Playlist for Jan's Quodlibet: A Year in Music
From Beethoven to Jelly Roll Morton and Gershwin to Ravel you are sure to find surprises and old favourites in this extensive playlist of listening recommendations from Jan's Quodlibet: A Year in Music by Ian Hampton with Barbara Nickel (Ronsdale Press, 2026). (Note: the numbers refer to the day of month that corresponds to the text in the book.)
August
26: J.S. Bach, St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244, Recitative “O Smerz!”; Aria with Chorus “Ich will bei meinem Jesu wachen” (Wilfred Brown/Leith Hill Musical Festival Chorus and Orchestra/Ralph Vaughan Williams), March 5, 1958.
29: Sylvia Fine, The Little Fiddle (Danny Kaye, Danny Kaye for Children), UMG Recordings, Inc., released on January 1, 1959.
September
3: Anon., “L’amours dont sui espris” (Augsburg Early Music Ensemble, Medieval Pilgrimage to Santiago), Christophorus, released on January 1, 2003. Provided to YouTube by Naxos of America.
7: S. Prokofiev, Sinfonia Concertante in E Minor, op. 125, 1: Andante (Mstislav Rostropovich/London Symphony Orchestra/Seiji Ozawa, Prokofiev Editions, Vol. 2 – Concertos), Warner Music UK Limited, 1988.
8: A. Dvořák, Cello Concerto in B Minor, op. 104, 3: Allegro moderato (Pablo Casals/Czech Philharmonic Orchestra/George Szell), Naxos, recorded July 1937 at Prague Deutsche Haus.
17: Hildegard of Bingen, “De Spiritu Sancto” (Julija Skobe/St. Stanislav Girls’ Choir of the Diocesan Classical Gymnasium/Helena Fojkar Zupančič), TAJUS, PPZ, recorded at St. Joseph Church, Poljane, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
19: M. Ravel, L’enfant et les sortilèges, “Duo Miaule” (Elliot Madore and Stéphanie d’Oustrac/London Philharmonic Orchestra/Kazushi Ono), recorded August 2012 at Glyndebourne Opera Festival.
24: William Lawes, Fantasy in C Major in Six Parts, Consort Set VII (Hespèrion XXI/Jordi Savall, Consort Sets in Five & Six Parts), Alia Vox, released on January 1, 2002.
29: Jelly Roll Morton, “New Orleans Blues/Joys” (Jelly Roll Morton), Gennett Records, recorded July 17, 1923, in Richmond, Indiana.
October
7: L. van Beethoven, Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, op. 15, 3: Rondo, Allegro scherzando (Martha Argerich/West-Eastern Divan Orchestra/Daniel Barenboim), Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, 2014.
8: N. Paganini, Moto Perpetuo, op. 11 (Antal Zalai/József Balog), Budapest, July 9, 2016.
13: A. Dvořák, Humoresque, op. 101, no. 7 (Art Tatum), recorded 1939–1956.
18: Charles Williams, Devil’s Galop (Charles Williams Concert Orchestra/Charles Williams, British Light Music), Regis Records, released on January 1, 2010. Provided to YouTube by the Orchard Enterprises.
21: Traditional (British), “On Board a Man o’ War” (The Exmouth Shanty Men, The Full Shanty [live recording]), The Exmouth Shanty Men, released on April 1, 2011. Provided to YouTube by the Orchard Enterprises.
22: Jean-Marie Leclair, Violin Sonata No. 3 in D Major, op. 9, no. 4: Le Tambourin (Henryk Szeryng).
25: Ravi Shankar, Concerto for Sitar and Orchestra, 1: Rāga Khamāj (Ravi Shankar/London Symphony Orchestra/André Previn, Concerto for Sitar & Orchestra [1988 Remastered Version]), Warner Music UK Ltd. digital remastering, 1988. Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics.
28: A. Schoenberg, Pierrot Lunaire, op. 21, 21: “Oh alter Duft” (O Ancient Scent) (Cleo Laine/The Nash Ensemble, Pierrot Lunaire), RCA Red Seal, 1974.
30: Peter Warlock, “Bethlehem Down” (The Choir of Trinity College Cambridge/Stephen Layton), Hyperion Records, recorded in Trinity College Chapel.
