Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

What Is Our Life? 1583-1603

Gibbons’s early life in Cambridge and Oxford, amidst Britain’s political turbulence.

Orlando Gibbons’s life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England’s most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons.

Today, Donald Macleod looks at Gibbons’s early life in Cambridge and Oxford, where he grew up amongst a highly musical family. But it was Orlando who blazed the trail, making the jump from provincial music-making to the royal court in London.

The Silver Swan
Cambridge Singers
John Rutter, conductor

O clap your hands
Out of the Deep
Oxford Camerata
Jeremy Summerly, director

A Fancy (for Double Organ)
Jonathan Hardy, organ

Behold, thou hast made my days
We praise thee, O Father
Magdalena Consort
Fretwork
Peter Harvey, director

What Is Our life?
Rudolfus Choir
Ralph Allwood, conductor

I am the resurrection
Hosanna to the Son of David
Stile Antico

How art thou thralled
Farewell all joys
Now each flowery bank of May
Consort of Musicke

Produced by Iain Chambers for ´óÏó´«Ã½ Audio Wales & West

59 minutes

Last on

Mon 10 Jun 2024 16:00

Music Played

  • Orlando Gibbons

    The Silver Swan

    Choir: The Cambridge Singers. Conductor: John Rutter.
    • COLLEGIUM RECORD : CSCD 502-.
    • COLLEGIUM RECORD.
    • 6.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    O clap your hands

    Choir: Oxford Camerata. Conductor: Jeremy Summerly.
    • NAXOS : 8.553130-.
    • NAXOS.
    • 1.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    Out of the Deep

    Choir: Oxford Camerata. Director: Jeremy Summerly.
    • NAXOS.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    A Fancy for Double Organ

    Performer: Jonathan Hardy.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : hmu-907337.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 7.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    Behold, thou hast made my days

    Ensemble: Magdalena Consort. Ensemble: Fretwork. Director: Peter Harvey.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS : SIGCD-511.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 1.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    We praise thee, O Father

    Ensemble: Magdalena Consort. Ensemble: Fretwork. Director: Peter Harvey.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS : SIGCD-511.
    • SIGNUM CLASSICS.
    • 2.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    What is our life?

    Choir: The Rodolfus Choir. Conductor: Ralph Allwood.
    • Signum SIGCD 445.
    • Signum.
    • 10.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    I am the resurrection

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU-807555.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 12.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    Hosanna to the Son of David

    Choir: Stile Antico.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI : HMU-807555.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • 2.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    How art thou thrald; Farewell all joys

    Ensemble: Consort of Musicke.. Director: Anthony Rooley.
    • DECCA 4767227.
    • DECCA 4767227.
    • 7.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    Now each flowery bank of May

    Ensemble: Consort of Musicke.. Director: Anthony Rooley.
    • DECCA 4767227.
    • DECCA 4767227.
    • 12.

Broadcast

  • Mon 10 Jun 2024 16:00

Vaughan Williams Today

Vaughan Williams Today

Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

Beethoven Unleashed – the box set

The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

What was really wrong with Beethoven?

Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems

Composers A to Z

Composers A to Z

Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week

The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod’s best stories from the last 20 years

Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem

What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?

A man out of time – why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...

The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.

Composer Help Page

Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.