England – CACOPHONY

“Music is integral, it’s like breathing”: Roxanna Panufnik/ England

22/07/2023 by Steve

It’s Cacophony… at the Women’s Football World Cup! A glorious celebration of music from around the world, all written by women, and chosen specially for Cacophony by leading female musicians.

This episode focusses on England, with Roxanna Panufnik’s choice of rich and satisfying pieces from a line up of stellar composers.
We shift the focus to England, with Roxanna Panufnik’s choice of rich and satisfying pieces from a line up of stellar composers.… Listen

Family friendly | Fun | Joyful | Music | Orchestra

142. In search of happy music: Arnold, English Dances

30/03/2023 by Steve

English folk music is often typically nostalgic and melancholy. Cacophony goes in search of happiness with Malcolm Arnold’s English Dances – pretty, witty and bright! (24mins)… Listen

Just-is-ness | meditative | Music | Orchestra

141. Songs from a disappearing world: Vaughan Williams, Norfolk Rhapsody

20/03/2023 by Steve

Haunting and melancholy music from my hometown, Vaughan Williams’s Norfolk Rhapsody No.1 features the old songs of fisherman and the last days of a way of life. Like the local landscape it’s bleak but beautiful!

Total listening time 18 mins (podcast 7′, music 11′)… Listen

136. Where the walls of heaven are thin as a curtain: Simon Clark on Talbot, Path of Miracles

30/01/2023 by Steve

An epic and spiritual adventure for choir, Joby Talbot’s Path of Miracles captures the hope, the expectation and the moments of overwhelm (both positive and negative) of travellers on the ancient and still popular pilgrimage trail the Camino de Santiago (Way of St James).

Simon Clark, scientist, author and singer joins me to share his passion for the piece and guide us on a journey of musical and maybe spiritual fulfilment! Listening time: podcast 24 mins, music 62’… Listen

Fun | Music

114. Direct to you from London: Urban Living, Shirley J Thompson

25/04/2022 by Steve

A mix of grit, swagger and persistence help us to make it through in the big city. Shirley Thompson’s Urban Living gives us all this plus, perhaps, a tinge of fear and some pheonmenal piano sounds in 7 minutes of [mainly] self-assured city beats. Listening time 12 mins (podcast 5′, music 7′)… Listen

Family friendly | Fun | Orchestra

113. London’s the place for me: Coates, London Suite

10/04/2022 by Steve

I’ve come over all nostalgic at the prospect of returning to London in a few days, so here’s a swaggering piece of escapism back to the heady optimistic days of the 1930s in Eric Coates London Suite. Listening time 21 mins… Listen

Singing

91. Songs of lost love and lost youth – Butterworth, A Shropshire Lad

10/07/2021 by Steve

I get floored every time by these six songs of lost youth, love and life written on the cusp of World War 1 by a young composer who didn’t make it through. Raw, simple and unforgettable. Listening time: 21 mins … Listen