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Taking Up the Thread

Samira Ahmed reflects on some of the ways 'threads' lead us and connect us in our lives: from Ariadne's thread in the labyrinth, to the sacred threads of many faiths

Samira Ahmed takes up the thread to reflect on some of the ways 'threads' can lead us and connect us in our lives. A thread is something we can follow, lose and pick up again. We might find ourselves hanging by a thread, or tying some loose ones together. They can bind us and we can break them. They are woven into our lives literally, metaphorically and linguistically.

The idea of following a thread to guide us is age-old, found for example in the Greek myth of Ariadne's thread leading Theseus out of the labyrinth, after he'd slain the Minotaur. Who doesn't need the thread of understanding to lead them through life's maze sometimes? Sacred threads play a significant role in the ceremonies of many faiths and cultures, not least in the life of the Guru Nanak and the founding of the Sikh faith. And when they are woven or knitted together, threads can play a potent role in art and domestic life.

Featuring music by Monteverdi, Bjork and Judy Collins, and writing by Robert Graves, Simon Armitage and Kate Summerscale.

Produced by Caroline Hughes
Presented by Samira Ahmed
A Whistledown Production for 大象传媒 Radio 4

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 8 Jan 2023 23:30
大象传媒 Radio 4

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07/04/2013

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Music Played

  • Pete Seeger

    Oh Had I A Golden Thread

    Performer: Pete Seeger

    • A Link in the Chain.
    • Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
    • B000002ABB.

  • Claudio Monteverdi

    Ariadne's Lament/ Lamento d'Arianna

    Performer: Anna Caterina Antonacci, San Petronio Cappella Musicale Soloists & Sergio Vartolo

    • Monteverdi: Lamenti Barocchi, Vol. 3.
    • Naxos.
    • B000001475.

  • Edward White

    Puffin' Billy

    Orchestra: Melodi Light Orchestra. Conductor: Hubert Clifford.

    Performer: The Melodi Light Orchestra

    • More Vintage Children's Favourites.
    • 2007 CRS Records.
    • Music8408.

  • Khayyam

    Woh Jo Ham Men Tum Men Qarar Tha

    Performer: Begum Akhtar

    • The Very Best - Begum Akhtar.
    • Saregama.
    • 1965.

  • Martin How

    Psalm 16

    Performer: The Choir of Exeter Cathedral, Andrew Millington & Paul Morgan

    • The Complete Psalms of David (Series 2) Volume 1.
    • 2011 Priory Records.
    • B005AF2FL2.

  • Serge Amiano; Eric Durand; Julien Raulet; Rajaneesh Dwivedi; Samuel Devauchelle; David Rekkab; Martial Reverdy

    Kononi

    Performer: Fanga & Maalem Abdallah Guinea

    • Fangnawa Experience.
    • 2012 Strut.
    • B008XFE85C.

  • Bjork and Guy Sigsworth

    Unravel

    Performer: Bjork

    • Homogenic.
    • One Little Indian.
    • B000024U5B.

  • Diego Verdaguer

    En un Hilo

    Performer: Diego Verdaguer

    • Mexicano Hasta las Pampas.
    • Diam Entertainment.
    • B002DTRV80.

  • Pete Seeger

    Oh Had I a Golden Thread

    Performer: Judy Collins

    • Sowing the Seeds - The 10th Anniversary.
    • 2007 Appleseed.
    • APRCD 1102.

Samira's Maze

Samira's Maze

Samira Ahmed photographed the sign on a visit to the Bara Imambara shrine in the city of Lucknow, in Uttar Pradesh, India. Tourists are warned not to enter this enormous three-dimensional maze without a guide.

Samira Ahmed at The South London Gallery

Samira Ahmed at The South London Gallery
Samira looking at artist Pae White's intervention at The South London Gallery. In 鈥楾aking up the Thread鈥� Samira thinks about ways we negotiate life鈥檚 labyrinths, like Ariadne鈥檚 thread, leading Theseus out of the Minotaur鈥檚 labyrinth.

Readings

Title: Ariadne鈥檚 story from 鈥楾he Greek Myths鈥�

Author: Robert Graves

Publisher: Carcanet Press Ltd

ISBN 978-1857544800

听

Title: Hampton Court Palace Maze poem

From early twentieth century London Transport poster

听

Title: 鈥楬ibiscus鈥� (excerpt) from 鈥楾he Florist鈥檚 at Midnight鈥�

Author: Sarah Maguire

Publisher: Jonathan Cape

ISBN 78-0224062138

Recording of Sarah Maguire used by permission of The Poetry Archive

听

听

Title: 鈥�The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher: or the Murder at Road Hill House鈥櫶�

Author: Kate Summerscale

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

ISBN 978-0747596486

听

Title: Visiting from `The Frame of Furnace Light' in the collection "The Monk's Dream"

Author: James Harpur

Publisher: Anvil Press Poetry

ISBN 978-0856462788

听

Title: Words of Guru Nanak from 鈥楾he Sikh Religion: its Gurus, Sacred Writings and Authors鈥�

Translator: Max Arthur MacAuliffe

Publisher: Oxford University Press, 1909听

Out of Print

听

Title: 鈥業n This Strange Labyrinth鈥� from 鈥�

Broadcasts

  • Sun 14 Apr 2013 06:05
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 14 Apr 2013 23:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 8 Jan 2023 06:05
    大象传媒 Radio 4
  • Sun 8 Jan 2023 23:30
    大象传媒 Radio 4