The Sea
Tom Service goes on a voyage to discover why music has long been inspired by the sea, while marine biologist Helen Scales reveals the true sound of the oceans.
Join Tom on a Listening Service voyage across our oceans to discover why music has long been inspired by the sea - from Sibelius and Mendelssohn to John Luther Adams and The Beatles - how have composers tried to capture the ocean in their music? Is it even possible?
Meanwhile, Tom discovers music that is literally created by the sea itself from Blackpool to the Arctic, and dives down into the sounds of coral reefs with the marine biologist Helen Scales to hear the noisy vibrant reality of life under the waves, from snapping pistol shrimps and angry damsel fish to singing whales.
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Music Played
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Claude Debussy
Nocturnes for orchestra, no.3; Sirenes
Performer: The Cleveland Orchestra. Performer: Pierre Boulez.- DG 4398962.
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Tim Buckley
Song to the Siren from 聭Starsailor聮
Performer: Unknown.- Straight.
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Otis Redding
(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay
Composer: Steve Cropper. Performer: Otis Redding.- Stax.
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Benjamin Britten
Four Sea interludes from 'Peter Grimes, Op.33a
Performer: 大象传媒 Philharmonic. Performer: Edward Gardner.- Chandos.
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Claude Debussy
Petite suite for piano duet: En bateau
Performer: Martha Argerich. Performer: Cristina Marton.- Warner.
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Chuck Berry
Surfin聮 USA
Performer: The Beach Boys.- Capitol Records.
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Richard Wagner
The Flying Dutchman Overture
Performer: Hall茅. Performer: Sir Mark Elder.- Halle.
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Charles Trenet
La Mer
Performer: Charles Trenet.- EMI.
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John A. Glover-Kind
I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside
Performer: Unknown.- Kala International.
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Cliff Richard & The Shadows
Summer Holiday
- EMI.
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Groove Armada
At the River
Performer: Groove Armada.- Tummy Touch.
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David Guetta
When Love Takes Over
Composer: NERVO. Performer: David Guetta. Performer: Kelly Rowland.- Virgin Records.
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Traditional
Ten Thousand Miles Away
Performer: Ian Giles. Performer: John Spiers. Performer: Jon Boden. Performer: Graham Metcalfe.- CCL.
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Jean Sibelius
The Oceanides Op.73
Orchestra: Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jukka鈥怭ekka Saraste.- RCA.
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Iannis Xenakis
Sea Change
Performer: 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Andrew Davis.- 大象传媒 recording.
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Felix Mendelssohn
The Hebrides (Fingal's Cave) 聳 Overture, Op.26
Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Claudio Abbado.- DG.
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Radiohead
Weird Fishes/Arpeggi
Performer: Radiohead.- XLCD.
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Stef Veldhuis
Music by Oceans
Performer: Unknown.- Private recording.
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Miles Davis
All Blues
Performer: Steve Turre.- Smoke Sessions Records.
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John Luther Adams
Become Ocean
Performer: Seattle Symphony. Performer: Ludovic Morlot.- Cantaloupe.
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Richard Starkey
Octopus聮s Garden
Performer: The Beatles.- Parlophone.
Broadcasts
- Sun 6 May 2018 17:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Sun 15 Mar 2020 17:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 20 Mar 2020 16:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 29 Jul 2022 16:30大象传媒 Radio 3
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Podcast
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The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service