31: Sir Henry Bishop, “Home Sweet Home” (Adelina Patti), Victor, 1905, recorded in her castle near Swansea, Wales.
November
17: C. Saint-Saëns, L’assassinat du Duc de Guise, op. 12 (Ensemble Musique Oblique), Harmonia Mundi, released on July 31, 2007. Provided to YouTube by Bartje Bartmans.
21: H. Purcell, Fantasia upon One Note in F Major (Zorian Quartet with Benjamin Britten), EMI, November 4, 1946.
25: S. Rachmaninov, Piano Concerto No. 2 in C Minor, op. 18, 1: Moderato (Arthur Rubinstein/NBC Symphony Orchestra/Vladimir Golschmann), RCA/Naxos, recorded May 27, 1946, at Carnegie Hall.
27: B. Bartók, Contrasts, 3: Sebes (Joseph Szigeti/Béla Bartók/Benny Goodman, Benny Goodman Collector’s Edition: Compositions & Collaborations), Sony, originally released 1953. Provided to YouTube by Sony Classical.
December
4: Flory Jagoda, “Ocho Kandelikas” (China Forbes/Timothy Nishimoto/Cantor Ida Rae Cahana/Pink Martini, Home for the Holidays), recorded December 2020 at Pink Martini’s World Headquarters, Portland, Oregon.
9: R. Strauss, Der Rosenkavalier, Finale (Trio) (Elisabeth Schwarzkopf/Christa Ludwig/Teresa Stich-Randall/Philharmonia Chorus; Orchestra/Herbert von Karajan, Der Rosenkavalier), EMI, recorded December 1956 at Kingsway Hall, London.
10: O. Messiaen, “Le Loriot” (Yvonne Loriod, Catalogue d’oiseaux), Erato, 1971.
15: Ferenc Farkas, Exercitium Tonale: 24 Preludes for Guitar (Steven Watson), 1: “Intrada,” December 15, 2021. 9: “Gigue,” June 13, 2023. 19: “Meditazione,” June 15, 2023.
January
4: Sokolov, Glazunov, Lyadov, Les Vendredis, Polka in D Major (Shostakovich Quartet, score arr. for string orchestra). Provided to YouTube by Bartje Bartmans.
12: O. Gibbons, Fantasia No. 2 in Six Parts in G minor (L’Achéron Ensemble, Fancies for the Viols), Outhere Music, October 27, 2017.
13: E. Elgar, Enigma Variations, op. 36, 9: “Nimrod” (Keys of Change World Youth Sinfonietta).
17: François-Joseph Gossec, “Gavotte” (Mischa Elman/Josef Bonime), the Vitaphone Corporation, Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., 1926. Provided to YouTube by David Sukonick.
20: Florence Price, Fantasie nègre No. 1 in E Minor (Jeneba Kanneh-Mason, Fantasie), Sony Classical, released on March 7, 2025.
24: Cedric Thorpe Davie, The Jolly Beggars, Quodlibet (Chapel Choir, Glasgow University), Centre for Robert Burns Studies, 2013.
25: Traditional (arr. J. Haydn), “The Blue Bells of Scotland” (Lorna Anderson/Jamie MacDougall/Haydn Trio Eisenstadt, Haydn: Scottish and Welsh Songs, vol. 3), Brilliant Classics, released on June 29, 2018.
26: G. Gershwin (arr. Harris), “Fascinating Rhythm” (Stéphane Grappelli/Yehudi Menuhin), Parlophone Records Limited/Warner Classics, 1975.
February
4: Toshi Ichiyanagi, Quartet No. 3, “Inner-Landscape” (New Arts String Quartet), Camerata Tokyo, released on August 21, 1999. Provided to YouTube by Believe SAS.
5: Ole Bull, Sæterjentens Søndag (Melina Mandozzi/Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra/Neeme Järvi).
18: Tania León, Stride, rehearsal excerpt (New York Philharmonic, “Project 19 in Rehearsal”), February 2020. Provided to YouTube by the New York Philharmonic.
20: C. Debussy, Pelléas et Mélisande, “Mes longs cheveux” (Mary Garden/Claude Debussy), recorded in Paris, France, 1903. Provided to YouTube by Classic & Opera.
