Composer of the Week Podcast Folgen

Donald Macleod explores a crucial decade in Sibelius’s lifeThe 1910s were a crucial decade in Sibelius’s life. He would write some of his greatest works during these ten years, including his fourth and fifth symphonies and the beginnings of his sixth. Sibelius’s meditations on the symphony and its role in his creative life are a recurring theme in the week’s programmes.This period also reflects Sibelius’s life in microcosm, including his battles with alcohol and indebtedness; his need for the stimulus of foreign travel, and the periods of creative inertia, which would decisively return during his later years.We travel around the world with Sibelius, returning to Finland at the outbreak of the first world war, which would have a major impact on his life and work, not least with the Finnish Civil War of 1918 and Finland’s subsequent independence: these were formative events for Sibelius.We also home in on Sibelius’s personal life and relationships during the 1910s, including his money troubles coming to a head, and the return of alcohol to his life from 1917, after years of abstinence. Music Featured: In memoriam, Op 59 (revised version 1910) Symphony No 4 in A Minor, Op 63 (1st & 2nd mvts) String Quartet in D Minor, Op 56, "Voces Intimae" (2nd & 3rd mvts) Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op 47 (3rd mvt) Kallion kirkon kellosavel (The Bells of Kallio Church), Op 65b Two Serenades Op 69 Rakastava (The Lover), Op 14 Piano Sonatina in F-Sharp Minor, Op 67, No 1 Luonnotar (Daughter of Nature) Op 70 Barden (The Bard), Op 64 Lemminkainen Suite, Op 22 (4th mvt) The Oceanides, Op 73 6 Partsongs, Op 18 (version for mixed chorus) (Nos 1, 3, 4 & 6) Two Pieces for Violin and Orchestra, Op 77 Jokamies (Everyman), Op 83 Symphony No 5 in E-Flat Major, Op 82 Drömmarna (The Dreams), JS 64 Jaakarien marssi (Jager March), Op 91a (version for orchestra) Humoresques for Violin and Orchestra, Op 87 Oma maa (Our Native Land), Op 92 Symphony No 6 in D Minor, Op 104Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Iain ChambersFor 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 Jean Sibelius (1865-1957) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011rwjAnd 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

Donald Macleod and guest, Kevin Le Gendre follow the jazz adventures of Carla BleyOne of the most original voices in jazz, composer, arranger, performer and band-leader Carla Bley has been determinedly pursuing her own musical path for more than sixty years. Her back catalogue of some fifty plus recordings tell the story of a musician who's responded in her own unique style to all the current trends, from free and experimental jazz in the 60s and 70s to 80s soul, blues and R&B. In later decades, she's written for and created big bands recalling the musical landscapes of Count Basie and the Duke and in the last 20 years, she's refined a distilled, intimate style for smaller chamber ensembles, in particular performing in a Trio with her life partner, bassist Steve Swallow and the British saxophonist Andy Sheppard. Little wonder then, her fellow musicians affectionately call Bley 'Countess Bleysie' and 'Bleythoven'. Featuring a selection of recordings suggested by Carla Bley, Donald Macleod and Kevin Le Gendre follow Bley's musical adventuring from her early days writing for Paul Bley and Gary Burton, to her latest album for the Carla Bley Trio, released in 2020.Music Featured: King Korn Carla Bley/Paul Bley: Ictus Donkey Ida Lupino Escalator Over the Hill (Hotel Overture; Why; Little pony soldier) Walking Batterie Woman Dreams so Real Blunt Object Silent Spring Reactionary Tango in 3 parts Song sung Long Útviklingssang Walking Batteriewoman (vers. for piano and bass) Wildlife (Horns; Paws without Claws; Sex with Birds) The Girl Who Cried Champagne Lawns The Girl Who Cried Champagne ( Part 1) Fleur Carnivore Strange Arrangement Who Will Rescue You? On The Stage In Cages Doctor Wrong Key Donkey And then one Day Vashkar WildlifePresented by Donald Macleod Produced by Johannah Smith for BBC Cymru WalesFor 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 Carla Bley (b 1936) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011lmcAnd 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

Donald Macleod explores the life and work of composer, Luigi CherubiniAn octogenarian when he died in 1842, Cherubini's long life places him alongside three giants of the age, Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven. When he was born in 1760, Mozart was four years old, and Haydn was in his thirties. Beethoven was born a decade after Cherubini. Standing among these luminaries, all of whom he admired, Cherubini was a composer, conductor, teacher, administrator, theorist and music publisher, who enjoyed a much higher standing in his own lifetime than his present day reputation might suggest. Beethoven and latterly Wagner are just two of a long list of notables who hugely admired his music. These days it's perhaps through his masses that many people come to his music, so it may be a surprise to discover that he followed the fashion of his day, and produced a considerable number of successful operas. This week Donald Macleod follows Cherubini's progress from his Florentine childhood to Paris, where he was to settle and see his theatrical ambitions realised, in addition to taking on the directorship of the Paris Conservatoire, a position which gave him considerable influence over successive generations.Music Featured:Lo sposo di tre e marito di nessuna, Overture Il Giocatore:, Intermezzo Mass in F minor (Chimay) (excerpt) Sonata for harpsichord no 3 in B flat major Nemo gaudeat in festo septem dolorum BV virginis a 8 voci Il Giulio Sabino, Sinfonia (3rd mvt) Horn sonata No 2 in F major Symphony in D major (1st mvt, Largo – Allegro) Mass No 2 in D minor (Kyrie) Il Giulio Sabino, Act 1: Aria, I mesti affetti miei Overture in G major Lodoïska, Act 1: Aria, Triomphons avec noblesse Démophon, Overture Lodoiska, Act 2 (excerpts) Eliza, ou Le voyage aux glaciers du Mont St. Bernard, Overture Clytemnestre, recit Aux lois d’Agamemnon Marcia per il signore Baron di Braun Faniska, Overture Chant sur la mort de Joseph Haydn (excerpt) Les deux journées, ou le porteur d’eau, Act 2 (excerpt) Medea, Act 3 Finale Les Abencérages, Overture Anacréon, Overture Requiem No 1 in C minor (excerpt) String Quartet No 2 (1st mvt, Lent – Allegro) Requiem No 2 in D minor for male chorus & orchestra (Agnus Dei)Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Johannah Smith for BBC Cymru WalesFor 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 Luigi Cherubini (1760-1842) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0011bmlAnd 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