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A contrabassoonist's perspective on music with Margaret Cookhorn

Contrabassoonist Margaret Cookhorn opens up a colourful selection of classical music from the inside - revealing familiar and unfamiliar works in a new light.

Today, bassoonist and principal contrabassoonist of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra Margaret Cookhorn shares her excitement about a rare experience - playing the contrabassoon in chamber music by Mozart. She also analyses how Richard Strauss brings exotic flavours to the orchestra in his take on Salome's Dance of the Seven Veils, and explains her fascination for patterns in the music of Benjamin Britten. Margaret's choices range from a miniature by Elgar played by violinist Nigel Kennedy to part of Messiaen's massive Turangalila Symphony, plus vocal acrobatics from Ella Fitzgerald and Bobby McFerrin.

At 2 o'clock Margaret introduces her Must Listen piece - something she thinks everyone should hear at least once in their life - as she says: "it contains one of the most exciting and rhythmic endings to a symphony ever written".

A series in which each week a musician reveals a selection of music - from the inside.

A Tandem Production for 大象传媒 Radio 3.

1 hour, 58 minutes

Music Played

  • George Frideric Handel

    La Rejouissance (Music for the Royal Fireworks)

    Ensemble: King's Consort. Director: Robert King.
    • HYPERION.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Taras Bulba - 1st movement The Death of Andrei

    Orchestra: Czech Chamber Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • SUPRAPHON.
  • Maurice Ravel

    Sonatine for Piano

    Performer: Martha Argerich.
    • DG.
  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony no.4 - 3rd movement Largo

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Romance - Adagio - 5th Movement - 'Gran Partita' Serenade no.10 in B flat

    Ensemble: Bl盲serensemble Sabine Meyer.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • Richard Strauss

    Salome's Dance of the seven veils from Salome op.54

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andris Nelsons.
    • ORFEO.
  • Bobby McFerrin

    Thinkin' About Your Body

    • BLUE NOTE.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Symphony 5 in B flat op.100 - Allegro giocoso (Finale)

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Serenade for Tenor, Horn & Strings - V.Dirge

    Performer: Dennis Brain. Singer: Peter Pears. Conductor: Benjamin Britten.
    • DECCA.
  • Gy枚rgy Ligeti

    Concerto Romanescu - Finale Molto Vivace

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Esa鈥怭ekka Salonen.
    • DG.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Rejoice in the Lamb - 1st movement - Rejoice in God, O ye Tongues

    Choir: Choir of St John鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Director: Christopher Robinson.
    • NAXOS.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Egmont Overture op.84

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.
    • TELDEC.
  • Edward Elgar

    Mot d'amour op.13

    Performer: Nigel Kennedy. Performer: Peter Pettinger.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Olivier Messaien

    Turungalila - Symphony - 5th movement 'Joie du sang des etoiles'

    Performer: Peter Donohoe. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI.
  • George Gershwin

    Fascinating Rhythm

    Performer: Ella Fitzgerald.
    • VERVE.
  • Gabriel Prokofiev

    Lieutenant Kije - The Wedding of Kije & Troika

    Performer: Adolph Herseth. Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Claudio Abbado.
    • DG.
  • Rachel Portman

    Wedding Chorus (One Day - original soundtrack)

    • Island Records.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 12 May 2018 13:00
  • Sat 1 Dec 2018 13:00

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