Composer of the Week Podcast Folgen

Donald Macleod tries to get to the heart of JS Bach’s character, warts and all.Johann Sebastian Bach, who is now almost universally recognised as one of the giants of classical music, was not always so celebrated. In his own lifetime he received some public recognition but this contrasted with his regular complaints of unjust humiliations at the hands of his contemporaries and his employers. Was the composer hard done by or were these problems of his own making? This week, Donald Macleod tries to get to the heart of Bach’s character, warts and all, through five different periods in the composer’s life. We’ll be hearing from some of Bach’s most glorious music, as Donald ponders what the composer’s character might mean for our understanding of the man and his art.Music Featured: St Matthew Passion, BWV 244, “Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder” Solo Violin Sonata No 1 in G minor, BWV 1001 (I, Adagio) Nach dir, Herr, verlanget mich, BWV 150 Passacaglia and fugue in C minor, BWV 582 Ascension Oratorio, BWV 11, “Ach bleibe doch, mein liebstes Leben” Ein Feste Berg ist unser Gott, BWV 80 (Opening Chorus) Coffee Cantata, BWV 211, “Hat man nicht mit seinen Kindern” Capriccio in E Major, BWV 993 Violin Concerto No 1 in A minor, BWV1041 Sonata in A minor, BWV 965, after Reincken Suite No 2 in B minor, BWV 1067 – Overture Toccata & Fugue in F major, BWV 540 Christen, atzet diesen Tag, BWV 63, "Höchster, schau in Gnaden an" Prelude & Fugue in E flat major, BWV 852 from The Well-Tempered Clavier Brandenburg Concerto No 6 Lute Suite in E minor, BWV 996 (Bourée) Herr Jesu Christ, wahr’ Mensch und Gott, BWV 127 Suite No 1 in G major for solo Cello, BWV 1007 Ich habe genug, BWV 82 - "Schlummert ein, ihr matten Augen" Ach Herr, mich armen Sünder, BWV 135 “Weicht, all’ihr Ubeltater” Fantasia in G, BWV 572 Orchestral Suite No 3 (Air) Mass in B minor, BWV 232 (Gloria in excelsis & Et in terra pax) Musical Offering , BWV 1079 (Sonata for Flute, Violin and Continuo) The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080 (Contrapunctus XIV)Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam PhillipsFor 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 Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010g9gAnd 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 attempts to unravel the enigmatic, remarkable story of Julius Eastman and his music. When this week’s composer died homeless and alone in 1990, almost no one knew, not even his friends, and his work threatened to disappear with him. Julius Eastman had lit up America’s contemporary music scene as a spellbinding performer and a visionary composer whose music is difficult to pigeonhole. A gay, black man in the predominantly white world of new music, Eastman was often misunderstood. His musical voice fused minimalism with pop and the avant-garde, and was inextricable from his identity politics - a sound that was provocative then and remains so today. He collaborated with luminaries such as Pierre Boulez, Peter Maxwell Davies and Meredith Monk but also faced many struggles, leading to his premature and tragic decline. This week, Donald Macleod shares his long-overdue story, with insights from American baritone Davone Tines, a performer and champion of Eastman’s music.Music Featured:Stay On It (excerpt) Piano 2 (1st movement) Gay Guerrilla If You’re So Smart, Why Aren’t You Rich? (excerpt) Colors (extract) Ensemble Tra I Tempi Michael Veltmann, conductor Meredith Monk: Dolmen Music (Men’s Conclave – WaOhs) Peter Maxwell Davies: Eight Songs for a Mad King (Scotch Bonnet, Spanish March) Prelude to the Holy Presence of Joan D’Arc Colors Joy Boy Stay On It Fugue No 7 Arthur Russell: Instrumentals, Part I Dinosaur L: No, Thank You! Femenine (Part 1 – Prime) Evil N***** Touch Him When Piano 2 (2nd movement) The Holy Presence of Joan of Arc Buddha Femenine (Final section, Must Return)Presented by Donald Macleod Produced in Cardiff by Amelia ParkerFor 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 Julius Eastman (1940-1990) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m00106nyAnd 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 follows Wagner's journey towards building the Bayreuth Festival.This week, Donald Macleod follows Wagner on his decades-long journey to realise his dream of building his own music theatre, and establishing a festival there dedicated to his music. We see how Wagner’s revolutionary ideas and vaulting ambition struggled against the reality of securing supporters, raising finances, and inspiring audiences.Music Featured: Das Rheingold, Scene 1: “Lugt, Schwestern! Die Weckerin lach in den Grund” Prelude to Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg Tannhäuser: Act 3 Scene 1: “Allmächt’ge Jungfrau, hör mein Flehen!” and Scene 2 “O du, mein holder, Abendstern” Lohengrin: Prelude to Act III Tristan and Isolde: Prelude and Liebestod Das Rheingold: End of Scene 3 “Ohe! Ohe! Schreckliche Schlange…“ Die Walküre: Act 2, “Hinweg! Hinweg! Flieh die Entwihte!...” Tannhauser: Act 2 Finale Lohengrin: Act 3, “In fernem Land” Das Rheingold, Scene 4, Finale (Entry of the Gods into Valhalla) Lohengrin: Act 3, “Treulich geführt ziehet dahin” (Bridal March) Tristan and Isolde: Act 2, “O sink hernieder, Nacht der Liebe…” (Love duet) Die Walküre, Act 3 opening (The Ride of the Valkyries) Siegfried: Act 3, “Mit zerfochtner Waffe wich mir der Feige” Gotterdämmerung: Prologue, Sunrise and Siegfried’s Rhine Journey Siegfried: Act 3, “Heil dir, Sonne! Heil dir, Licht!” (Brünhilde’s awakening) Die Walküre: Act III, Wotan’s Farewell and Magic Fire Music Götterdämmerung: Siegfried’s Funeral March Götterdämmerung: "Starke Scheite schichtet mir dort“ (Brunhilde’s Immolation Scene) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg: Act 3, Scene 5 “Morgenlich Leuchtend” (Walther’s Prize Song) Parsifal: Prelude to Act 1 Parsifal: Act 1, Entry to the knight’s castle Meistersinger: Act 3, Scene 4, “Selig wie die Sonne” (Quintet) Parsifal: Act 2, Scene 2 (Klingsor’s magic garden) Parsifal – Good Friday MusicPresented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor, 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 Richard Wagner (1813-1883) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0010040And 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