the car:
Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite No.2
Smetana - Ma Vlast
Brahms - String Sextet No.1 (1st Mvmt)

On the radio at work:
Various unidentifiable by me bits from Radio 2 that a colleague had on.

On the radio on earphones at work, from Radio 3:
Charles Gounod — Petite symphonie pour instruments a vent: Scherzo – Allegro moderato (3rd movement)
Mark Morales — Missa “Mille regretz”: Sanctus
Arnold — The Padstow Lifeboat
George Gershwin — Second Rhapsody for Piano & Orchestra
Fontana — Sonata No. 14
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky — Mazurka Op 40 No. 5
Alexander Konstantinovich Glazunov — Fantastic Waltz (Raymonda)
Johann Friedrich Fasch - Trumpet Concerto in D major
Schubert - Duo in A major D.574
Lully - Atys -Prologue & Act III (orchestral excerpts)
Chopin - Berceuse in D flat major Op.57
Chopin - Ballade No.2 in F major Op.38

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Symphonies No.1 and No.2
Bruckner - Locus Iste

That was it!

Monday 15 March 2010

Monday 15th March 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartet No.9
Grieg - Peer Gynt Suite No.1

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol, Scheherezade, Russian Easter Overture

At the doctor's:
A surreal mix of music on loop. See here for details!

At home:
Kandinsky Blues by Pseudoambient. See here!

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Overture on Russian Themes, Prelude Cantate, Poeme Symphonique, Fantasie on Serbian Themes, At the Tomb, Dubinushka

Inlight - Disappear (Remix) Check out here! Also Paranoia (Live), Icarus!!! (my fave)

Rimsky-Korsakov - Symphony No.1, Symphony No.2

Comment: This Rimsky stuff is BRILLIANT!!!!!!

Sunday 14th March 2010

Didn't really listen to any music today.

However, that isn't quite true - I spent much of the day in front of the TV, including watching a Poirot that had constant Satie throughout.

Hard to describe days like these, where I don't really listen to any music, but I hear quite a lot, although too difficult to describe.

One of the dilemmas of the Ears!

Sunday 14 March 2010

Saturday 13th March 2010

At home:
Britten - Death In Venice (Complete)

That was all!

Friday 12th March 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartets 6, 7, and 8.

That was all.

Thursday 11 March 2010

Thursday 11th March 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartet No.6 (Opening)

At home:
Britten - Death In Venice (Act I)

That was it!

Wednesday 10th March 2010

In the car on the way home from Aberystwyth:
Schumann - Marchenbilder
Shostakovich - Viola Sonata
Brahms - Piano Concertos No.1 and No.2
Saint Saens - Organ Symphony, Danse Macabre

That was all!

Tuesday 9th March 2010

In the hotel, on the radio:
Vaughan Williams — Overture: The Wasps
Shostakovich — Love (Michelangelo Suite)
Hugo Wolf — Fuhlt meine Seele das ersehnte Licht. Lieder 3 (3 Michelangelo Poems)
Britten — Sonetto XXIV: Spirito ben nato in cui si specchia e vede (7 Sonnets of Michelangelo)
Francesco Zappa — “Cello” Symphony in B flat
Paganini — Caprice No.24 in A minor: Tema con Variazioni Quasi Presto
Ravel - Le tombeau de Couperin
Britten - Les illuminations

That was all!

Monday 8th March 2010

At home in the morning:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.4

In the car on the way to Aberystwyth:
Messaien - L'Ascension, Et Exspecto
Steve Reich - Different Trains, Electric Counterpoint
Bax - Legend for Viola
Bruch - Kol Nidrei (Viola), Romance for Viola
Rebecca Clarke - Viola Sonata
Hindemith - Der Schwanendreher
Kreiser - Praeludium & Allegro (Viola)
Schubert - Arpeggione Sonata (Viola)
Schumann - Marchenbilder

That was all!

Sunday 7 March 2010

Sunday 7th March 2010

At home:
Schumann - Symphonies No.2 and 4

That was all.

Saturday 6th March 2010

At home:
Schumann - Symphony No.2

That was all. Much of the day was spent asleep.

Saturday 6 March 2010

Friday 5th March 2010

In the car:
Bartok - String Quartets No.s 1, 3, and 5
Messaien - L'Ascension

That was all.

