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Christine Bottomley and David Hounslow read Tolstoy and Shakespeare before snuggling down with Paddington for this week鈥檚 bear themed delight. Music from Elgar, Coates and Cavalli.

The Bear is a creature intertwined with our imaginative expression from the earliest cave paintings and oral stories to our childhood bedrooms. As the 大象传媒 focuses on its annual charity campaign Children in Need, with its mascot Pudsey Bear - Words and Music brings us bears captured in global myths from China, Finland, Greece, America and Germany and Shakespeare's famous stage direction. As the greats of 20th century literature A.A. Milne, C.S. Lewis and Robert Frost portray the cuddlier characteristics, Presidents Lincoln and Roosevelt observe the hulking nature of the beast. Benjamin Britten conjures the Great Bear in the stars in his opera Peter Grimes, and Sibelius treats us to 鈥渁 polonaise for polar bears鈥. We hear Bear Dances from Schoenfield and Randy Newman, Haydn鈥檚 eponymous 鈥淭he Bear鈥 Symphony and music composed for the films Brother Bear, Kung Fu Panda and Paddington 2.

Readers: Christine Bottomley & David Hounslow.
Reading of 'We're Going On A Bear Hunt' by Josie and Nate
Producer: Sam Nixon

READINGS:
Elias L枚nnrot, Translated by John Martin Crawford - Otso, The Honey Eater from the Kalevala
Theodore Roosevelt - Good Hunting in Pursuit of Big Game in the West
Robert Frost - The Bear
Philip Pullman - Northern Lights
James Oliver Curwood - The Grizzly King: A Romance of the Wild
Abraham Lincoln - The Bear Hunt
Leo Tolstoy - The Bear Hunt and Other Stories
Dr. Christine Merritt - The Pandas and the Shepherdess
Roald Dahl - Goldilocks
C.S. Lewis - Prince Caspian
Michael Rosen - We're Going On A Bear Hunt
Idra Novey - The Man Who Gave Birth to a Panda
Wendy Cope - Roger Bear's Philosophical Pantoum
Evelyn Waugh - Brideshead Revisited
Philip Matyszak - Callisto from The Greek and Roman Myths
The Brother's Grimm - Bearskin
William Shakespeare - The Winter's Tale
Michael Bond - A Bear Called Paddington
A.A. Milne - Winnie-The-Pooh

24 days left to listen

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Last Sunday 18:00

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Paul Schoenfield

    Vauderville, A Concerto for Picolo Trumpet - 2. Bear Dance

    Orchestra: New World Symphony. Conductor: John Nelson.
    • Schoenfield: 4 Parables; Vaudeville Klazmer Rondos.
    • Decca.
    • 6.
  • 00:01

    Paul Schoenfield

    Vauderville, A Concerto for Picolo Trumpet; Bear Dance

    Orchestra: New World Symphony. Conductor: John Nelson.
    • Decca Music Group 440 212-2.
    • Tr 6.
  • Otso, The Honey Eater

    Extract from the Epic Poem about Otso鈥檚 birth, read by Christine Bottomley and David Hounslow

  • 00:04

    Terry Gilkyson

    The Bare Necessities

    Singer: Phil Harris. Singer: Bruce Reitherman. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • The Jungle Book (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 4.
  • 00:04

    Terry Gilkyson

    The Bare Necessities

    Performer: Phil Harris (singer), Bruce Reitherman (singer), Studio Orchestra.
    • Walt Disney Records 606122.
    • Tr 4.
  • Good Hunting

    Description of bears eating habits as described by Theodore Roosevelt, read by David Hounslow

  • 00:06

    Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Story of the Priest and His Helper Balda, Op. 36 The Bear's Dance

    Orchestra: Russian Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Sanderling.
    • Amazing Composers: Shostakovich.
    • UMG Recordings.
    • 145.
  • 00:06

    Dmitry Shostakovich

    The Story of the Priest and His Helper Balda, Op. 36 / First Part - 8. The Bear's Dance. Moderato

