Episodes
Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | 01 | A Buckinghamshire Childhood | 20221121 | Marking the centenary of her birth, Donald Macleod delves into the little-known world of 20th-century British composer Doreen Carwithen. Doreen Carwithen is one of only a handful of female British composers who worked in the film industry in the 1940s and 1950s. Dramas, mysteries, horror flicks, documentaries, the thirty-plus films she scored form a substantial part of her musical legacy. An award-winning student, Carwithen first came to critical attention in the concert hall, with the catchily titled ODTAA, One damn thing after another, in 1947. Predictably, newspaper headlines made much of her gender and her youth. She was just 24. It seemed as if a bright future lay ahead, yet, at the beginning of the 1960s, Carwithen would stop writing music, a situation which perhaps in part explains why her music dropped off the radar for many years. One hundred years since her birth, Donald Macleod brings to light the little-known yet fascinating story of this 20th-century British composer. This week Donald Macleod is joined in conversation by Leah Broad, whose new biography of Carwithen is due out next year. They chart Carwithen's career from the age of five, when she began piano and violin under the guidance of her musical mother, to the moment when she ceased to compose. Today, they take a peek inside the Carwithen's family home where Doreen's mother, Dulcie, a music teacher, was determined that her daughters should have every opportunity to fulfil her dream of becoming a concert pianist. Men of Sherwood Forest (excerpt), arr Philip Lane BBC Concert Orchestra Gavin Sutherland, conductor To the Public Danger (Prelude and Apotheosis), arr. Philip Lane Serenade for tenor and piano Clear had the day been James Gilchrist, tenor Nathan Williamson, piano String Quartet no 1 III: Allegro Sorrel Quartet Concerto for piano and strings Howard Shelley, piano London Symphony Orchestra Richard Hickox, conductor Donald Macleod explores the life of 20th-century British composer Doreen Carwithen. |
2022 | 02 | London In The Blitz | 20221122 | Donald Macleod follows Doreen Carwithen's wartime experiences as a young music student in the capital city. Doreen Carwithen is one of only a handful of female British composers who worked in the film industry in the 1940s and 1950s. Dramas, mysteries, horror flicks, documentaries, the thirty-plus films she scored form a substantial part of her musical legacy. Carwithen first came to critical attention in the concert hall, with the catchily titled ODTAA, One damn thing after another, in 1947. Predictably, newspaper headlines made much of her gender and her youth. She was just 24. It seemed as if a bright future lay ahead, yet, at the beginning of the 1960s, Carwithen would stop writing music, a situation which perhaps in part explains why her music dropped off the radar for many years. To mark the centenary of her birth, Donald Macleod brings to light the little-known yet fascinating story of this 20th-century British composer. Leah Broad, whose new biography of Carwithen is due out next year joins Donald Macleod to discuss Carwithen's progress at the Royal Academy of Music. Her theory teacher was the composer William Alwyn and their meeting went on to become one of the defining relationships of her life. Violin sonata Vivace (excerpt) Fenella Humphreys, violin Nathan Williamson, piano 3 songs to texts by Walter de la Mare No 1: Noon No 2: Echo No 3: The Ride-by Nights Alessandro Fisher, tenor JongSun Woo, piano Piano sonatina Daniel Grimwood, piano ODTAA (One Damn Thing After Another) London Symphony Orchestra Richard Hickox, conductor Donald Macleod follows Doreen Carwithen's wartime experiences in the capital. |
2022 | 03 | Drawing The Landscape | 20221123 | Donald Macleod and Leah Broad consider how much of an influence ideas about the English landscape may have had on Doreen Carwithen's orchestral music. Doreen Carwithen is one of only a handful of female British composers who worked in the film industry in the 1940s and 1950s. Dramas, mysteries, horror flicks, documentaries, the thirty-plus films she scored form a substantial part of her musical legacy. Carwithen first came to critical attention in the concert hall, with the catchily titled ODTAA, One damn thing after another, in 1947. Predictably, newspaper headlines made much of her gender and her youth. She was just 24. It seemed as if a bright future lay ahead, yet, at the beginning of the 1960s, Carwithen would stop writing music, a situation which perhaps in part explains why her music