Thursday 4 March 2010

Thursday 4th March 2010

In the car today:
Philip Glass - Akhnaten Prelude/Dance, Company, Violin Concerto
Bartok - String Quartet No.1

At home:
Mozart - Requiem
Dvorak - Cello Concerto
Smetana - The Moldau
Schumann - Symphony No.3, Symphony No.1

That was all.

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Wednesday 3rd March 2010

In the car:
Janacek - String Quartet No.2

At Home:
Dvorak - Cello Concerto
Smetana - The Moldau
Mozart - Requiem

That was all.

Tuesday 2 March 2010

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

In the car:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10 (complete)
Janacek - String Quartet No.1

At home:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.9
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10
Shostakovich - Cello Concertos 1&2

Still on the Shostakovich then. Comment: the second movement of the 10th Symphony is one of the most exciting things ever!

Monday 1 March 2010

Monday 1st March 2010

In the car, a bit more:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10

At home:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.7
Shostakovich - Symphony No.8

It's Shostakovich at the moment then!

Sunday 28 February 2010

Sunday 28th February 2010

At home:
Khachaturian - Suites: Spartacus, Masquerade, Gayaneh
Shostakovich - Symphony No.7 "Leningrad"

That was all.

Saturday 27th February 2010

In the car:
Shostakovich - Symphony No.10, First Movement

That was all - much of the day was spent in front of the TV or asleep!

Friday 26 February 2010

Friday 26th February 2010

At home:
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique

In the car:
Shostakovich - String Quartet No.8
Shostakovich - Symphony No.8

At home:
Khachaturian - Suites: Spartacus, Masquerade, Gayaneh

The Khachaturian was the result of hearing the waltz from Masquerade during an Olympics figure skating short programme!

Thursday 25th February 2010

In the car:
Smetana - String Quartets No.s 1&2

That was it!

Wednesday 24 February 2010

Wednesday 24th February 2010

In the car:
Smetana - Ma Vlast
Brahms - String Sextets
Bruckner - Symphony No.7

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherezade
Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol

At a concert in the evening:
Matthew King - Totentango
Mendelssohn - Violin Concerto in E Minor
Berlioz - Symphonie Fantastique

Absolutely fabulous concert - I swear there were witches flying round the Barbican Hall on their broomsticks during the last movement of the Berlioz!!

Tuesday 23rd February 2010

In the car:
Grieg - Peer Gynt Suites 1&2

That was all.

Monday 22nd February 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartet No.9 (end)

At home:
Borodin - Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor
Rimsky-Korsakov - Russian Easter Festival Overture
Mussorgsky - A Night on the Bare Mountain
Rimsky-Korsakov - Capriccio Espagnol

This last selection was repeated several times.

Sunday 21st February 2010

At home:
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 140-155

That was all.

Saturday 20th February 2010

At home:
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 126-139

That was all.

Friday 19th February 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartet No.9 (start)

At home:
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 126-139

That was all.

Thursday 18th February 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartet No.8 (end)

At home:
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 94-125

That was all.

Wednesday 17th February 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartet No.8 (start)

At home:
Kasabian - Fire (on YouTube, from the Brits)
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 94-112

That was it.

Tuesday 16th February 2010

In the car:
Dvorak - String Quartet No.7

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherezade

That was all.

Monday 15th February 2010

In the car on the way to the psychiatrist's:
Saint-Saens - Danse Macabre
Dvorak - String Quartet No.6

At home:
Rimsky-Korsakov - Scheherezade

Well, it was an improvement on the day before!

Sunday 14th February 2010

I didn't listen to any music at all. This very rarely happens, but I was in a terrible state, just clinging on to sanity, and just the effort of putting a CD into the player would have been too much. A black day indeed.

Saturday 13th February 2010

In the car:
Saint-Saens - Organ Symphony

At home:
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 204a-216

That was all.

Friday 12th February 2010

In the car while going for a drive first to the seaside and then on a pilgrimage to a special place in the morning:
Beethoven - Piano Concertos No.s 2-5
Schubert - Symphonies 4-9

In the car while driving home:
Mendelssohn - String Quintet No.1
Mendelssohn - Overtures: Hebrides, Calm Sea & Prosperous Voyage, Fair Melusine, Midsummer Night's Dream
Brahms - Piano Concertos No.s 1 & 2

That was all.

