The Composer in Society
Judith Weir discusses the role of a composer in society as well as her enjoyment of working with performers and students, and communicating with the public.
Judith Weir discusses the role of a composer in society and her enjoyment of working with performers, students and her new role as Master of the Queen's Music.
One of our most distinguished composers, in July 2014 Judith Weir succeeded Sir Peter Maxwell Davies as Master of the Queen's Music. It's an honour that joins an already impressive collection of awards, which include a CBE and the Queen's Medal for Music. Born in 1954 into a musical Scottish family, Weir grew up near London. A member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Weir studied composition with John Tavener during her school holidays. More formal studies followed at Cambridge University, including composition with Robin Holloway, and at Tanglewood summer school, where she worked with Gunther Schuller. The possessor of a rich, fertile imagination, Weir draws on a wide variety of sources, notably dark fairytales, folk stories, Chinese philosophy, Indian music and culture, distilling their essence in music of luminous clarity. Her fundamental concern is to tell stories. An articulate communicator, Weir's writing about her music encapsulates the process brilliantly. In this series, Weir offers a personal insight into some of the musical projects which have occupied her since the beginning of the noughties.
In the final chapter of this week's survey, Judith Weir talks to Donald Macleod about her role as Master of the Queen's Music and looks back at the relationships she's forged over the years, with her recording company, performers and arts and academic organisations, plus a look ahead to some of her future projects.
To Judith, from Judith (No 5 of Variations for Judith: 11 Short Reflections on Bist du bei mir (G H St枚lzel arr. JS Bach))
Melvyn Tan, piano.
Last on
More episodes
Next
You are at the last episode
Music Played
-
![]()
Judith Weir
Variations For Judith For Piano [eleven Short Reflections On Bist Du Bei Mir By
Performer: Melvyn Tan. -
![]()
Judith Weir
Blackbirds And Thrushes For Bass-Baritone And Piano
Performer: Iain Burnside. Singer: George Mosley. -
![]()
Judith Weir
Vertue For Chorus
Choir: Gonville and Caius Coll. Cambridge Choir. Conductor: Geoffrey Webber.- DELPHIAN : DCD34095.
- DELPHIAN.
- 3.
-
![]()
Judith Weir
Piano Quartet
Ensemble: Schubert Ensemble.- NMC:D090.
- NMC.
- 9.
-
![]()
Judith Weir
Winter Song For Orchestra
Orchestra: 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andr茅 de Ridder.
Broadcasts
- Fri 3 Apr 2015 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 3 Apr 2015 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.