    Orchestra: Philharmonia of Russia. Conductor: Thomas Sanderling.
    • UMG Recordings.
    • Tr 145.
  • The Bear

    Poem by Robert Frost, ready by Christine Bottomley

  • 00:10

    Giya Kancheli

    33 Miniatures: No. 23, Theme from 鈥淏ear鈥檚 Kiss鈥

    Performer: Jenny Lin.
    • Steinway & Sons STNS 30173.
    • Tr 23.
  • 00:11

    Giya Kancheli

    33 Minatures: No. 23, Theme fromv "Bear's Kiss"

    Performer: Jenny Lin.
    • Simple Music.
    • Steinway & Sons.
    • 23.
  • 00:11

    Alexandre Desplat

    Lorek Byrnison

    Performer: Studio Orchestra.
    • New Line Records NLR39101.
    • Tr 11.
  • 00:12

    Alexandre Desplat

    Iorek Byrnison

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • The Golden Compass (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • New Line Records.
    • 11.
  • Northern Lights

    Extract from Northern Lights, read by Christine Bottomley

  • 00:13

    Alexander Moyzes

    Gemer Dances Op. 51: The Little Bear from Rejdova

    Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Moyzes: Gemer Dances/Down the River Vah.
    • Marco-Polo.
    • 4.
  • 00:13

    Alexander Moyzes

    Gemer Dances Op. 51: The Little Bear from Rejdova

    Performer: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Marco-Polo 8.223278.
    • Tr 4.
  • The Grizzly King

    Extract from the first chapter, read by David Hounslow

  • 00:18

    Stuart MacRae

    Ursa Minor

    Ensemble: Hebrides Ensemble. Conductor: Stuart MacRae. Conductor: Stuart MacRae.
    • Ursa Minor.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 1.
  • 00:18

    Jean Sibelius

    Violin Concerto in D Minor, Op. 47 - III. Allegro, ma non tanto

    Performer: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 477 7346.
    • Tr 6.
  • The Bear Hunt

    Middle extract from the long poem, read by David Hounslow

  • 00:25

    Benjamin Britten

    Peter Grimes Op33/Act 1 "Now the Great Bear and Pleiades"

    Singer: Peter Pears. Singer: Iris Kells. Singer: Raymond Nilsson. Singer: James Pease. Singer: Jean Watson. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Conductor: Benjamin Britten.
    • The World of Peter Pears.
    • Decca.
    • 17.
  • 00:25

    Stuart MacRae

    Ursa Minor

    Ensemble: Hebrides Ensemble. Conductor: Stuart MacRae.
    • Delphian Records DCD34258SGL2.
    • Tr 1.
  • The Bear Hunt

    Extract from the short story/journal, read by David Hounslow

  • 00:27

    Benjamin Britten

    Peter Grimes Op33/Act 1 鈥淣ow the Great Bear and Pleiades鈥

    Performer: Peter Pears.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd. 00028948313303.
    • Tr 17.
  • 00:31

    Hans Zimmer

    Dragon Warrior Rises

    Performer: Studio Orchestra. Composer: John Powell.
    • Interscope 0602517727885.
    • Tr 14.
  • 00:31

    Hans Zimmer

    Dragon Warrior Rises

    Performer: Studio Orchestra. Composer: John Powell.
    • Kung Fu Panda (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Interscope.
    • 14.
  • The Pandas and the Shepherdess

    Retelling of the Chinese myth read by Christine Bottomley

  • 00:33

    Eric Coates

    The Three Bears, A Phantasy

    Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London.
    • Coates, Elgar, Coward: Orchestral Music.
    • Universal.
    • 8.
  • 00:33

    Eric Coates

    The Three Bears, A Phantasy

    Orchestra: New Symphony Orchestra of London. Conductor: Eric Coates.
    • Universal Music.
    • Tr 8.
  • Goldilocks

