Main content

Music for Melancholy

Hannah French searches for music with the power to balance the humours and transform the spirit, from Dowland鈥檚 Flow, My Tears, to David鈥檚 Harp, CPE Bach and Delalande.

In this week raising awareness of mental health, Hannah French considers Music for Melancholy. From Dowland鈥檚 Flow, My Tears, to David鈥檚 Harp, she鈥檚 off in search of music with the power to balance the humours and transform the spirit. CPE Bach offers a contest between Sanguinius and Melancholicus and Michel Richard Delalande emerges as a figure who turned to music when faced with mental trials both great and small.

Available now

25 minutes

Last on

Sun 19 May 2024 17:00

Music Played

  • Thomas Arne

    Eliza: Overture (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Capella Savaria. Director: Mary T茅rey-Smith.
    • CENTAUR.
  • Thomas Arne

    Eliza: Overture (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Capella Savaria. Director: Mary T茅rey-Smith.
    • CENTAUR.
  • John Dowland

    Flow my tears

    Performer: Andreas Martin. Singer: Andreas Scholl.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • John Dowland

    Sorrow, stay

    Performer: Andreas Martin. Singer: Andreas Scholl.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Sonata in C Minor 'Sanguineus & Melancholicus', Wq.161'4

    Ensemble: Florilegium.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Saul (excerpts from Act 1 Scene 5)

    Singer: Dame Sarah Connolly. Singer: Robert Murray. Singer: Christopher Purves. Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • CORO.
  • Johann Kuhnau

    Biblical Sonata No.2 "The Melancholy of Saul assuaged by means of music" (1st mvt)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Johann Kuhnau

    Biblical Sonata No.2 "The Melancholy of Saul assuaged by means of music" (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Federico Caldara.
    • CONCERTO.
  • Johann Kuhnau

    Biblical Sonata No.2 "The Melancholy of Saul assuaged by means of music" (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Stefano Molardi.
    • BRILLIANT CLASSICS.
  • Michel鈥怰ichard de Lalande

    Dies irae

    Performer: Philippe Herreweghe. Ensemble: La Chapelle Royale.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Michel鈥怰ichard de Lalande

    Grande piece en G re sol 'Fantaisie ou Caprice que le Roy demandoit souvent'

    Orchestra: Elbipolis Barockorchester Hamburg.
    • CHALLENGE CLASSICS.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 16 May 2021 14:00
  • Sun 19 May 2024 17:00

Podcast