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Timpanist Adrian Bending on improvisation, imitation and innovation

Adrian Bending opens up a selection of music from a percussionist鈥檚 point of view - revealing familiar and unfamiliar works in a new light.

Percussionist Adrian Bending is Principal Timpanist with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and plays as part of symphonic, chamber and period instrument ensembles. Today Adrian chooses two very different evocations of snow in music, considers the differences between bassoon players and football players, and takes us inside the percussion section of an orchestra to discover why playing early music feels so free.

Plus, Adrian tackles the thorny problem of bar lines, and reveals why communication with conductors can be tricky.

A series in which each week a musician explores a selection of music - from the inside.

A Tandem Production for 91热爆 Radio 3

1 hour, 56 minutes

Music Played

  • Robert Schumann

    Konzertstuck for 4 horns - 1st movement

    Performer: Roger Montgomery. Performer: Gavin Edwards. Performer: Susan Dent. Performer: Robert Maskell.
    • DG.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Il vostro maggio from Rinaldo

    Orchestra: Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Ren茅 Jacobs.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Edgard Var猫se

    Ionisation

    Orchestra: Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Mariss Jansons.
    • BR Klassik.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Polonaise from Eugene Onegin

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House. Conductor: Georg Solti.
    • DECCA.
  • Edward Elgar

    The Snow, Op. 26 No. 1

    Choir: Liverpool Philharmonic Choir. Orchestra: Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Vernon Handley.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: variation 20

    Performer: Murray Perahia.
    • SONY.
  • Loose Tubes

    Sticklebacks

    Performer: Loose Tubes.
    • EDITIONS EG.
  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Alexander Nevsky - Battle on the ice

    Orchestra: Mariinsky Orchestra. Conductor: Valery Gergiev.
    • Philips.
  • John Williams

    Duel of the Fates from Star Wars: Phantom Menace

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Choir: London Voices. Conductor: John Williams.
    • SONY.
  • George Frideric Handel

    Waft her, Angels (Jephtha)

    Singer: Mark Padmore. Ensemble: The English Concert. Director: Andrew Manze.
    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Slavonic Dance, Op. 46 No. 1 in C major

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Lorin Maazel.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • Stefano Landi

    T'amai gran tempo

    Ensemble: L鈥橝rpeggiata. Director: Christina Pluhar.
    • ALPHA.
  • Engelbert Humperdinck

    Hansel & Gretel: Der Hexenritt

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • URANIA.
  • Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Glagolitic Mass: Intrada

    Orchestra: Czech Philharmonic. Conductor: Ji艡铆 B臎lohl谩vek.
    • DECCA.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Nocturne, Op. 60 No. 5 - Prelude: "But that night when on my bed I lay"

    Conductor: Ian Bostridge. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
  • Felix Mendelssohn

    Octet in E flat major, Op. 20 - 1st movement

    Ensemble: Emerson String Quartet.
    • DG.
  • James Morrison

    Zog's Jog

    Performer: James Morrison. Performer: James Morrison.
    • ALEPH RECORDS.

Broadcast

  • Sat 6 Feb 2021 13:00

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