    Poem by Roald Dahl, read by David Hounslow

  • 00:35

    John W. Bratton

    Teddy Bear's Picnic

    Composer: Henry Hall. Singer: Val Rosing. Conductor: Henry Hall. Orchestra: Henry Hall and the 大象传媒 Dance Orchestra.
    • Teddy Bear's Picnic: Vintage Children's Songs.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp.
    • 1.
  • 00:35

    John Walter Bratton

    Teddy Bear's Picnic

    Singer: Val Rosing. Singer: Val Rosing. Ensemble: The 大象传媒 Dance Orchestra. Ensemble: The 大象传媒 Dance Orchestra. Conductor: Henry Hall. Conductor: Henry Hall.
    • Australian Broadcasting Corp.
    • Tr 1.
  • Prince Caspian

    Battle Preparation Extract by C.S. Lewis, read by Christine Bottomley

  • 00:37

    Stuart Hancock

    Bear Hunt Montage

    Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Stuart Hancock. Conductor: Stuart Hancock.
    • Sony Classical G010003685505Q.
    • Tr 18.
  • 00:38

    Stuart Hancock

    Bear Hunt Montage

    Orchestra: City of London Sinfonia. Conductor: Stuart Hancock.
    • We're Going On A Bear Hunt (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Sony Classical.
    • 18.
  • We鈥檙e Going On A Bear Hunt

    Climax extract from the children鈥檚 book, read by Barnaby and Family

  • 00:39

    Edward Elgar

    The Wand Of Youth Suite No. 2: VI. Wild Bears

    Ensemble: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Capriccio C10501.
    • Tr 28.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No.82 The Bear

    Performer: Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. Conductor: Adam Fischer.
    • Nimbus.
    • NI1722.
    • 4.
  • 00:39

    Edward Elgar

    The Wand Of Youth Suite No. 2: VI. Wild Bears

    Ensemble: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner.
    • Enigma Variations/The Wand of Youth Suites Nos. 1 & 2.
    • Capriccio.
    • 28.
  • 00:41

    Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 82 "The Bear" IV. Finale

    Orchestra: Austro-Hungarian Haydn Orchestra. Conductor: 脕d谩m Fischer.
    • Haydn: The Complete Symphonies.
    • Nimbus Records.
    • 4.
  • 00:47

    Celeri Haruhata

    Polar Bear

    Performer: Akira Naito.
    • Nippon Acoustic Records NARP-8014.
    • Tr 14.
  • 00:47

    Celeri Haruhata

    Polar Bear

    Performer: Akira Naito.
    • Zetsumetsu kigushu no oto/Music of Endangered Species.
    • Nippon Acoustic Records.
    • 14.
  • The Man Who Gave Birth To A Panda

    Poem about man鈥檚 responsibility with climate change, read by David Hounslow

  • Roger Bear鈥檚 Philosophical Pantoum

    Poem by Wendy Cope read by Christine Bottomley

  • Randy Newman

    Simon Smith and his Amazing Dancing Bear

    Performer: Randy Newman.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 7559-79490-5.
    • 8.
  • 00:50

    Randy Newman

    Simon Smith and the Amazing Dancing Bear

    Performer: Randy Newman.
    • The Randy Newman Songbook.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 8.
  • 00:50

    Keith Jarrett

    Kyoto, November 5, 1976 (Part 2)

    • ECM Records.
    • Tr 2.
  • Brideshead Revisited

    Extract where Aloysius is slowly forgotten about, read by David Hounslow

  • Roberto Cavalli

    La Calisto

    Ensemble: Concerto Vocale. Singer: Mar铆a Bayo. Conductor: Ren茅 Jacobs.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 939738.
    • 1.
  • 00:51

    Keith Jarrett

    Kyoto, November 5, 1976 (Part 2)

    Performer: Keith Jarrett.
    • Sun Bear Concerts.
    • ECM Records.
    • 2.
  • Callisto

    Summary of the myth, read by Christine Bottomley

  • 00:53

    Francesco Cavalli

    La Calisto, Act III Scene 1: Restino imbalsamate (Calisto)

    Singer: Mar铆a Bayo. Ensemble: Concerto Vocale. Conductor: Ren茅 Jacobs.
    • Cavalli: La Calisto.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • 1.
  • 00:54

