Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

The Ascent of Man

To mark the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin's birth, Ruth Padel and Henry Goodman read prose and verse exploring the idea of the Ascent of Man.

The idea of the 鈥楢scent of Man鈥�, triggered by the commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin鈥檚 birth, became for me a thrilling passageway to a vast and multi-layered territory. After reading excerpts from his Journals and Autobiography, in particular those relating to his trip to South America 鈥搘here my own roots are- a clear idea came to mind: to portray in 鈥榃ords and Music鈥� the many different types of journeys he made throughout his life. I mean not only the voyage on board the Beagle, of course, but his other two parallel journeys: the intellectual and spiritual transformations Darwin so bravely went through as he travelled, in body, mind and spirit, in search of the origins of nature.
The texts I鈥檝e selected here to illustrate this three-fold journey, read by actors Henry Goodman and Jemima Rooper, include excerpts from Darwin himself, but also from some Victorian poets, contemporary of the scientist, eager to reflect the influence his innovative vision brought to their craft.
A crucial and modern contribution to the mix though, comes in the shape of readings by Ruth Padel, a prize-winning poet and herself direct descendant of Darwin, who鈥檚 written about nature and who contributes here 鈥搕he way I see it- by putting some of his famous ancestor鈥檚 concerns into today鈥檚 context. Her readings include excerpts from her latest book, 鈥楧arwin: A Life in Poems鈥�, just published to coincide with the famous scientist鈥檚 anniversary.
Now, music becomes another voice in this journey: the taped songs of the biggest sea mammals in Hovahaness 鈥楢nd God Created Great Whales鈥�, or the ritual dance for the killing of a snake in Revueltas鈥� 鈥槼П鸩圆醣鸪静共饷♀��, or the subliminal message of 鈥楰oyaanisqatsi鈥� -鈥榳orld out of balance鈥�-, Philip Glass鈥� soundtrack inspired in the language of a native American tribe. They all represent nature and the world that so much excited Darwin.

Juan Carlos Jaramillo (producer)

1 hour, 15 minutes

Last on

Mon 20 Dec 2010 17:00
大象传媒 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Tailor-Made

Next

Harold Pinter

See all episodes from Words and Music

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Richard Strauss

    Also Sprach Zarathustra

    Performers: Berliner Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan (conductor)

    • DG DG 410959-2.

  • Darwin

    Darwin鈥檚 words read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:02

    Robert Schumann

    Soir茅stucke (Fantasiestucke), Op. 73

    Performers: Steven Isserlis (cello), D茅nes V谩rjon (piano)

    • Music for cello and piano.
    • Hyperion 鈥� CDA 67661.

  • Sean O鈥橣aolain

    words by Sean O鈥橣aolain read by Jemima Rooper

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from book 鈥楧arwin: A Life in Poems鈥� read by Ruth Padel

  • 00:03

    Benjamin Britten

    Rosa Mystica

    Performers: Polyphony/ Stephen Layton

    • Hyperion.
    • GCDAW01 Gramophone.

  • Darwin

    Darwin鈥檚 words read by Henry Goodman

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • 00:07

    Ralph Vaughan Williams

    A Lark Asscending

    Performers: The English Connection

    • ASV CDDCA518.

  • Mathilde Blind

    Wings, from book The Ascent of Man read by Jemima Rooper

  • Mathilde Blind

    Wings, from book The Ascent of Man read by Jemima Rooper

  • Philip Appleman

    excerpt from book Darwin鈥檚 Ark read by Jemima Rooper

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:12

    Heitor Villa鈥怢obos

    Aria (Cantilena), from Bachiana Brasileira No. 5

    Performers: Jill Gomez (soprano), The Pleeth Cello Octet

    • Bachianas Brasileiras Nos. 1 & 5.
    • Hyperion CDA66257.

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:16

    Johann Strauss II - Voices of Spring (vocal version), op. 410

    Performers: Wiener Philharmoniker, Herbert von Karajan (conductor), Katleen Battle (soprano)

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • 00:18

    rainforest tribe in Sao Gabriel de Cachoeira, Amazonas, Brazil

    M煤sica do Brazil

    • Abril Music 1103006-2.

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:20

    Gustavo Santaolalla

    Apertura

    • The Motorcycle Diaries, soundtrack.
    • Edge music 002894775019.

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:23

    Revueltas

    厂别苍蝉别尘补测谩

    Performers: Sim贸n Bol铆var Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (conductor)

    • Fiesta!.
    • DG.

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:24

    Chango Spasiuk

    Tarefero de mis pagos 鈥� Sounds from the Red Land

    Performers: Chango Spasiuk, accordion

    • Piranha 鈥� CD-PIR1895.

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • Ruth Padel

    Excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:30

    George Frideric Handel

    The Messiah - And the Glory of the Lord

    Performers: The Academy of Ancient Music, Christopher Hogwood (director), L鈥橭iseau-Lyre

    • Decca 430488-2.

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:33

    Arturo M谩rquez

    Danz贸n No. 2

    Performers: Sim贸n Bol铆var Youth Orchestra of Venezuela, Gustavo Dudamel (conductor)

    • Fiesta!.
    • DG.

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • 00:37

    Alan Hovhaness

    And God Created Great Whales

    Performers: Seattle Symphony, Gerard Schwarz (conductor)

    • Delos 鈥� DE3157.

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • 00:39

    Alan Hovhaness

    And God Created Great Whales

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • 00:40

    Alan Hovhaness

    And God Created Great Whales

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • Ruth Padel

    excerpt from Darwin: A Life in Poems read by Ruth Padel

  • 00:40

    Igor Stravinsky

    The Rite of Spring

    Performers: Daniel Barenboim (conductor), Chicago Symphony Orchestra

    • Teldec 鈥� 8573-81702-2.

  • Constance Naden

    Natural Selection read by Jemima Rooper

  • 00:42

    E. Rautavaara

    Cantus Articus

    Performers: Helsiniki Philharmonic Orchestra, Jorma Panula (conductor)

    • The Bog.
    • Finlandia FACD009.

  • Darwin

    from Darwin鈥檚 Journal read by Henry Goodman

  • Philip Appleman

    excerpt from book Darwin鈥檚 Ark read by Jemima Rooper

Broadcasts

  • Sun 15 Feb 2009 22:15
    大象传媒 Radio 3
  • Mon 20 Dec 2010 17:00
    大象传媒 Radio 3

The hidden history of plant-based diets

The hidden history of plant-based diets

Forget social media influencers - the meat-free movement started with the Victorians.

Books website

Get closer to books with in-depth articles, quizzes and our picks from radio & TV.