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Jenni Murray is joined by composer Natalie Holt (Loki and Obi Wan) and writer Leah Broad (Quartet) for a programme celebrating the music of women who made it as career composers.

Women have always composed - but many obstacles have been thrown in their way. In this series, Jenni Murray explores some of the avenues women composers have taken to overcome these challenges, offering insight into their music and illuminating the cultural and human stories which resonate today, as well as celebrating the music itself with a vibrant playlist of some of the very best music by women.

2: The Professionals. In this second episode, Jenni is joined by Natalie Holt, composer of soundtracks for hit sci-fi series Loki and Obi Wan, and Leah Broad, author of the award-winning book Quartet: How Four Women Challenged the Musical World, to explore the opportunities and barriers for women to make their living as composers, from Italian Renaissance musician Maddalena Casulana to today’s film and gaming composers.

The playlist ranges from the 16th Century to the present day, with gems by Louise Farrenc and Avril Coleridge-Taylor alongside more recent classics by Dorothy Carwithen and Jennifer Higdon, and film and TV music by Rachel Portman and Natalie Holt.

Producer: Graham Rogers

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56 minutes

Music Played

  • Rachel Portman

    Vianne Sets Up Shop (Chocolat)

    Conductor: David Snell.
    • Chocolat (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Sony Classical.
    • 4.
  • Maddalena Casulana

    Morir non può il mio cuore

    Ensemble: Singer Pur.
    • Among Whirlwinds.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 1.
  • Francesca Caccini

    Ciaccona

    Performer: Luigi Cozzolino. Ensemble: Cappella di Santa Maria degli Angiolini. Director: Gian Luca Lastraioli.
    • Maria, dolce Maria.
    • Brilliant Classics.
    • 3.
  • Natalie Holt

    Young Leia (from Obi Wan)

    • Obi-Wan Kenobi (Original Soundtrack).
    • Walt Disney Records.
    • 4.
  • Louise Farrenc

    Overture No.1 Op.23

    Orchestra: ´óÏó´«Ã½ Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: François Leleux.
  • Avril Coleridge-Taylor

    Can Sorrow Find Me?

    Performer: Alexandra Mackenzie. Performer: Ingrid Sawers.
    • Beyond Twilight: Music for Cello & Piano by Female Composers.
    • Delphian Records.
    • 7.
  • Doreen Carwithen

    Men of Sherwood Forest (Overture)

    Music Arranger: Philip Lane. Orchestra: ´óÏó´«Ã½ Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Gavin Sutherland.
    • Dutton.
  • Yoko Shimomura

    Valse Di Fantastica (Final Fantasy XV)

    Orchestra: Video Game Orchestra.
    • Final Fantasy XV (Original Game Soundtrack).
    • SQUARE ENIX.
    • 29.
  • Natalie Holt

    TVA (from Loki)

    Performer: Natalie Holt.
    • Loki: Vol. 1 (Episodes 1-3) (Original Soundtrack).
    • Hollywood Records.
    • 1.
  • Jennifer Higdon

    All Things Majestic (Cathedrals)

    Orchestra: Nashville Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Giancarlo Guerrero.
    • Higdon: All Things Majestic, Viola Concerto & Oboe Concerto (Live).
    • Naxos.
    • 304.
  • Giacomo Puccini

    O mio Babbino Caro from Gianni Schicchi

    Singer: Vannina Santoni. Orchestra: Orchestre national de Lille. Conductor: Jean-Marie Zeitouni.
    • Alpha.

Broadcast

  • Sat 15 Feb 2025 13:00

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