My Life In Music

Title

First
Broadcast

Repeated

Comments

Cage Sonatas And Hancock's Head Hunters

20180501

Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives.

Composer Kerry Andrew met bassist and heavy metal enthusiast Andrew online. On meeting in the flesh, she discovered that amongst their vast individual CD collections, they had two discs in common: John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes, played by Boris Berman, and Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock. Would this overlap in musical taste be an indicator of a successful partnership for life?

Composer Kerry Andrew discovered she had two CDs in common with her boyfriend.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Craigie Hill

20180502

20220727 (R3)

On the eve of her Grampa's funeral, Karine Polwart received a song.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Disko Partizani, By Shantel

20200115

Composer Roxanna Panufnik discovers an earworm in duty free at Tel Aviv airport.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Now, Oh Now I Needs Must Part, By John Dowland Arranged, By Percy Grainger

20200117

Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives.

Pianist Kenneth Hamilton explores the idea that some music is too potent to bear because of the memories it evokes. He considers the role of music for elegy and shares how his mind was filled with Dowland's song of parting at his mother's recent death

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer Production

Kenneth Hamilton's mind is filled with Dowland's song of parting at his mother's death.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

20180430

20220729 (R3)

Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives.

Folk singer/song-writer Chris Wood was a boy chorister at Canterbury Cathedral. The build-up at Christmas time to a performance of the hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel had both a profound and mundane effect on this eight-year-old child.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer Production

Folk singer Chris Wood remembers singing in Canterbury Cathedral as a child.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Rockin' In Rhythm, By Duke Ellington Sung, By Ella Fitzgerald

20200114

20220726 (R3)

Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives.

When saxophonist Soweto Kinch has an airhead moment, he needs Duke Ellington's sonic reminder that `If joy isn't at the core of the music or your life, it's easy to get lost in a sea of negativity`.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer Production

In an airhead moment, Soweto Kinch needs Ellington's sonic reminder that joy is essential.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Shostakovich's Second Piano Trio

20180504

20220728 (R3)

Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives.

Composer and viola player Sally Beamish talks about her violinist mother's fascination with Shostakovich - and explores the Second Piano Trio, looking at the influence it had on her own work. She describes her mother's gradual decline into dementia, and their complex and intense relationship.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer Production

Composer Sally Beamish remembers her mother's love of Shostakovich's Second Piano Trio.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

The Lamb, By John Tavener

20200113

20220725 (R3)

Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives.

Folk singer-songwriter Kitty Macfarlane recalls multiple visits made over time to a bird hide on the Steart Marshes. High up, overlooking panoramic views of the Bridgwater Bay, Kitty always had Tavener's haunting song The Lamb playing as a soundtrack in her mind. The meeting of the natural world of the bay and the man-made intervention of Hinkley Point nuclear power station was mirrored by the juxtaposition of innocence and experience in William Blake's words to this song. Tavener's music accompanied Kitty's coming-of-age acceptance of the duality of life.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer Production

Visits to a bird hide are accompanied by this song for singer-songwriter Kitty Macfarlane.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

The Protecting Veil, By John Tavener

20200116

Cellist Steven Isserlis recalls the impact of this commission and his unfolding and lasting friendship with its composer. He remembers tentative first encounters; evenings in Indian restaurants with friends; the shared nerves of premiering the music; mixed reactions of audiences including a spectacular punch-up at a concert in the States and finally the hope that John is still sending messages to Steven from beyond the grave.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

A Must Try Softer Production

Steven Isserlis recalls the impact of a commission and his friendship with its composer.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

The Silver Swan

20180503

Oboist George Caird wonders if he has the courage for a swan song of his own.

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Episodes

Title	First Broadcast	Repeated	Comments
Cage Sonatas And Hancock's Head Hunters	20180501		Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives. Composer Kerry Andrew met bassist and heavy metal enthusiast Andrew online. On meeting in the flesh, she discovered that amongst their vast individual CD collections, they had two discs in common: John Cage's Sonatas and Interludes, played by Boris Berman, and Head Hunters by Herbie Hancock. Would this overlap in musical taste be an indicator of a successful partnership for life? Composer Kerry Andrew discovered she had two CDs in common with her boyfriend. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
Craigie Hill	20180502	20220727 (R3)	On the eve of her Grampa's funeral, Karine Polwart received a song. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
Disko Partizani, By Shantel	20200115		Composer Roxanna Panufnik discovers an earworm in duty free at Tel Aviv airport. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
Now, Oh Now I Needs Must Part, By John Dowland Arranged, By Percy Grainger	20200117		Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives. Pianist Kenneth Hamilton explores the idea that some music is too potent to bear because of the memories it evokes. He considers the role of music for elegy and shares how his mind was filled with Dowland's song of parting at his mother's recent death Producer: Rosie Boulton A Must Try Softer Production Kenneth Hamilton's mind is filled with Dowland's song of parting at his mother's death. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
O Come, O Come Emmanuel	20180430	20220729 (R3)	Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives. Folk singer/song-writer Chris Wood was a boy chorister at Canterbury Cathedral. The build-up at Christmas time to a performance of the hymn O Come, O Come Emmanuel had both a profound and mundane effect on this eight-year-old child. Producer: Rosie Boulton A Must Try Softer Production Folk singer Chris Wood remembers singing in Canterbury Cathedral as a child. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
Rockin' In Rhythm, By Duke Ellington Sung, By Ella Fitzgerald	20200114	20220726 (R3)	Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives. When saxophonist Soweto Kinch has an airhead moment, he needs Duke Ellington's sonic reminder that `If joy isn't at the core of the music or your life, it's easy to get lost in a sea of negativity`. Producer: Rosie Boulton A Must Try Softer Production In an airhead moment, Soweto Kinch needs Ellington's sonic reminder that joy is essential. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
Shostakovich's Second Piano Trio	20180504	20220728 (R3)	Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives. Composer and viola player Sally Beamish talks about her violinist mother's fascination with Shostakovich - and explores the Second Piano Trio, looking at the influence it had on her own work. She describes her mother's gradual decline into dementia, and their complex and intense relationship. Producer: Rosie Boulton A Must Try Softer Production Composer Sally Beamish remembers her mother's love of Shostakovich's Second Piano Trio. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
The Lamb, By John Tavener	20200113	20220725 (R3)	Away from the concert platform, five musicians write about the music that has shaped their personal lives. Folk singer-songwriter Kitty Macfarlane recalls multiple visits made over time to a bird hide on the Steart Marshes. High up, overlooking panoramic views of the Bridgwater Bay, Kitty always had Tavener's haunting song The Lamb playing as a soundtrack in her mind. The meeting of the natural world of the bay and the man-made intervention of Hinkley Point nuclear power station was mirrored by the juxtaposition of innocence and experience in William Blake's words to this song. Tavener's music accompanied Kitty's coming-of-age acceptance of the duality of life. Producer: Rosie Boulton A Must Try Softer Production Visits to a bird hide are accompanied by this song for singer-songwriter Kitty Macfarlane. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
The Protecting Veil, By John Tavener	20200116		Cellist Steven Isserlis recalls the impact of this commission and his unfolding and lasting friendship with its composer. He remembers tentative first encounters; evenings in Indian restaurants with friends; the shared nerves of premiering the music; mixed reactions of audiences including a spectacular punch-up at a concert in the States and finally the hope that John is still sending messages to Steven from beyond the grave. Producer: Rosie Boulton A Must Try Softer Production Steven Isserlis recalls the impact of a commission and his friendship with its composer. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.
The Silver Swan	20180503		Oboist George Caird wonders if he has the courage for a swan song of his own. Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.