    Bob McQuillan

    Bears (Bear Dance & The Dancing Bear)

    Performer: Anne Roos.
    • Celtica Recordings.
    • 13.
  • 00:54

    Bob McQuillan

    Bears (Bear Dance & The Dancing Bear)

    Performer: Anne Roos.
    • A Light in the forest.
    • Celtica Recordings.
    • 13.
  • 00:55

    B茅la Bart贸k

    Hungarian Sketches, Sz. 97 - 2. Bear Melody

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iv谩n Fischer.
    • Decca.
    • 4.
  • 00:56

    B茅la Bart贸k

    Hungarian Sketches, Sz. 97 - 2. Bear Melody

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iv谩n Fischer.
    • Bartok: The Miraculous Mandarin; Dances of Transylvania, etc.
    • Decca.
    • 4.
  • 00:57

    Igor Stravinsky

    Petrushka Part 4, Peasant with Bear

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
    • Signum SIGCD856.
    • 15.
  • Bearskin

    Extract from the opening part of the brother鈥檚 grimm story, read by David Hounslow

  • 00:57

    Igor Stravinsky

    Petrushka Part 4, Peasant with Bear

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Santtu-Matias Rouvali.
    • Santtu Conducts Stravinsky: Petrushka (Complete Ballet, 1947 version), The Fireb.
    • Signum.
    • 15.
  • 00:58

    Phil Collins

    Transformation

    Choir: Bulgarian Women's Choir.
    • Walt Disney Music.
    • Tr 5.
  • Johan Halvorsen

    Norwegian Fairy Tale Pictures

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Chandos.
    • CHAN10710.
    • 10.
  • Lars-Erik Larsson

    En vintesaga Op 18

    Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Stig Westerberg.
    • Swedish Society.
    • SCD10151.
    • 4.
  • 01:00

    Phil Collins

    Transformation

    Composer: Mark Mancina. Choir: Bulgarian Women's Choir. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Brother Bear (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 5.
  • 01:01

    John Halvorsen

    Norwegian Fairy Tale Pictures, Op. 37: III. The Princess Riding on the Bear

    Orchestra: Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Neeme J盲rvi.
    • Halvorsen Orchestral Works, Vol 4.
    • Chandos.
    • 10.
  • 01:04

    Lars鈥怑rik Larsson

    En vintersaga, Op. 18: IV. Epilogue

    Orchestra: Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Stig Westerberg.
    • Larsson: Pastoralsvit - En Vintersaga - m.fl..
    • Chandos.
    • 4.
  • The Winter鈥檚 Tale

    Exit Pursued by a Bear extract, read by Christine Bottomley

  • 01:07

    Coby Grant

    Winter Bear Live/Acoustic

    Performer: Coby Grant.
    • Self-Released AWD337297.
    • 1.
  • 01:07

    Coby Grant

    Winter Bear Live/Acoustic

    Performer: Coby Grant.
    • Winter Bear.
    • Self Released.
    • 1.
  • 01:08

    Dario Marianelli

    Happy Birthday Aunt Lucy

    Performer: Studio Orchestra.
    • Decca 4816608.
    • Tr 22.
  • A Disappearing Trick

    Extract from chapter one, read by David Hounslow

  • 01:08

    Dario Marianelli

    Happy Birthday Aunt Lucy

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Paddington 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Decca.
    • 22.
  • "In Which Christopher Robin Gives Pooh a Party and We Say Goodbye"

    Bump, bump bump extract from the final chapter, read by Christine Bottomley

  • 01:11

    Howard Blake

    Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone (From 鈥淭he Bear鈥)

    Performer: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • Linn Records CKD 580.
    • Tr 8.
  • 01:12

    Howard Blake

    Somewhere A Star Shines For Everyone (From "The Bear")

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Choir: Royal Scottish National Orchestra Junior Chorus. Conductor: Christopher Bell.
    • A Christmas Festival.
    • Linn Records.
    • 8.

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