Erich Korngold was one of the composers who invented the sound of Hollywood – and his music for The Sea Hawk (a 1940 Errol Flynn swashbuckler) is passionate, exhilarating and hugely influences our very ideas of what film music should sound like. [36 mins]… Listen
Fans of Rachmaninov describe his music as lush, passionate, romantic. They’re right! His Cello Sonata is terrific. [17′]… Listen
Maurice Ravel wanted his Piano Concerto to be lighthearted and brilliant, and not aim at profundity or at dramatic effects… and then wrote one of the most beautiful slow movements there is! Intro here: Listen here: or on Spotify: Please rate and … Listen
One of the great pieces of music for children, Peter and the Wolf by Prokofiev. Vanessa [7] loved this and is demanding repeat hearings, and I’m embarrassed at having resisted it so long… Music here: or on spotify: Listening time … Listen
When the organisers of the Paris Universal Exposition in 1889 invited gamelan players from Indonesia, they introduced French composers to a whole world of new and exciting possibilities and a new direction in music. Debussy led the way and his … Listen
In music that was ground breaking and influential – especially to modern film composers – Gustav Holst takes us on a spectacular, mischievous and mysterious journey to Uranus and Neptune and asks the question what else is out there… Music … Listen
Modern yet timeless; Dynamic yet static; Hypnotic yet energising The brilliant combination of tuned percussion instruments and the genius of Steve Reich in his Mallet Quartet Music here: or here on Spotify: Please like and comment on Facebook.com/cacophonyonline; subscribe to … Listen
Hard to play, a lot of fun, a huge noise! John Adams sums up his own music nicely and this is a modern great to leave you uplifted and exhausted. Intro here: Music here: and here on Spotify:
This is punchy music that still swings and sings and sends an energising message of optimism and generosity of spirit… though the composer’s claims would have been more modest. Intro here: Music here – highly recommended video: And here on … Listen