dropped off the radar for many years. To mark the centenary of her birth, Donald Macleod is joined by Leah Broad, whose biography of Carwithen is due to be published in 2023. Together they bring to light the little-known yet fascinating story of this 20th-century British composer. By the 1950s, the pressures of maintaining a long-standing affair with the composer William Alwyn were taking a toll on Carwithen's health. She was also finding it difficult to get performances of her work. Suffolk Suite III: Suffolk Morris (excerpt) London Symphony Orchestra Richard Hickox, conductor Bishop Rock String Quartet no 1 II: Lento Tippett Quartet Four Piano Preludes Hiroaki Takenouchi, piano I: Prelude. Moderato II: Orford Ness Allegretto grazioso III: Morris. Ritmico IV: Framlingham Castle. Alla marcia Donald Macleod and Leah Broad discuss the influence of the English landscape on Carwithen. |
2022 | 04 | Crisis And Resolution | 20221124 | Donald Macleod recounts how Doreen Carwithen's elopement with William Alwyn happened, and considers the effect of this action on Carwithen's career. Doreen Carwithen is one of only a handful of female British composers who worked in the film industry in the 1940s and 1950s. Dramas, mysteries, horror flicks, documentaries, the thirty plus films she scored form a substantial part of her musical legacy. Carwithen first came to critical attention in the concert hall, with the catchily titled ODTAA, One damn thing after another, in 1947. Predictably, newspaper headlines made much of her gender and her youth. She was just 24. It seemed as if a bright future lay ahead, yet, at the beginning of the 1960s Carwithen would stop writing music, a situation which perhaps in part explains why her music dropped off the radar for many years. To mark the centenary of her birth, Donald Macleod is joined by Leah Broad, whose biography of Carwithen is due to be published in 2023. Together they bring to light the little-known yet fascinating story of this 20th century British composer. On 19th April 1961 Doreen Carwithen and William Alwyn travelled to Coventry. At the hotel they each wrote to their respective families explaining that they were now living together. From this point on, Carwithen changed her name by deed poll to Alwyn, and preferred to be called Mary. Her life had changed irrevocably. String Quartet no 2 II: excerpt Tippett Quartet Echo (Who called?) James Gilchrist, Nathan Williamson, piano Cello sonatina Andrei Ionita, cello Lilit Grigoryan, piano Mantrap Suites, arr Philip Lane I: Main Titles and opening scene II: Woman in Danger III: Closing Scene and End titles BBC Concert Orchestra Gavin Sutherland, conductor Donald Macleod recounts how Doreen Carwithen's elopement with William Alwyn came about. |
2022 | 05 LAST | Working In The Movies | 20221125 | Donald Macleod explores Doreen Carwithen's life as a film composer in the 1940s and 50s and the musical legacy she's left behind. Doreen Carwithen is one of only a handful of female British composers who worked in the film industry in the 1940s and 1950s. Dramas, mysteries, horror flicks, documentaries, the thirty-plus films she scored form a substantial part of her musical legacy. Carwithen first came to critical attention in the concert hall, with the catchily titled ODTAA, One damn thing after another, in 1947. Predictably, newspaper headlines made much of her gender and her youth. She was just 24. It seemed as if a bright future lay ahead, yet, at the beginning of the 1960s, Carwithen would stop writing music, a situation which perhaps in part explains why her music dropped off the radar for many years. To mark the centenary of her birth, Donald Macleod is joined by Leah Broad, whose biography of Carwithen is due to be published in 2023. Together they bring to light the little-known yet fascinating story of this 20th-century British composer. In 1947 when she was still a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London, Carwithen was offered one of the newly created J. Arthur Rank apprenticeships as a film composer at Denham Studios. She was the only woman selected to join the scheme and quickly showed herself to have a real talent for the genre. Three Cases of Murder Suite, arr Philip Lane III: Reception at the Connemaras (excerpt) BBC Concert Orchestra Gavin Sutherland, conductor The Men of Sherwood Forest, arr Philip Lane Travel Royal Suite, arr Philip Lane Three Cases of Murder, arr Philip Lane I: Main Titles II: Mr X's Gavotte East Anglian Holiday, arr Philip Lane Boys in Brown Suite, arr Philip Lane I: Main Titles and opening scene II: Escape Plan III: Kitty and Jackie. End titles |