November 25, 2019

Year of Wonder – December

December is the last month of my Year of Wonder. Clemency Burton-Hill's book Year of Wonder describes one piece of music for each day of the year, and I have listened to every piece in the book so far. It's been great fun, to say the least. 

November was a particularly good month with many dreary, minor key pieces to fit the mood for late autumn. A few of my favorites (at least the ones I could find on YouTube) are embedded below. 

Whether you have already begun the journey or would like to begin now, I have embedded a Spotify playlist for Burton-Hill's recommendations for December.

Enjoy!


Purcell, Dido and Aeneas, "When I am laid in earth"
Performed by the English Chamber Orchestra
Jessye Norman (soprano)

Chopin, Nocturne No. 8 in D-flat major, op. 27 no. 2
Performed by Evgeny Kissin

Holst, Choral Hymns, "Hymn to the Dawn"
Performed by the BBC Singers, conducted by Nicholas Kok

Villa-Lobos, Bachianas brasileiras, No. 5, Aria
Performed by cellists from the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra
Barbara Hannigan (soprano)

Reich, Music for Pieces of Wood
Performed by Third Coast Percussion

MacMillan, Miserere
Performed by Third Coast Percussion