Amanda Foreman
Writer and historian Dr Amanda Foreman introduces music that reflects different aspects of the British character and landscape, including works by Elgar, Purcell and Judith Weir.
Writer and historian Dr Amanda Foreman takes a personal journey through the musical history of Britain, introducing works which have inspired her over the years and which reflect different aspects of what it is to be British.
Foreman is the author of the award-winning best sellers, 'Georgiana, Duchess of Devonshire' (1999) and 'A World on Fire: A Epic History of Two Nations Divided (2011), and is seen and heard frequently on TV and radio history programmes.
Having lived in the UK and the United States, Foreman has both an inside and outside view of Britain and the music which defines it. In her varied choice, she introduces works such as the Medieval "Agincourt Carol", pieces by Byrd and John Bull which entertained women in the Tudor Court, as well as evocative musical portrayals of the 20th century English and Scottish landscapes by Elgar and Hamish MacCunn.
2016 sees the 400th anniversary of the death of William Shakespeare, and in amongst Foreman's choices are works inspired by his writing, including Judith Weir's "Storm" with texts from "The Tempest", incidental music from "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by Mendelssohn and Henry Bishop's "Lo! Here the lark" from his music for "The Comedy of Errors".
Other music includes works by Henry Wood, Ethel Smyth, Thomas Weelkes, Henry Purcell, William Walton and Hubert Parry.
Producer Helen Garrison.
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Music Played
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Thomas Arne
Alfred, masque; Rule Britannia!
Singer: Jamie McDougal. Orchestra: Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra & Chorale. Choir: Philharmonia Chorus. Conductor: Nicholas McGegan. -
Henry Wood
Jack's the lad [Sailors' hornpipe] (Fantasia on British Sea Songs)
Orchestra: 91热爆 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth. -
John Bacchus Dykes
Eternal Father strong to save (naval hymn)
Performer: David Bell. Choir: Huddersfield Choral Society. Conductor: Owain Arwel Hughes. -
Judith Weir
Storm; mvt 1, Storm and Shipwreck
Choir: 91热爆 Singers. Choir: Choristers of Temple Church Choir. Ensemble: Endymion Ensemble. Conductor: David Hill. -
Edward Elgar
Introduction and Allegro for string orchestra (Op.47)
Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley. -
Hamish MacCunn
The Land of the mountain and the flood, overture (Op.3)
Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Alexander Gibson. -
Anon.
Deo gratias Anglia (The Agincourt carol)
Choir: Gothic Voices. Director: Christopher Page. -
Traditional Welsh
Men of Harlech
Choir: Treorchy Male Voice Choir. -
William Walton
'Spitfire' prelude and fugue for orchestra - concert version
Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Charles Groves. -
Hubert Parry
I was glad
Performer: Timothy Byram-Wigfield. Choir: Winchester Cathedral Choir. Choir: Waynflete Singers. Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: David Hill. -
Henry Purcell
Funeral Sentences; Man that is born of a woman
Choir: Monteverdi Choir. Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner. -
Anon.
O Deathe rock me asleep
Performer: Jacob Heringman. Performer: Kirsty Whalley. Singer: Clare Wilkinson. -
John Bull
Galliard
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William Byrd
Browning (The leaves be green) for consort a 5
Ensemble: Fretwork. -
Thomas Weelkes
As Vesta was from Latmos hill descending, [from The triumphs of Oriana, 1601]
Choir: The King鈥檚 Singers. -
Henry Bishop
Lo! Here the gentle lark
Singer: Joan Sutherland. Performer: Alexander Murray. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Richard Bonynge. -
Felix Mendelssohn
A Midsummer night's dream: incidental music (Op.61), no.1; Scherzo
Orchestra: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Conductor: George Szell. -
John Gay
Over the hills and far away
Singer: Patrizia Kwella. Singer: Paul Elliott. Ensemble: The Broadside Band. Director: Jeremy Barlow. -
Gustav Holst
Suite for military band no. 2 in F major; Mvt 4 Fantasia on the Dargason
Orchestra: Royal Northern College of Music Wind Orchestra. Conductor: Timothy Reynish. -
Ethel Smyth
March of the Women
Singer: Eiddwen Harrhy. Ensemble: Chorus and Orchestra of the Plymouth Music Series. Conductor: Philip Brunelle. -
Ralph Vaughan Williams
Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis
Orchestra: 91热爆 Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
Broadcast
- Sat 16 Apr 2016 13:0091热爆 Radio 3
Podcast
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Saturday Classics
A view of classical music from a range of presenters; themed series and one-off programmes