Soul Music

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.Dido's Lament is a popular name for a famous aria, 'When I am laid in earth', from the opera Dido and Aeneas by Henry Purcell, with the libretto by Nahum Tate. Mezzo soprano Sarah Connolly talks about why she finds the piece, sung by the likes of Janet Baker and Emma Kirkby, so extraordinary, and the skill it takes to perform it. Composer and cellist Philip Shepperd's musical life was transformed when he was part of the rock singer Jeff Buckley's performance of the piece at the 1995 Meltdown Festival.Contributors: Alison Moyet Sarah Connolly Jeremy summerly Graham Jones Sheryl Sarnet Nicholas Witchell Philip Sheppard First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.When Mendelssohn wrote his Violin Concerto in 1844 he could hardly have imagined how famous and well loved it would become. In this programme, people tell how it has played an important part in their lives. Violinist Daniel Hope tells how he got caught practising this concerto secretly locked in the bathroom at school. Harry Atterbury remembers hearing the Mendelssohn for the first time on the night before a Second world War air raid which turned his life upside down. Composer Stephen Pratt describes discovering that his father had played this concerto to cheer fellow soldiers in the jungle in Burma, and explains how this inspired him to write his own violin concerto.To find out more about Stephen Pratt's Violin Concerto, go to: http://www.liverpoolphil.com./1132/rlpo-recordings/stephen-pratt-lovebytes.html The recording of the Mendelssohn Violin Concerto featured in this programme was by violinist Maxim Vengerov with the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra conducted by Kurt Masur. Teldec 4509-90875-2.First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.Based on Psalm 103, this hymn was written by Henry Francis Lyte, who also penned Abide With Me, and is most asssociated with the tune by John Goss - even though the two men never met. Their hymn has become one of the most popular for weddings, and was used at those of the Queen and Prince Philip and Charles and Camilla. Increasingly it is also used at funerals, and the widow of DC Stephen Oake, killed while on duty during an anti-terrorist raid, explains why it's so important to her and her family. It's also the perfect tune for teaching young choristers to sight read music, although these days they often misplace the comma in the line, 'Father like, he tends and spares us'.Contributors John Ridyard Lesley Jenkins Ian Bradley Gordon Giles Daniel Hyde Rob White John Ganjavi Gillian WarsonFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Richard Strauss was aged 84 when he completed his final composition. It was 'Four Last Songs', which, although dealing death, conveys a sense of calm acceptance. Though written in 1948, it still touches the hearts of many listeners today. As the soprano voice delves ever deeper into the richness of the music, interviewees tell how the Four Last Songs have brought calm and beauty at key moments in their lives.Featuring: Alan Yentob Michael Kennedy Gillian Weir Margaret Nelson Jamie Nichols Gabe Meline Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal. Producer: Rosie BoultonFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.

Written by Carole King and made famous by James Taylor, You've Got a Friend won a Grammy Award in 1971. In this programme people tell how this song has affected their lives. Contributors:Carole King Nick Barraclough Marcella Erskine Estelle Williams Karen Garner James Taylor Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal. Producer: Terry CarterFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.

In this conversation, Rolf Jordan, Secretary of the Ivor Gurney Society, shares how Vaughan Williams' Tallis Fantasia became a source of emotional support for him as an artist. Harry Atterbury reminisces about WWII, revealing how the piece connected him to his childhood evacuation memories and solidified his passion for music. Peter Phillips, Director of the Tallis Scholars, provides fascinating insights into the historical significance of the Fantasia and its role in shaping English music identity. Together, their stories showcase the transformative power of this iconic composition.

Hal David discusses writing The Look of Love with Burt Bacharach, for the soundtrack of the spoof 1967 James Bond film Casino Royale. This classic track, sung by Dusty Springfield, provided the musical backdrop for a love scene between Peter Sellers and Ursula Andress.Dusty Springfield's former backing singer, Simon Bell, remembers being on stage at the Albert Hall when Dusty laughed her way through a performance of the song, and musician Jonathan Cohen describes how the samba rhythm underscoring Dusty's smooth vocals combine to make this an enduringly popular love song.It has been covered many times by artists including Isaac Hayes, Gladys Knight and the French singer Mirielle Mathieu. This programme hears from people whose personal memories of love and loss are forever linked with The Look of Love.Contributors:Sue Clarke Wally Welling Simon Bell Trevor Foster Jonathan Cohen Hal David Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal. Producer: Karen GregorFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Gregorio Allegri wrote the chord sequence for his Miserere in the 1630s for use during Holy Week in the Sistine Chapel.This is located in the Apostolic Palace, official residence for the Pope in Vatican CityIt then went through the hands of a 12-year-old Mozart, Mendelssohn and Liszt until it finally reached England in the early 20th century and got fixed into the version we know today.The soaring soprano line that hits the famous top C and never fails to thrill has become a firm favourite for concert audiences around the world. Textile designer Kaffe Fassett, writer Sarah Manguso and conductor Roy Goodman explain how they have all been deeply affected by this beautiful piece of music.With Peter Phillips.Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal. Producer: Rosie BoultonFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.

Louis Armstrong recorded the classic 'What a Wonderful World' in 1967, amidst civil rights demonstrations and protests against the Vietnam War. It was a song written for him. Was it naïve or a powerful anthem for peace?Featuring: Prof. Peter Ling Laurence Bergreen Simon Weston Katie Melua Troy Andrews Milan Bertosa Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.Producer: Sara ConkeyFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2008.

Chopin's Ballade clearly tells a story, and yet that story differs for each person who hears or plays it. Pianist Peter Donohoe heads a cast of people whose lives have been shaped and changed by hearing and playing this technically demanding, emotionally turbulent piece of music.Featuring: Peter Donohoe Pete Rosskamm Edi Bilimoria Richard Bielecki Andrew Armstrong Dr Jay B. Hess Joshua WrightSeries exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.Producer: Rosie BoultonFirst broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2008.