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Commuters

Readers Kate O鈥橣lynn and Paul Copley explore the journey to and from work, where we consider our place in the world. Featuring texts from Chekhov, Theroux and the Tao Te Ching.

The daily commute isn鈥檛 always a grind. Readers Kate O鈥橣lynn and Paul Copley explore the journey to and from work as a space where we consider our place in the world.

It can be a time to fantasise about the familiar strangers around us; where, as the world flashes by the window, we go into reveries, conjuring memories, imagined lives, and lyrics to songs. And while for many of us the journey to work is safe, habitual and easy, for others it鈥檚 a time where both the majesty and perils of the world are felt most keenly.

Featuring poetry and prose by Chekhov, Kafka, Theroux and Hardy, and from the Tao Te Ching and the coal mines of Wales, as well as documentary archive from Ethiopia and Patagonia.

Music selections include Franz Schubert, Fanny Mendelssohn, Meredith Monk, Gavin Bryars and Charles Mingus.

Produced by Chris Elcombe.

A Reduced Listening production for 大象传媒 Radio 3.

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Feb 2019 17:30
大象传媒 Radio 3

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Music Played

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

  • Richard Th茅z茅

    Commuter, read by Kate O鈥橣lynn

  • 00:00

    Tullis Rennie

    To Kentish Town (excerpt)

  • 大象传媒 World Service, 2003

    Excerpt from 鈥榃ater Walks鈥�

  • 00:09

    Meredith Monk

    Walking Song

    • Volcano Songs.
    • ECM Records.

  • Suketu Mehta

    Excerpt from 鈥楳aximum City鈥�, read by Paul Copley

  • 00:15

    Ritesh Das & Toronto Tabla Ensemble

    Chatterbox

    • Weaving.
    • Naxos World.
  • 00:18

    Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Humoresque, Op. 101, No. 7

    Performer: Dame Moura Lympany.
    • Best-Loved Piano Classics 1.
    • Seraphim.

  • From 鈥楾he Times鈥�, 1836

    Do鈥檚 and don鈥檛s for those taking the omnibus, read by Kate O鈥橣lynn

  • 00:21

    Oscar Brand

    Humoresque (Passengers Will Please Refrain)

    • Bawdy Songs and Backroom Ballads Vol.3.
    • Audio Fidelity.

  • Paul Theroux

    Excerpt from 'The Old Patagonian Express', read by Paul Copley

  • 00:25

    Charles Mingus

    Wham Bam Thank You Ma'am

    • Oh Yeah.
    • Atlantic.
  • 00:25

    Gavin Bryars

    Excerpt from One Last Bar Then Joe Can Sing (Bar 107)

  • Robert Louis Stevenson

    Ordered South, read by Kate O鈥橣lynn

  • Kafka, trans. Willa and Edwin Muir

    On The Tram, read by Kate O鈥橣lynn

  • 00:31

    Portico Quartet

    Window Seat

  • Thomas Hardy

    Midnight on the Great Western, read by Paul Copley

  • 00:34

    Fanny Mendelssohn

    Das Jahr: 12 Characterstucke No. 3: March

    Performer: Els Biesemans.
    • Fanny Hensel-Mendelssohn: Das Jahr.
    • Genuin.

  • Ovid - Metamorphoses Book II, trans. Arthur Golding

    Helios鈥� description of his journey to his son Phaethon, read by Paul Copley

  • 大象传媒 TV

    Excerpt from Patagonia: Earth鈥檚 Secret Paradise

  • 00:42

    Benjamin Britten

    4 Sea Interludes Op. 33a: 4 - Storm

    Orchestra: Ulster Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley.
    • Britten: Orchestral Works.
    • Chandos.

  • Anna Woodford

    (T)here iv, read by Kate O鈥橣lynn

  • 00:46

    Portico Quartet

    Window Seat

    • Window Seat.
    • Real World Productions Ltd.

  • Tao Te Ching trans. John Bright-Fey

    Chapter 45, read by Kate O鈥橣lynn

  • 00:51

    Franz Schubert

    String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D.810 'Death and the Maiden': 2 - Andante con

    Performer: Tak谩cs Quartet.

  • Anton Chekhov trans. Constance Garnett

    In The Cart (excerpts), read by Paul Copley

  • 00:56

    Franz Schubert

    String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D.810 'Death and the Maiden': 2 - Andante con

    Performer: Caroline Clemmow. Performer: Anthony Goldstone. Music Arranger: Robert Franz.
  • 00:58

    Franz Schubert

    String Quartet No. 14 in D Minor, D.810 'Death and the Maiden': 2 - Andante con

    Ensemble: Tak谩cs Quartet.
    • Death and the Maiden.
    • Hyperion.

  • World Service, 2003

    Excerpt from 鈥榃ater Walks鈥�

  • 01:01

    Anonymous Ethiopian Singers

    Water Drawing Chant - Borana Wells

    • Music From Ethiopia.

  • Aneuryn Owen

    Shaft of Song, read by Paul Copley

  • 01:04

    Daniel James

    Calon Lan

    Composer: John Hughes. Choir: Treorchy Male Choir.
    • Diamond Collection.

  • 大象传媒 TV

    Excerpt from 鈥楶atagonia: Earth鈥檚 Secret Paradise鈥�

  • 01:09

    Jan Garbarek

    Spor

    Performer: Charlie Haden. Performer: Jan Garbarek. Performer: Egberto Gismonti.
    • Magico.
    • ECM Records.

  • Elliot Figman

    Station Music, read by Kate O鈥橣lynn

Broadcast

  • Sun 3 Feb 2019 17:30
    大象传媒 Radio 3

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