The Sound Of The Orchestra

Series

Episode

Title

First
Broadcast

Comments

199D

19991003

Gerard McBurney presents six programmes investigating the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic.

Today's programme uncovers how composers use the orchestra to create a chord, and how chords can become a dramatic musical tool in the opera house and concert hall.

199D

Mixing It

19991010

Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic.

2: `Mixing It'.

How composers blend different instruments to create a unique sound-world.

199D

Highs And Lows

19991017

Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic.

3: `Highs and Lows'.

Today's programme explores the extremes of orchestral register and how composers have pushed back the boundaries of orchestral technique.

199D

Strange Sounds

19991024

Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic.

4: `Strange Sounds'.

Today's programme examines how composers have experimented with the sound of orchestral instruments and looks at some of the dramatic effects this can achieve.

199D

19991031

Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic.

Today's programme looks at how composers have used the orchestra to paint scenes in music, and how in particular Mozart, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Debussy and Britten have depicted the sea.

199D

Orchestral Rhythm

19991107

`Orchestral Rhythm'.

Gerard McBurney concludes his exploration of orchestral sound-world with a look at how composers have used the orchestra to experiment with rhythm.

Episodes

Series	Episode	Title	First Broadcast	Comments
199D	01		19991003	Gerard McBurney presents six programmes investigating the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic. Today's programme uncovers how composers use the orchestra to create a chord, and how chords can become a dramatic musical tool in the opera house and concert hall.
199D	02	Mixing It	19991010	Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic. 2: `Mixing It'. How composers blend different instruments to create a unique sound-world.
199D	03	Highs And Lows	19991017	Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic. 3: `Highs and Lows'. Today's programme explores the extremes of orchestral register and how composers have pushed back the boundaries of orchestral technique.
199D	04	Strange Sounds	19991024	Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic. 4: `Strange Sounds'. Today's programme examines how composers have experimented with the sound of orchestral instruments and looks at some of the dramatic effects this can achieve.
199D	05		19991031	Gerard McBurney presents six programmes exploring the sound-world of the orchestra with musical illustrations played by the BBC Philharmonic. Today's programme looks at how composers have used the orchestra to paint scenes in music, and how in particular Mozart, Mendelssohn, Wagner, Debussy and Britten have depicted the sea.
199D	06	Orchestral Rhythm	19991107	`Orchestral Rhythm'. Gerard McBurney concludes his exploration of orchestral sound-world with a look at how composers have used the orchestra to experiment with rhythm.