Light in the Darkness
From the candlelight in a Hanukkah poem and John Donne's Nocturne to St Lucy to a midwinter visit to Maeshowe. Music by Mahler, Nielsen, Hildur Gudnadottir, Arvo Part, Brian Eno.
From Philip Pullman's fictional north to an account of seeing the aurora borealis, the candlelight in a Hanukkah poem and John Donne's Nocturne to St Lucy to a midwinter visit to Maeshowe by poet Kathleen Jamie - we look at ideas about light and darkness at this time of year in nature, art, belief and traditional storytelling. With music from composers including Mahler, Ligeti, Nielsen, Hildur Gudnad贸ttir, Arvo Part, Johann Johannsson and Brian Eno.
Producers: Kevin Core and Paul Frankl
Last on
Music Played
Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes
-
![]()
00:00Arvo P盲rt
De Profundis
- ECM 8319592.
-
John Donne
A Nocturnal on St Lucy's Day read by Ray Fearon
John Lewis Stempel
The Running Hare ready by Ray Fearon
![]()
00:03Whitacre
Lux Arumque
Performer: Eric Whitacre Singers.- Decca 2743209.
![]()
00:06Maurice Ravel
Le Lever du Jour (Daphnis et Chloe)
Ensemble: Les Si猫cles. Conductor: Fran莽ois鈥怷avier Roth.- Harmonia Mundi 5280DI.
Tiffany Francis
A Journey into the Wild Night ready by Stella Gonet
![]()
00:10Steven Price
Aurora Borealis (from Gravity)
Performer: Studio Orchestra.- Silva Screen SILCD1441.
Philip Pullman
Northern Lights read by Stella Gonet
![]()
00:01Claude Debussy
Clair de Lune (Suite Bergamasque)
Orchestra: Leopold Stokowski Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leopold Stokowski.- EMI 698556 2.
![]()
00:16Einojuhani Rautavaara
Melancholy (Cantus Arcticus)
Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Hannu Lintu.- Naxos 8554147.
Jack London
To Build a Fire read by Ray Fearon
Dinah Craik
An Aurora Borealis read by Stella Gonet
![]()
00:21James McMillan
Oh Radiant Dawn
Performer: Apollo 5 Choir.- VC Records VCM123.
![]()
00:26William Grant Still
Aspiration (Afro-American Symphony)
Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Karl Krueger.- Bridge BRIDGE 9086.
Barack Obama
Speech on the anniversary death of Martin Luther King read by Ray Fearon
Kathleen Jamie
Darkness and Light read by Stella Gonet
![]()
00:38Peter Maxwell Davies
An Orkney Wedding with Sunrise for orchestra and bagpipes
Performer: George McIlwham. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Peter Maxwell Davies.- Naxos 8.572352.
RS Thomas
The Other read by Ray Fearon
![]()
00:41Ralph Vaughan Williams
Pastoral Symphony
Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: Sir Mark Elder.- Halle CDHLL7540.
![]()
00:53Brian Eno
Emerald and Stone
Performer: Brian Eno.- Warp WARPCD207.
Gillian Clarke
Snow (Christmas in Wales) read by Stella Gonet
![]()
00:55Charles Ives
The Unanswered Question
Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.- CBS MK42381.
Robert Frost
Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening read by Ray Fearon
Traditional
Inuit Poem read by Stella Gonet
![]()
01:04Tanya Tagaq
As the Day Goes By
Performer: Tanya Tagaq.- Amboworld ?聳 AMBOCD02.
Carol Ann Duffy
Demeter read by Stella Gonet
![]()
01:07Carl Nielsen
Helios Overture
Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Esa鈥怭ekka Salonen.- CBS CD 42093.
Cormac McCarthy
The Road read by Ray Fearon
![]()
01:11Roy Harris
Symphony No.3 (finale)
Orchestra: Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Bernstein.- DG CD 42093.
John Donne
A Nocturnal on St Lucy鈥檚 Day read by Ray Fearon
John Lewis Stempel
The Running Hare ready by Ray Fearon
Tiffany Francis
A Journey into the Wild Night ready by Stella Gonet
Broadcasts
- Sun 13 Dec 2020 17:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- New Year's Day 2024 17:00大象传媒 Radio 3
The hidden history of plant-based diets
![The hidden history of plant-based diets]()
Forget social media influencers - the meat-free movement started with the Victorians.
Books website
Get closer to books with in-depth articles, quizzes and our picks from radio & TV.
Related Content
