Podcast
Composer of the Week Podcast
Hosted by BBC Radio 3 · EN
BBC Radio 3's Composer Of The Week is a guide to composers and their music. The podcast is compiled from the week's programmes and published on Friday. It is only available in the UK.
34episodes
Episodes
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Margaret Bonds (1913-1972)
Oct 25, 202401:16:25Tap to summarizeDonald Macleod explores the life and music of African American composer Margaret BondsThis week, Donald Macleod is joined by musicologist and pianist Dr Samantha Ege to delve into the life and music of African American pioneer composer, Margaret Bonds (1913-1972). Bonds was one of the most important composers and pianists of her time. She wrote several dozens of art songs, arranged many traditional spirituals, and composed large-scale cantatas. From her native Chicago where she was the first black performer to play with the Symphony Orchestra to the buzzing stages of New York where she set poetic gems to music, and at a time of racial discrimination and fight for civil rights, her story is one of determination, friendship, and absolute dedication to music-making. As such the programme does include some language of the period.Music Featured:Joy Trad, arr Bonds: Little David Play on Your Harp The Pasture Spiritual Suite; No 1, The Valley of the Bones To a Brown Dead Girl Trad, arr Bonds: Lord, I Just Can’t Keep from Cryin’ Florence Price: Fantasie Nègre No 1 in E minor Flamenco Tangamerican Simon Bore the Cross Trad, arr Bonds: Didn’t It Rain The Negro Speaks of Rivers Three Dream Portraits Trad, arr Bonds: Ezek’el Saw the Wheel Four Songs Trad, arr Bonds: Peter, Go Ring dem Bells Spiritual Suite; No 2, The Bells The Ballad of the Brown King Trad, arr Bonds: Joshua Fit da Battle of Jericho (arr for voice and chamber ensemble by P. Spray) Trad, arr Bonds: I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free Trad, arr Bonds: He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands Trad: Wade in the Water Spiritual Suite; No 3, Troubled Water Montgomery Variations Fugal Dance When the Dove Enters In Songs of the Seasons Credo Trad, arr Bonds: Hold On (arr for voice and chamber ensemble by P. Spray) Simon Bore the Cross (mvt VIII)Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Julien Rosa for BBC Audio Wales & WestFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Franz Liszt (1811-1886) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023y4nAnd you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z
Transcribe →Charles Ives (1874-1954)
Oct 11, 202401:15:14Tap to summarizeKate Molleson delves into the life and music of the “Yankee Maverick”, Charles Ives.Charles Ives is considered a leading American composer of the early 20th century. Known for many musical innovations, his was a unique voice, a pioneer who combined elements of Western and American music traditions. He’s also been called a Yankee Maverick and much of his creative life was spent in obscurity. Marking the 150th anniversary since his birth, Kate Molleson shines the spotlight on the life and music of Charles Ives. This journey begins in Danbury where Ives grew up, going on to study at Yale, then working in Insurance in New York, and coming to a close in the mid twentieth century. In those final decades, and largely due to ill health, Ives had stopped composing. Ironically, it was at this point when his creative endeavours had ceased, that his music started to generate much interest.Music Featured: Memories (excerpt) Four Ragtime Dances for Theatre Orchestra, No 1 (Allegro moderato) String Quartet No 1 ‘From the Salvation Army’ (excerpt) Variations on ‘America’ Psalm 67, God Be Merciful Unto Us Symphony No 1 (excerpt) March No 6, with “Here’s to Good Old Yale” The Circus Band Adeste Fideles Feldeinsamkeit Mists Symphony No 2 (excerpt) Central Park in the Dark The Children’s Hour The Unanswered Question General William Booth Enters into Heaven Tom Sails Away (Three Songs of War) Orchestral Set No 1 ‘Three Places in New England’ (Putnam’s Camp) Sonata for Violin and Piano No 3 (Adagio - Cantabile) Symphony No 4 (excerpt) At the River Serenity Piano Sonata No 2: Concord, Mass., 1840-60 (Thoreau) A Symphony. New England Holidays (excerpt) Two Little Flowers Romanzo di Central Park Violin Sonata No 2 A Christmas Carol Three Quarter Tone Pieces (Allegro) Symphony No 4 (Allegretto) Sunrise Piano Sonata No 2: Concord, Mass., 1840-60 (The Alcotts) Symphony No 3 ‘The Camp Meeting’Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Audio Wales & West For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Charles Ives (1874-1954) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023nw8And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z
Transcribe →Dorothy Howell (1898-1982)
Oct 11, 202401:13:23Tap to summarizeDonald Macleod and Leah Broad survey the life and work of British composer Dorothy HowellThis week Donald Macleod is joined by the award-winning author Leah Broad to explore the story of the British composer Dorothy Howell, who shot to fame aged 21 after the triumphant premiere of her orchestral work ‘Lamia’ at the Proms. By the mid-1920s she was regarded as one of the leading women composers of the day, performing in prestigious venues across the UK and regularly appearing on radio programmes in the earliest days of broadcasting. But she faced challenges from the 1930s onwards that left her disillusioned, and by the end of her life she wanted to destroy all but a handful of her works. Luckily family intervened, but even so Howell’s music almost disappeared from view - until recently.Music Featured: Spindrift Humoresque for Orchestra Sonata for violin and piano (1st mvt) Two Frogs Five Studies for piano Boat Song for piano Lamia Five Studies Rosalind The Little Round House, The Bears Koong Shee Phantasy for violin and piano The Tortoiseshell Cat Pot Pourri My White Lady The Moorings If you will come to Corte Piano Concerto in D minor Mazurka Two Pieces for Muted Strings Puppydog’s Tales Prelude 1 in F minor Prelude 2 in C Prelude 3 in A flat Recuerdos Preciosos No 1 and 2 The Rock Overture Sonata for violin and piano (2nd & 3rd mvts) To Sine in Winter Sonata for piano Three Divertissements Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Megan Jones for BBC Audio Wales & WestFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Dorothy Howell (1898-1982) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0023f35 And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z
Transcribe →Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Jul 27, 2018Tap to summarizeDonald Macleod explores the life and work of undisputed master, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Transcribe →