Finding New Feet
Donald Macleod chats to Errollyn Wallen about her colourful early career in London as a session keyboardist and burgeoning composer. Plus, what it's like to live in a lighthouse.
Donald Macleod and composer Errollyn Wallen discuss her breakthrough into the musical world.
Belize-born British composer Errollyn Wallen has been called a 鈥渞enaissance woman of contemporary music鈥�. She鈥檚 a remarkably versatile and prolific composer, pianist and songwriter and one of our most in-demand musical voices today. She was the first black woman to have a piece performed at the Proms in 1998 and her music opened the 2012 Paralympic games. She's even been performed in space, aboard NASA鈥檚 STS115 mission. Wallen writes in a kaleidoscopic range of styles; her music constantly crosses and re-crosses musical boundaries and it brims over with a sense of adventure and delight. All this week, Donald Macleod gets to know Errollyn as she dials into his studio from her Scottish lighthouse where she retreats to concentrate on her work.
Today, we hear from Errollyn about her colourful early career in London as a keyboardist in bands, and writing music for a TV gameshow. She and Donald also discuss the the challenge of breaking through as a serious composer. Plus, we hear about life in Errollyn鈥檚 lighthouse, and how she ended up living there.
TIGER
John Butt, organ
Lines
Errollyn Wallen, piano
It all depends on you (excerpt)
Fiona Baines, soprano
Andrew Sparling, clarinet
Martin Robertson, clarinet
The Girl in My Alphabet
Errollyn Wallen, piano
Douglas Finch, piano
Three Ships (IV 鈥� Some Trouble)
Tom Kerstens, guitar
Red (Homage to Rodrigo)
Tom Kerstens, guitar
Greenwich Variations
Errollyn Wallen, piano
Produced by Amelia Parker
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Errollyn Wallen
TIGER
Performer: John Butt. -
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Errollyn Wallen
Lines
Performer: Errollyn Wallen.- AVIE : AV0049.
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Errollyn Wallen
It All Depends On You (excerpt)
Performer: Andrew Sparling. Performer: Martin Robertson. Singer: Fiona Baines.- LORELT : LNT-101.
- LORELT.
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Errollyn Wallen
The Girl In My Alphabet
Performer: Errollyn Wallen. Performer: Douglas Finch.- AVIE: AV 0006.
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Errollyn Wallen
Three Ships (IV - Some Trouble)
Performer: Tom Kerstens.- BGS RECORDS : BGS113.
- BGS RECORDS.
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Errollyn Wallen
Red (Homage to Rodrigo)
Performer: Tom Kerstens.- BGS RECORDS : BGS107.
- BGS RECORDS.
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Errollyn Wallen
Greenwich Variations
Performer: Errollyn Wallen.- AVIE : AV0049.
- AVIE.
- 14.
Broadcasts
- Wed 5 Jan 2022 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Wed 18 Oct 2023 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
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