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Public and Private

Donald Macleod chats to Errollyn Wallen about her most public and meaningful commissions, her daily routine and the role of the composer in today鈥檚 world.

Donald Macleod and Errollyn Wallen discuss the role of the composer in today鈥檚 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, Donald and Errollyn talk about some of her most public and meaningful commissions, marking large events and anniversaries, as well as pieces dedicated to people close to her. She speaks about the importance of a composer being 鈥渋n the world鈥 and her role in reflecting society through music. We hear about her daily life as a composer, and how she feels the world of classical music is changing for the future.

Jerusalem, our clouded hills
Golda Schultz, soprano
大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra
Dalia Stasevska, conductor

gun gun gun
Heloise Werner, soprano
Hermes Experiment

Mighty River
Orchestra X

Cello Concerto (excerpt)
Matthew Sharp, cello
Orchestra X
Nicholas Kok, conductor

See That I am God
Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge
Stephen Cleobury, conductor

Produced in Cardiff by Amelia Parker

59 minutes

Last on

Fri 20 Oct 2023 12:00

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Music Played

  • Errollyn Wallen

    For Magdalena

    Performer: Miwa Rosso.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    Jerusalem, our clouded hills

    Orchestra: 大象传媒 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Dalia Stasevska. Singer: Golda Schultz.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    gun gun gun

    Singer: H茅lo茂se Werner. Ensemble: The Hermes Experiment.
    • DELPHIAN : DCD-34244.
    • DELPHIAN.
    • 3.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    Mighty River

    Ensemble: Ensemble X. Conductor: Andrew Morley.
    • NMC : NMCDL2017-01.
    • NMC.
    • 1.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    Cello Concerto (excerpt)

    Performer: Matthew Sharp. Performer: Orchestra X. Conductor: Nicholas Kok.
    • Errollyn Wallen: Photography.
    • NMC.
    • 1.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    See That I Am God

    Choir: King's College Cambridge Choir. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • KINGS : KGS-0050.
    • KINGS.
    • 3.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 7 Jan 2022 12:00
  • Fri 20 Oct 2023 12:00

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