Thursday 11th February 2010

In the car for a short trip in the morning:
Beethoven - Piano Trio No.1

At home:
Beethoven - Violin Concerto
Scarlatti - Sonatas Kk 204a-216

In the car for a drive north:
Haydn - Symphonies No.s 101-104
Schubert - Impromptus
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.1

That was it.

Monday 22 February 2010

Wednesday 10th February 2010

For a short trip in the car:
Beethoven - Apassionata Sonata (part)

That was it.

Tuesday 9th February 2010

In the car on the way to a concert:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Pendulum - In Silico
Reverend & The Makers - A French Kiss in the Chaos
Nirvana - Nirvana

At the concert (LSO, Maria Joao Pires, John Eliot Gardiner):
Beethoven - Egmont Overture
Beethoven - Piano Concerto No.2
Scarlatti - Sonata Kk208 (Encore)
Beethoven - Symphony No.6

On the way home in the car:
Beethoven - Piano Trios Op.1, No.s 1-3
Beethoven - Apassionata Sonata

That was it! Very Beethoven day. Absolutely superb concert.

Thursday 11 February 2010

Monday 8th February 2010

In the car:
The Dead Weather - Horehound (end)

At home:
Mendelssohn - Octet
Beethoven - Septet

That was all.

Monday 8 February 2010

Sunday 7th February 2010

Just, for a short trip in the car:
The Dead Weather - Horehound (beginning)

I really am not doing very well with the music at the moment - I'm so sorry dear Ears followers. I'll try and improve. My mind has been a bit "elsewhere" recently.

Saturday 6th February 2010

In the car on the way to the supermarket:
Muse - The Resistance

At home:
Bach - Violin Concertos BWV1041-1043

That was all.

Friday 5th February 2010

In the car, a bit of:
Muse - The Resistance

At home:
Muse - The Resistance

That was it!

Thursday 4th February 2010

A truly black day, but musically a success in the end.

In the car, on the way to and from a gig:
Radiohead - The Best Of
Elbow - Seldom Seen Kid
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco

At the gig, sets by:
To The Moon
Jessie Grace
Inlight

Fabulous, all three of them. mJ did a solo set since his band partner wasn't around. Jessie was fab, and ended her set with fabulous guitar glissandi! Inlight are just really really cool, and they played the Wonderspouse's choice of song to start their set (Disappear) and my choice to end (Icarus).

Live noisy music is balm to a troubled soul. Watching Jonny's fingers on the bass was good therapy for me after the blackest of days.

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

In the car, bits of:
Nirvana - Nirvana

At home:
Beethoven - Spring and Kreutzer Sonatas

That was it.

Wednesday 3 February 2010

Tuesday 2nd February 2010

In the car, bits of:
Nirvana - Nirvana

At home:
Bach - Violin Concertos BWV 1041-1043
Beethoven - Violin Concerto

That was all!

Monday 1st February 2010

In the car for several short trips:
Reverend and The Makers - A French Kiss in the Chaos

At home:
Schubert - Piano Sonatas D959, D784, D157
Bach - Violin Concertos BWV 1041-1043

That was all!

Sunday 31 January 2010

Sunday 31st January 2010

At home:
Mozart - Sonata for 2 pianos K448
Schubert - Fantasia for piano 4 hands D940
Mozart - Fantasia for mechanical organ K608
Mozart - Andante & Variations K501
Mozart - Concerto for 2 pianos K365
Mozart - Concerto for 3 pianos K242

That was all!

Saturday 30th January 2010

At home:
Bach - Concertos for 3 & 4 Harpsichords BWV 1063-1065
Bach - Harpsichord Concertos BWV 1052-3 & 1055-6

That was all!

Friday 29th January 2010

In the car on the way to and from the psychiatrist:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Pendulum - In Silico

At home:
Bach - Single & Double Violin Concertos BWV 1041-1043

That was all!

Thursday 28th January 2010

In the car for a short trip:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum (part)

At home:
Beethoven - Quintet in Eb for Piano & Wind Op.16
Mozart - Quintet in Eb for Piano & Wind K452
Beethoven - Violin Concerto

That was all!