21: Tan Dun, Buddha Passion, “The Heart Sutra” (Gong Linna/Shanghai Symphony Orchestra).
23: Samuel Pepys, “Beauty Retire” (William Davenant/Richard Wistreich, The Musical Life of Samuel Pepys), Saydisc Records, released on January 1, 1990. Provided to YouTube by the Orchard Enterprises.
25: A. Stradella, “Pietà, Seigneur!” (Beniamino Gigli/Members of La Scala Orchestra/Carlo Sabajno), HMV, 1932.
29: G. Rossini, Tancredi, “Di tanti palpiti” (Cecilia Bartoli/Wiener Volksoper Orchester/Giuseppe Patanè, Rossini Arias), Decca Music Group Limited, 1989. Provided to YouTube by the Universal Music Group.
March
1: Thomas Adès, Concerto for Piano and Orchestra, 1: Allegramente (Kirill Gerstein/Boston Symphony Orchestra/Thomas Adès, Adès Conducts Adès), Deutsche Grammophon. Live at Symphony Hall, Boston, 2019. Provided to YouTube by the Universal Music Group.
5: William Denis Browne, “To Gratiana Singing and Dancing” (Wilfred Brown/Margaret McNamee), recorded 1962.
8: Ilse Weber, “Wiegala” (arr. Alberto Martin Diaz) (David Kadouch/Sandrine Piau). Provided to YouTube by David Kadouch, pianist.
12: Thomas Arne, Artaxerxes, “The Soldier Tir’d” (Joan Sutherland), recorded 1960.
15: Colin McPhee, Tabuh-Tabuhan: Toccata for Orchestra (Wesley Shen/Stephanie Chua/Esprit Orchestra/Alex Pauk), recorded January 25, 2023, at Koerner Hall, Toronto.
17: Traditional (arr. Britten), “Down by the Salley Gardens” (Peter Pears/Benjamin Britten, The Sally Gardens), Golden Ear Music, 2021. Provided to YouTube by Xelon Entertainment.
30: C. Gesualdo, Book VI Madrigals, No. 15, “Moro, lasso, al mio duolo” (The New Consort/Jean Coleman), filmed on June 14, 2021, in Brooklyn, New York.
April
6: Notker Balbulus, “Natus ante saecula” (Ordo Virtutum/Stefan Morent, Notker Balbulus: Sequnezen, Tropen & Gregorianischer Choral aus dem Kloster St. Gallen), Christophorus, released on March 1, 2011. Provided to YouTube by Naxos of America.
10: Errollyn Wallen, Concerto Grosso (Academy of St Martin in the Fields/John Butt). From The Beacon Project, directed and edited by Lisa Thomson.
11: I. Stravinsky, Petrushka, “First Tableau: The Shrovetide Fair” (The Best of Stravinsky), Classic Records Ltd., released on April 27, 2018. Provided to YouTube by Zebralution GmbH.
13: K. Weill, The Threepenny Opera, “The Ballad of Mack the Knife” (Lotte Lenya, The Threepenny Opera), property of the Weill-Lenya Research Center, 1954, released on January 1, 2000. Provided to YouTube by the Universal Music Group.
15: Morton Feldman, String Quartet No. 2 (FLUX String Quartet), recorded at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, 2010.
17: Sofia Gubaidulina, The Light of the End (London Philharmonic Orchestra/Kurt Masur), UK Premiere, BBC Proms, 2006. (Part 1) and (Part 2).
18: W. A. Mozart, Violin Sonata in B-flat Major, K. 378, 2: Andantino sostenuto e cantabile (Albert Einstein/Ivan Belminsi), LE Sonique Classical Heritage archive.
27: L. van Beethoven, “Für Elise” (Georgii Cherkin). Provided to YouTube by Georgii Cherkin.
28: G. Donizetti, Lucia di Lammermoor, “Del ciel clemente” (Nellie Melba/Philippe Gaubert/Landon Ronald), London, 1904. Provided to YouTube by Classic & Opera.
May
3: Oscar Peterson and Count Basie improvisation, “Slow Blues” (Oscar Peterson/Count Basie/ Niels Pedersen/Martin Drew), aired on BBC’s Words and Music, November 6, 1980, at Royal Festival Hall.
