English Music
Is there a set of rules that makes English music sound English? Do you have to be English to appreciate it? And do you have to be English to be able to write it?
Does English music have a formula? Think of the stirring 'nobilmente' tunes of Elgar and those melodies and harmonies of Vaughan Williams and Holst which have become inextricably linked with the very notion of Englishness. When did English music begin and is it still being written? In an attempt both to define English music and explain its appeal Tom Service enlists the help of Em Marshall-Luck, founder-director of The English Music Festival.
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Music Played
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Ralph Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on 'Greensleeves' [adapted R Greaves from opera 'Sir John in love']
Performer: Daniel Barenboim. Performer: English Chamber Orchestra.- DG.
- 469274-2.
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Tansy Davies
Loopholes and lynchpins for piano
Performer: Huw Watkins.- nmc.
- NMCD176.
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Thomas Tallis
O nata lux de lumine for 5 voices
Performer: Peter Phillips. Performer: Tallis Scholars.- gimmell.
- CDGIM212.
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Dizzee Rascal
Bassline Junkie
Performer: Dizzee Rascal. -
Michael Nyman
A Zed and two noughts - music for the film
Conductor: Michael Nyman. Performer: Zoo Orchestra.- venture.
- DVEBN552.
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Brian Ferneyhough
Missa brevis for 12 voices
Conductor: James Weeks. Performer: Exaudi.- NMC.
- D231.
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Percy Grainger
Country gardens vers. for orchestra
Conductor: Richard Hickox. Performer: 大象传媒 Philharmonic.- CHANDOS.
- CHAN9584.
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The Dufay Collective
Sumer is icumen in (Perspice, christicola)
- chandos.
- CHAN9396.
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Edward Elgar
Pomp and circumstance marches Op.39
Conductor: Andrew Davis. Performer: 大象传媒 Philharmonic.- Chandos.
- CHAN10709.
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Edward Elgar
Symphony no. 2 in E flat major Op.63
Conductor: Adrian Boult. Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra.- EMI Classics.
- CDM7640142.
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Edward Elgar
The Crown of India - imperial masque in 2 tableaux reconstructed and orchestrated by Anthony Payne
Conductor: Andrew Davis. Performer: 大象传媒 Philharmonic.- Chandos.
- CHAN10570(2).
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Edward Elgar
Cockaigne (In London town) - overture Op.40
Conductor: Sir Mark Elder. Performer: Hall茅.- Halle.
- CD HLL7501.
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Edward Elgar
Symphony no. 1 in A flat major Op.55
Conductor: Edward Gardner. Performer: 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra.- Chandos.
- CHSA5181.
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Edward Elgar
Concerto in B minor Op.61 for violin and orchestra
Conductor: Sir Mark Elder. Performer: Thomas Zehetmair. Performer: Hall茅.- halle.
- HLL7521.
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Roderick Williams
Goodwood by the sea for piano
Performer: Maria Marchant.- somm.
- SOMMCD 0174.
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George Butterworth
A Shropshire lad - rhapsody for orchestra [1912]
Conductor: Sir Mark Elder. Performer: Hall茅.- Halle.
- CD HLL7503.
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Benjamin Britten
Noye's fludde - children's opera in 1 act Op.59
Conductor: Norman Del Mar. Performer: East Suffolk Children's Orchestra. Performer: English Chamber Orchestra.- Decca.
- 478 544 9.
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Harrison Birtwistle
The Shadow of night for orchestra
Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: Ryan Wigglesworth.- NMC.
- NMCD156.
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Brian Ferneyhough
Carceri d'invenzione II for flute and chamber orchestra [no.4 in 'Carceri' cycle]
Conductor: Marcello Panni. Performer: Roberto Fabbriciani. Performer: Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI.- TACTUS.
- TC980090.
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Thomas Ad猫s
Arcadiana for string quartet
Performer: Danish String Quartet.- ECM.
- 2453 4812385.
Broadcasts
- Sun 24 May 2020 17:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 29 May 2020 16:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Sun 17 Jul 2022 17:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Fri 22 Jul 2022 16:30大象传媒 Radio 3
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The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service