Another Year of Wonder

Year of Wonder #2

by Clemency Burton-Hill

In this follow-up to her much-loved Year of Wonder, award-winning broadcaster, journalist and violinist Clemency Burton-Hill continues her mission to demystify and open up the world of classical music to everyone, offering up one extraordinary piece of music to listen to every day of the year.

Genres: Nonfiction, Music, Art, History

453 pages, Hardcover

Published December 1, 2021

About the author

Clemency Burton-Hill (born Clemency Margaret Greatrex Burton-Hill, born 1 July 1981) is an English broadcaster, author, novelist, journalist and violinist.

Reviews

[Colin Baldwin · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the original Year of Wonder: Classical Music. Would have given it 10 stars, but settled for 5.
Sadly, this follow up is a step down. The pieces are generally too obscure in bulk to lift the book to its predecessor’s level.
I’ve fished through to the end of the book and don’t see any need to keep it on my ‘currently reading’ list.
2 stars for the effort the author gives in bringing music to us, but please, bring back some of the known hits!

[Cindy Rollins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am finishing this up a bit early. I loved the author’s first Year of Wonder and did enjoy this one too if not quite as much. It felt a little self-consciously fixated on social justice or best case scenario just too many modern selections over older pieces and a weird move to label pretty much anything classical. But I still enjoyed having a piece of music to listen to every morning.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been reading this book slowly over many months, but yesterday I felt inspired to go ahead and make playlists at Spotify for the remaining months and then do a listen/read combination for the rest of the book.

My takeaways from this book (as well as the original, Year of Wonder):

1. Before I read/listened to these two books about classical music, I knew nothing about classical music. After I read/listened to these two books about classical music, I still know (almost) nothing about it but my idea of what classical music has expanded to include more types of music.

2. I clearly know what classical music I like. I even made a Favorites list from each book. I wish I knew why I like the classical music I like.

3. There's something glorious about listening to classical music. Again, I don't know why.

4. Listening to a classical music selection that I've heard many, many times can be an enchanting and profound experience.

5. Listening to a classical music selection that is new-to-me can be an enchanting and profound experience.

6. The comments of Clemency Burton-Hill about each selection greatly enriched the experience.

Okay, I probably should talk less and listen more. Here's a link to My Favorites from Another Year of Wonder.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a hard book to rate. I appreciate the way this book and her previous one have introduced me to many composers I did not know of before (of course I enjoyed some pieces more than others 😉). But her “wokeness” got rather annoying - one description of a composer/pianist as “a ‘regular’ guy (albeit a white, middle-age one, with all the privilege that denotes)” made me want to throw the book across the room. So I would recommend this with caveats for those who want to enjoy a bit of music each day and expand their musical horizons.

[Kats]

1/1/22
Starting the year off with J.S. Bach gives me a lot of hope and a sense of stability for 2022. Clemmie B-H is a force of nature and an amazing, inspiring person. I will let her inspire me every day this year during my 22 minutes of rest time. It certainly doesn't hurt that Eddie R. is reading the audio book.

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first YEAR OF WONDER book was easily the best book I read in 2024, and in this second volume Burton-Hill continues her mission to open up the world of classical music to her readers in wonderful style. There are plenty of examples of pieces by already known composers like Beethoven and Mozart, but this book also leans more toward introducing lesser-known composers (especially from underrepresented backgrounds) and works. A greater percentage of the pieces were a bit too experimental for my taste than was the case with the last book, but I did discover a lot that I enjoyed as well. The focus on underrepresented composers was also interesting and important, but I felt like in a few cases i would have preferred to learn more about the piece of music than the composer’s background; this was partly a function, I’m sure, of having only about 2/3 of a page for each day and piece, and I had enough information to do my own research about specific pieces where I wanted. Another element that i particularly appreciated (which may have come up once or twice in the first book too, but I definitely noticed it more times here) was Burton-Hill’s inclusion of pieces by musicians primarily known for another style of music but who also wrote some classical-style pieces (examples included Billy Joel, Frank Zappa, and Dave Brubeck).

It isn’t mentioned overly frequently in the book (in the introduction, acknowledgments, and briefly in the descriptions of a few pieces), but I am also frankly in awe of the journey that Burton-Hill went on to write this book, as she had a brain hemorrhage shortly before it was finished. Everything came together very well and it made the book even more impactful and impressive.

[jean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burton Hill’s second book, another gathering of classical pieces with brief anecdotes about the composer and work .
The warmth of her writing makes you feel you are listening to her thoughts over a cup of tea. If you are a seasoned classical music fan or a newbie like me you are sure to enjoy this book. I have happily made quite a few playlists
of my favorites. Burton Hill is an accomplished violinist and
an amazing ambassador for classical music which includes a range from around 1200’s to today. A feast for the ear and mind.

