Codes, Ciphers, Enigmas
The Listening Service selects Elgar's 'Enigma Variations' to look at codes, ciphers and hidden messages in music. With Professor Marcus du Sautoy.
The Listening Service returns to its regular slot now the Proms are over, and chooses one of the 91热爆's "Ten Pieces III", Elgar's "Enigma Variations", to look at codes, ciphers and hidden messages in music.
What might be the "dark saying" or mystery tune that the Enigma Variations are based around? Which other composers were keen on the use of codes and ciphers in their music?
And if we can't crack the codes, does it matter?
With Tom Service and Prof. Marcus du Sautoy.
Last on
More episodes
Previous
Next
Ten Pieces
91热爆 Ten Pieces - opening up the world of classical music to the next generation.
Music Played
-
Robert Schumann
Fantasy in C major Op.17
Performer: Paul Lewis.- Harmonia Mundi.
-
Dmitry Shostakovich
Symphony no 10, Finale
Performer: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- Naxos.
-
Pink Floyd
Empty Spaces
Performer: Pink Floyd.- The Wall.
- Harvest.
-
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Symphony no. 38 (K.504) in D major "Prague", 2nd movement; Andante
Performer: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. Performer: Nikolaus Harnoncourt.- Elatus.
-
Felix Mendelssohn
Symphony no. 5 (Op.107) in D major "Reformation", 4th movement
Performer: Vienna Philharmonic. Performer: Christoph von Dohn谩nyi.- Decca.
-
Franz Liszt
Les Preludes
Performer: West鈥揈astern Divan Orchestra. Performer: Daniel Barenboim.- Decca.
-
The Royal Doulton Band
Now The Day Is Over
- Hymns For Band The Royal Doulton Band.
- Bandleader.
-
Rod Stewart
Auld Lang Syne
- Merry Christmas, Baby (Deluxe Edition).
- Verve Records.
-
Johann Sebastian Bach
The Art of Fugue, BWV 1080; Contrapunctus XIV
Performer: Pierre鈥怢aurent Aimard.- DG.
-
Alban Berg
Lyric Suite, Third Movement
Performer: Schoenberg Quartet.- Chandos.
-
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Cinque, dieci (The Marriage of Figaro)
Singer: Cecilia Bartoli. Singer: Bryn Terfel. Orchestra: Orchestra of Santa Cecilia. Conductor: Myung-Whun Chung.- Decca.
-
Dmitry Shostakovich
String Quartet no 8
Performer: Carducci String Quartet.- Signum.
-
Dmitry Shostakovich
Symphony no 10 . 4th movt
Performer: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vasily Petrenko.- Naxos.
-
Hans Zimmer
Variation 15 (Dunkirk)
Composer: Benjamin Wallfisch. Performer: Hans Zimmer. Performer: Benjamin Wallfisch.- Dunkirk (Soundtrack).
- WaterTower Music.
-
Edward Elgar
Variations on an original theme ('Enigma') ... (Op.36), Variation 11; G.R.S.
Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: John Barbirolli.- EMI.
-
Edward Elgar
Variations on an original theme ('Enigma') ... (Op.36), Variation 6; Ysobel
Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: John Barbirolli.- EMI.
-
Edward Elgar
Variations on an original theme ('Enigma') ... (Op.36), Variation 7; Troyte
Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: John Barbirolli.- EMI.
-
Edward Elgar
Variations on an original theme ('Enigma') ... (Op.36), Variation 14; E.D.U.
Performer: London Symphony Orchestra. Performer: John Barbirolli.- EMI.
-
Edward Elgar
Enigma Variations
Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Andr茅 Previn.- Philips.
Broadcasts
- Sun 10 Sep 2017 17:0091热爆 Radio 3
- Fri 9 Aug 2019 16:3091热爆 Radio 3
- Sun 12 Sep 2021 17:0091热爆 Radio 3
- Fri 17 Sep 2021 16:3091热爆 Radio 3
Why do we call it 'classical' music?
Tom Service poses a very simple question (with a not-so-simple answer).
Six of the world's most extreme voices
From babies to Mongolian throat singers: whose voice is the most extreme of all?
How did the number 12 revolutionise music?
Why are we all addicted to bass?
Watch the animations
Join Tom Service on a musical journey through beginnings, repetition and bass lines.
When does noise become music?
We like to think we can separate 鈥渘oise鈥 from 鈥渕usic鈥, but is it that simple?
Podcast
-
The Listening Service
An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service