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Words and Music Episodes

  1. The Return

    A journey of discovery, weaving music with poetry and prose read by leading actors.

  2. In Conversation

    Musical and poetic conversations, read by Gemma Whelan and Clarke Peters.

  3. A European Journey

    Readings by Juliet Stevenson and Parth Thakarer and music evoking mountains to city mopeds

  4. Rings

    Marriage, motorways and magic: writers on rings, read by Susan Twist and Chris Jack.

  5. A Christmas Menagerie

    Robert Lindsay and Shiloh Coke with a range of animals from sheep to turkeys and reindeer.

  6. Cops and Robbers

    David Jonsson and Lyndsey Marshal read from George Eliot, Chester Himes and Milton.

  7. A Seasonal Journey

    Olivia Williams and Owen Teale with Advent and Christmas traditions from around the UK

  8. Bears

    From Hunting for Honey Eaters to Presidents, Pooh and Petrushka - all things bear

  9. Milton's world

    Extracts from poems and prose set to music to mark the death of John Milton on 8 Nov 1674.

  10. Mountains

    Readings from Annie Proulx, Basho, HP Lovecraft with music by Bjork, Dvorak, Miriam Makeba

  11. The Circus

    Luke Treadaway & Phoebe Campbell conjure clowns, jugglers, elephants and trapeze artists.

  12. Rescue at Sea

    Carla Henry, Josh Bryant Jones & Martin McCann with readings and music evoking sea rescue.

  13. Feuds, Rivalries, Arguments and Quarrels

    Mozart and Salieri, literary spats between Romantic poets, family feuds, unhappy lovers.

  14. German Romanticism

    Emily Pithon and Nuhazet Diaz Cano with readings and music from the German Romantic era

  15. James Baldwin

    Adrian Lester reads from the novels and essays of James Baldwin, set alongside music.

  16. Gold, Silver, Bronze and Brass

    With Olympic medal ceremonies ahead, we explore precious metals in poetry, prose, music.

  17. The Party

    From the Great Gatsby, Mrs Beeton to Jeeves takes Charge, Romeo and Juliet to Harlem Samba

  18. Portraits of Suffolk

    As the Aldeburgh Festival marks 75 years, a playlist of readings and music from Suffolk.

  19. Prague and Kafka

    Colin Tierney and Jo Herbert with readings including Kafka, Holub, Else Lasker-Schueller.

  20. Birdsong

    Nightingales, robins, blackbirds in music, readings by Julia Winwood and Jonathan Keeble.

  21. Betjeman's World

    Bells, blossoms and railway branch lines in a John Betjeman-inspired playlist.

  22. Mills

    Our journey takes us from wind and water via the Miller's Song to dark, satanic mills.

  23. Byron

    Robert Glenister reads from poems, letters and diaries written by the Romantic writer

  24. Luck and Chance

    Anne Marie-Duff and Paterson Joseph evoke a world of card games, casinos and lucky chances

  25. The Curse of Narcissus

    From Ancient Greek vanities, via Dorian Gray & Jay Gatsby to Janet Fitch's White Oleander

  26. A Woman's Lot

    Greta Scacchi and Lydia Wilson with readings about women rebelling and questioning.

  27. Leadership

    Leaders, both good and bad, evoked in music, poetry and prose.

  28. Antarctica - from Shackleton to Happy Feet

    Readings and music inspired by Antarctica - the 'White Continent'.

  29. For love of Bagpuss

    Readings and music inspired by the anniversary of the children's TV programme Bagpuss. (R)

  30. Paying Attention

    Nathan Osgood and Sarah Slimani with readings ranging from Arthur Miller to Mary Oliver.

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