Wednesday 27 January 2010

Wednesday 27th January 2010

In the car on the way to a psychologist appointment:
The Dead Weather - Horehound
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

At home, following a Spotify link from facebook:
Mozart - Quintet in Eb for Piano & Wind K452 (Hough, Berlin Phil Winds)
Mozart - Adagio & Allegro K594 arranged for Winds

Then, having looked out my CD:
Beethoven - Quintet in Eb for Piano & Wind Op.16
Mozart - Quintet in Eb for Piano & Wind K452 (Perlemuter, Albion Ensemble)

That was it.

Tuesday 26th January 2010

A rather bad day.

For one short car journey, the end of:
Muse - The Resistance

In the doctor's surgery waiting room:
Some brass band music (unidentified)

At home:
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

That was all.

Monday 25th January 2010

In the car, on the way and back from meeting a friend:
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco
Muse - The Resistance

At home:
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
Beethoven - Triple Concerto
Brahms - Double Concerto
Grieg - Piano Concerto
Schumann - Piano Concerto

That was all!

Sunday 24 January 2010

Sunday 24th January 2010

A trying morning was soothed with:
Elgar - Introduction & Allegro, Serenade for Strings
Vaughan Williams - The Lark Ascending, Fantasia on Greensleeves, Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis

A short trip in the car had the end of:
Radiohead - The Best Of

At home, following a Spotify link tweeted by @iamamro:
Morrissey - Suedehead: The Best Of Morrissey

Then:
Radiohead - The Bends
Dire Straits - Brothers In Arms

That was all!

Saturday 23 January 2010

Saturday 23rd January 2010

The day started with:
Sibelius - Symphony No.6

And ended with:
Britten - Peter Grimes

Both of these as a result of tweets - Sibelius with @Tom_Godell and Britten with @greendane!

Friday 22nd January 2010

The Tchaikovsky phase continued:
Tchaikovsky - Symphony No.2, Francesca da Rimini, Symphony No.3, Marche Slave

In the car today:
Nirvana - Nirvana (end of)
Radiohead - Best of

That was all!

Thursday 21st January 2010

In the car for a short trip, a bit more:
Nirvana - Nirvana

At home:
Tchaikovsky - Symphony No. 4, Fatum, Francesca da Rimini, Symphony No.2

That was all!

Wednesday 20th January 2010

A bit more music today. In the car for a short trip, part of:
Nirvana - Nirvana

At home:
Schubert - Trout Quintet, Quartet Death & The Maiden
Dvorak - Slavonic Dances Opp 46 & 72
Schoenberg - Verklaerte Nacht, Variations Op.31

That was it!

Wednesday 20 January 2010

Tuesday 19th January 2010

A very lean day, just:
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

Yes, really. And that wasn't until the evening. Very strange sort of a day.

Monday 18th January 2010

At home today:
Bach - Goldberg Variations
Britten - Death in Venice

That was all.

Sunday 17th January 2010

We finally got out of the house for a decent amount of time in the car and listened to:
Pendulum - In Silico
Reverend & The Makers - French Kiss in the Chaos
Nirvana - Nirvana (beginning)

At home:
Saint-Saens - Organ Symphony
Beethoven - Symphony No.5, Symphony No.7

That was all!

Saturday 16 January 2010

Saturday 16th January 2010

The morning started with a song on Radio Shropshire:
Stereophonics - Handbags and Gladrags

Then:
Sibelius - Symphony No.2, Symphony No.3

Later:
Blur - Midlife

That was it!

Friday 15th January 2010

Again, not much music today, I spent a lot of the day asleep in front of the TV I'm afraid, so just:
Beethoven - Symphony No.5 and Symphony No.7

What I will say is that the disc of these two symphonies is Carlos Kleiber with the Vienna Phil (recording from 1975/76 on DG) and I think it's absolutely one of the most fantastic discs ever. Brilliant brilliant brilliant!

Thursday 14th January 2010

At home:
Beethoven - String Quartets Op.74 and Op.132
Franck - Symphony in D minor, Symphonic Variations
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Beethoven - Symphony No.5 and Symphony No.7

That was all.

Thursday 14 January 2010

Wednesday 13th January 2010

Another day with just one disc:
Beethoven - String Quartets Op.74 and Op.132

That was it!

