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In the week many celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of Christ, Mark Tully considers the power of initiation rites and asks what use they can be as we move into a new year.

As the new year gets under way and in a week in which many celebrate Jesus' baptism in the river Jordan, Mark Tully explores the significance of initiation rites and rituals, religious and secular.

He considers their role in marking new stages in life with readings of poetry by Emily Dickinson and C Day Lewis, and music from Briju Maharaj, Leonard Bernstein and blues guitarist Elizabeth Cotten.

The readers are Alistair McGowan, Emma Cunniffe and Francis Cadder.

Presenter: Mark Tully
Producer: Frank Stirling

A 7digital production for 91Èȱ¬ Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 7 Jan 2018 23:30

Music Played

  • ARTHUR BLISS Album: Bliss: Investiture Antiphonal Fanfare

    Investiture Antiphonal Fanfare

    Performer: LONDON PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA, MICHAEL KIBBLEWHITEÌý.
    • Cala: CACD10101.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam, BWV 7: I. Coro. Christ unser Herr zum Jordan kam

    Performer: Holland Boys' Choir,ÌýNetherlands Bach Soc. Collegium Musicum.
    • JS Bach: Complete Sacred Cantatas Vol. 01, BWV 1-20.
    • Brilliant Classics: 1.
  • Patrick Gowers

    Viri Galilai

    Performer: St Paul's Cathedral Choir - Main Artist,ÌýJOHN SCOTT,ÌýAndrew LucasÌý.
    • The English Anthem Vol. 2.
    • Hyperion : 1.
  • LEONARD BERNSTEIN,ÌýSTEPHEN SONDHEIM

    Act 1: Jet Song

    Performer: BROADWAY, ORIGINAL CAST,Ìý.
    • West Side Story, Original Soundtrack recording.
    • CBS: 35DP-59.
  • Birju MaharajaÌý

    Shiva Stuti

    Performer: Pandit Birju Maharaj,ÌýUstad Zakir HussainÌý.
    • Rhythms in the Landscape.
    • Navras Records: 44.
  • Elizabeth Cotten

    Graduation March

    Performer: Elizabeth Cotten.
    • Freight Trains and other North Carolina Folk Songs and Tunes.
    • Smithsonian Folkways: SF CD-40009.

Readings

Title: For the Baptist

Author: William Drummond of Hawthornden

Published by Ìý

Ìý

Title: LOVE XIV

Author: Emily DickensonÌý

Published by: Poetry FoundationÌý

Ìý

Title: The InitiationÌý

Author: Edward DowndenÌý

Published by: BartlebyÌý

Ìý

Title: The Hero With a Thousand FacesÌý

Author: Joseph CampbellÌý

Published by New World LibraryÌý

Ìý

Title: Walking Away

Author: C Day Lewis

Published by Poetry FoundationÌý

Ìý

Title: The Man Who Killed The DeerÌý

Author: Frank WatersÌý

Published by Swallow Press / Ohip University PressÌý

Broadcasts

  • Sun 7 Jan 2018 06:05
  • Sun 7 Jan 2018 23:30