[Heather Alderman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't enjoy this one nearly as much as the first book, but still some beautiful pieces and interesting stories.

[Felizia · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 ⭐️
What a journey, loved it so much to listen to the tracks every day and explore new music.

[Jo Ann Rhodehouse · Rating 5 out of 5]

It took all year but it was an incredible musical Year of Wonder and peace. The forward and acknowledgments made it all the more impressive.

[Fiona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Year of Wonder isn’t a book I read so much as one I lived alongside for a year. I experienced it as an audiobook, beautifully read by Eddie Redmayne, using it as a quiet daily ritual: listening to Clemency Burton-Hill’s introduction to each piece, then sitting with the music itself as a form of meditation.

Burton-Hill has a rare gift for making classical music feel intimate and accessible without ever flattening its emotional depth. Her reflections are brief, personal, and deeply human — often anchoring each piece in a story, a moment of vulnerability, or a reminder of why music matters in everyday life. Paired with Redmayne’s calm, measured narration, the audiobook format felt particularly well suited to this slow, attentive way of listening.

I undertook a similar year-long project a couple of years ago with Burton-Hill’s first book, A Year of Wonder. While I slightly preferred the musical selections in the first volume, both books introduced me to a wide range of classical composers and performers, many of them entirely new to me. More importantly, both reinforced the value of the practice itself: showing up daily, listening closely, and allowing the music to shape the rhythm of the year.

Taken slowly, Another Year of Wonder becomes more than a guide to classical music. It’s a companion through the seasons, offering moments of stillness, beauty, and emotional clarity — a gentle reminder that wonder often reveals itself when we take the time to listen.

[Kathryn Darby · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another amazing Year of Wonder from the incredible Clemency Burton-Hill. This book has brought a huge delight to every single day just like the first. Reading about her incredible recovery from her devastating brain haemorrhage in the foreword brought me to tears. What an incredible human and a gift to all of us who delight in her extensive musical knowledge and resilience. I am only disappointed that the book is over…perhaps I’ll have to reread the first Year of Wonder again to console myself.

[Jonny Brick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Obviously it's a miracle Clemmie was alive to see this book published (she had a brain haemorrhage). Equally obviously, broadening the classical canon to be more inclusive is a Good Thing. But over 12 months of essays it does seem that the music is less discussed than the composer. Clemmie's editorialising is refreshing in short bursts.

[Davidg · Rating 5 out of 5]

A second year in the company of Burton-Hill. Like the first book, this is a wide ranging selection of classical music. Quite a lot of contemporary music this time and a number that blur the definition of “Classical”, which can only be a good thing.

Sadly, there are only the two books in this series, so I will have to find a new listening programme for the next year.

Highly recommended

[Mark G · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a wonderful potpourri of delights , so sad to finish it

As good as the first book of not better and have discovered some composers and artists I will enjoy for the rest of my life

My only hope Clemmy has a third book in her !

[Smh624 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved Year of Wonder and Another Year of Wonder is just as good, if not better. I learned about so many new composers and pieces of music through reading this book. Truly enlightening! I will miss my daily dose of music from Burton-Hill.

[Redsetter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utterly wonderful. I love the sweet, informative info with each day's music to dip into. Love reading it while getting the Alexa to play the chosen piece. Have bought extra copies to gift to friends and they've commented how much they love it too. Will be buying the second book.

[Rebecca · Rating 2 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the first Year of Wonder and had high expectations for this book. I didn’t find nearly as many pieces of music that brought beauty to my day. I felt there was an agenda that was being pushed through many of the stories of composers.

[Chris Hall · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed it and there's some great pieces of music but not as good as the original. While her championing of lesser known composers in a bid to be diverse and inclusive is laudable, it tends to overdominate. They're are maybe too many living composers too

[Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

Uninspiring music choices, described tediously. The audiobook narration was hammy.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not everything was to my taste, but I find that's the mark of a well-rounded collection. There were plenty of gems and artists that I will be happy to explore more.

[Sylvia Titgemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful introduction to classical music. I plan to continue exploring the music it introduced me to for years to come.

[Mai Mislang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The books I intentionally read slowly because why would I ever want good music to end :) Can’t wait for the 3rd installment!

[Jeroen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book, though the pleasure is enhanced a lot by listening to the music that is being described. As with the previous book (A year of wonder), I got restless and could not continue reading the book one page or one piece at a time; and I finished the book faster by reading a few days at a time. Would recommend for people that enjoy classical music or want to get into classical music.

[JG (Introverted Reader) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Burton-Hill’s book Year of Wonder was on my list of top ten books in 2021. I loved starting my day by listening to a piece of music beautifully introduced by the author. The first book was more diverse than you would expect for a book about classical music, but this installment is even more so, with many female and non-European composers from current times and centuries past. There is something for everyone in these pages, I promise you. She even includes film composers!