Tuesday 12th January 2010

Just one disc today, on repeat:
Brahms - Cello Sonatas 1 & 2

That was it!

Monday 11th January 2010

At home in the morning:
Beethoven - String Quartets Op.59, No.3 and Op.131

In the afternoon in the Doctor's waiting room:
Strange tinkly palm court then music box type music
Brass band music, including Men of Harlech & Rule Britannia

The Wonderspouse, who accompanied me to the surgery commented that the strange tinkly music was actually his equivalent of torture, and kept me amused while waiting by saying "Yes, yes, I'll tell you anything, just turn it off". Once the brass band started up he said it sounded like a parade for Lenin or something. I said I didn't think Lenin was Welsh.

By the time I went into the surgery I was mildly hysterical, even though going to seek help for depression. We generally deal with such things using humour here, and the rather terrible music provided the perfect stimulus for crazy conversation!

Sunday 10th January 2010

I was feeling pretty shocking so needed something fairly rough to listen to:
The Libertines - The Best Of

Then later, as I cheered up a very tiny bit:
Radiohead - The Bends

The Bends is my favourite Radiohead album currently.

Saturday 9th January 2010

Today we managed to get out in the car for a short trip to a nearby town. While driving very slowly and carefully we listened to:
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum

At home, prompted by a conversation with @5357311 I listened on Spotify to:
Carter - Piano Music (see here for Spotify link or here for other details)

Later that evening:
Dire Straits - Brothers in Arms

That was it. I had the Carter several times. Good stuff!

Sunday 10 January 2010

Friday 8th January 2010

I was really getting cabin fever, and all that I listened to, on repeat, was:
Amy Winehouse - Back to Black

Black seemed like a much better idea than the unrelenting whiteness outside!

Thursday 7th January 2010

The second day of being snowed in was a Beethoven day:
Beethoven - String Quartets Op.18, No.1 and Op.59, No.1
Beethoven - Symphony No.3 "Eroica", Grosse Fuge

That was it!

Wednesday 6 January 2010

Wednesday 6th January 2010

Not a huge amount of music today owing to having rolling news about snow as the soundtrack for the day. However, did listen to:
Dvorak - Terzettos for 2 violins & viola
Dvorak - Bagatelles for 2 violins, cello & harmonium

That was all!

Tuesday 5th January 2010

In the car on the ways to and from work:
Calvin Harris - I Created Disco
Muse - The Resistance
The Dead Weather - Horehound

Once I got home:
The Kills - Midnight Boom
The Kills - No Wow
The Kills - Keep on Your Mean Side

I think I must have been in an Alison Mosshart kind of mood!

Monday 4 January 2010

Monday 4th January 2010

In the car for a short trip, part of:
Calvin Harris - I created Disco

On repeat all day at home:
Shostakovich - Violin Sonata, Viola Sonata

In the evening changed to:
Beethoven - Piano Concertos No.2 and No.4

Probably it for the night!

Sunday 3rd January 2010

In the morning:
Beethoven - Violin Concerto

In the afternoon:
Shostakovich - Violin Sonata, Viola Sonata

That was all.

Saturday 2nd January 2010

Just one work today, in its entirety:

Wagner - Tristan und Isolde

That was quite enough!

Saturday 2 January 2010

Friday 1st January 2010

The ears started the New Year in traditional style with the second part of the New Year's Day concert from Vienna:

Otto Nicolai: Ouvertüre zu „Die lustigen Weiber von Windsor"
Johann Strauß: Wiener Bonbons. Walzer, op. 307
Johann Strauß: Champagner-Polka, op. 211
Johann Strauß: Ein Herz, ein Sinn. Polka mazur, op. 323
Johann Strauß Vater: Der Carneval in Paris
Jacques Offenbach: Ouvertüre zu „Die Rheinnixen"
Eduard Strauß: Quadrille Schöne Helena
Johann Strauß: Morgenblätter. Walzer, op. 279
Hans Christian Lumbye: Champagner-Galopp
Plus, of course, various encores!

The rest of the day was spent listening to:
Grieg - Piano Concerto
Schumann - Piano Concerto
Schumann - Papillons

Happy 2010 everybody!