9: C. Monteverdi, Madrigals, Book 7, “Chiome d’oro” (Nadia Boulanger & colleagues), Paris, 1937. Provided to YouTube by Classic & Opera.
15: Maria Theresa von Paradis (arr. Samuel Dushkin), Sicilienne (Jacqueline du Pré/Gerald Moore, Joy of the Cello), Parlophone Records Limited, 1982, 2022. Provided to YouTube by Warner Classics.
21: Fats Waller, “Handful of Keys” (Fats Waller). Provided to YouTube by Classic Mood Experience.
24: The Hurrian Hymn to Nikkal (Michael Levy, Echoes of Ancient Mesopotamia & Canaan), released on March 1, 2020. Provided to YouTube by CDBaby.
30: R. Gourley, “Dicky Bird Hop” (Ann Stephens,“Children’s Corner”), HMV, 1944.
June
4: R. Schumann, Cello Concerto in A Minor, op. 129, 3: Sehr lebhaft (Mstislav Rostropovich/Leonard Bernstein). Provided to YouTube by Carnegie Hall+.
5: I. Stravinsky, Violin Concerto in D Major, 1: Toccata (Anne-Sophie Mutter/Philharmonia Orchestra/Paul Sacher Dutilleux), Deutsche Grammophon, 1988, released on January 1, 2005. Provided to YouTube by the Universal Music Group.
7: G. Gershwin, “Fascinating Rhythm,” lyrics by Ira Gershwin (George Gershwin/Fred & Adele Astaire), Columbia, recorded April 1926.
10: F. Delius, Brigg Fair (Welsh National Opera Orchestra/Sir Charles Mackerras), Decca Music Group Limited, 1990. Provided to YouTube by the Universal Music Group.
12: W. Walton, Façade, No. 16, Valse (Dame Edith Sitwell, English Opera Group Ensemble/Anthony Collins), Decca, 1954, released on July 23, 2021. Provided to YouTube by the Universal Music Group.
23: Anon., c. 1260, “Sumer is icumen in” (Hilliard Ensemble).
July
9: R. Broschi, Idaspe, “Ombra fedele anch’io.” From Farinelli (1996), a film by Gérard Corbiau. Provided to YouTube by Yena Audio.
12: “Inuit throat-singing sisters from Canada,” by Tara Young, broadcast on Anchorage Daily News, October 23, 2023.
14: R. Schumann, “Die beiden Grenadiere” No. 1, op. 49 (Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau/Christoph Eschenbach). Provided to YouTube by The Cello Corner.
16: H. Purcell, “Music for a While” (Alfred Deller, Music for a While), Blue Pie Publishing, 1979, released on January 1, 1979. Provided to YouTube by Symphonic Distribution.
19: Steve Reich (arr. Evelyn Glennie), “Clapping Music” (Evelyn Glennie), performed at the Bella Concert Hall, Calgary, October 1, 2022. Provided to YouTube by Evelyn Glennie.
August
2: Adam Sutherland, Trip to the Market/Traditional, Castle Bay Scrap/Ian Lowthian, Stomach Steinway Man (Abigail Wiebe). Provided to YouTube by Abigail Wiebe.
6: J. Haydn, Cello Concerto in D Major, op. 101, 1: Allegro moderato (Guilhermina Suggia/John Barbirolli), HMV, 1929.
12: G. Gabrieli, Canzona No. 8, Sonata pian’e forte (Bruce Chrisp/Gabrielle Wunsch). Provided to YouTube by the Marin Symphony.
14: K.S. Sorabji, Le jardin parfumé (Simon Callaghan), recorded live at Schloss vor Husum, August 24, 2018. Provided to YouTube by Simon Callaghan.
19: R. Schumann, Frauenliebe und Leben, op. 42, 2: “Er, der Herrlichste von allen” (Janet Baker/Geoffrey Parsons), recorded by the BBC, June 10, 1968. Provided to YouTube by Operazaile operazaile.
20: I. Stravinsky, Apollon museagète, 10: Apotheosis (London Symphony Orchestra/Igor Markevitch), Universal International Music B.V., 1965. Provided to YouTube by the Universal Music Group.