Composer of the Week

Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Imogen Holst Imogen Holst was a significant part of the British classical music scene during the twentieth century. Daughter of Gustav Holst, Imogen was raised in an artistic environment, and her early aspirations were to be a dancer. However, after studying at the Royal College of Music, Imogen Holst went on to be prominent as a composer, conductor, writer on music, teacher, administrator and artistic director. She also worked as an amanuensis to Benjamin Britten. Throughout this exceptionally busy career, including establishing the Purcell Singers, Imogen Holst continued to compose and wrote many works from choral pieces and folksong arrangements, to concertos and string quartets. Her considerable output as a composer is only just beginning to be appreciated. Music Featured: Agnus Dei (Mass in A minor) Allegro assai Theme and Variations String Quartet “Phantasy” Persephone Come Under My Plaidie from Two Scottish Airs Gigue from Suite for Viola On Westhall Hill Sonata for Violin and Cello Prelude and Dance Three Psalms A shower among the birch trees from Six Pieces from Finland Crab-fish from Four Somerset Folk Songs Mill Field Suite for Strings String Quartet No 1 Welcome Joy and Welcome Sorrow Weathers arr. Arthur Keegan Suite for Viola (Cinquepace) As I sat under a Holly Tree A Hymne to Christ Variations on “Loth to Depart” The fall of the leaf Festival Anthem “How Manifold are Thy Works” Timothy’s Trot What Man is He? Leiston Suite Hallo my fancy, whither wilt thou go? String Quintet Mass in A minor (excerpt) Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Audio Wales & West For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Imogen Holst (1907-1984) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026wsv And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Michel Legrand Michel Legrand is best known for creating the soundtracks for over 200 films, including The Umbrellas of Cherbourg, The Thomas Crown Affair and The Go-Between. But he had an insatiable creative spirit that led him into the world of theatre, ballet, opera and more. Donald is joined by theatre director and composer Jeremy Sams, who recalls collaborating with Legrand on the Broadway musical Amour - and avoiding going to restaurants with him. Music Featured: Les Moulins de Mon Coeur Summer Me, Winter Me Vian: Luna Rossa - Blushing Moon (arr. Legrand) Capua: O Sole Mio (arr. Legrand) Serrapi: Sentir De La Alhambra (arr. Legrand) Falla: Le Danse Du Feu (arr. Legrand) Rodor/Scotto: Sous les ponts de Paris (arr. Legrand) Battaille/Schertzinger: Paris je t’aime d’amour (arr. Legrand) Piaf/Louiguy: La vie en rose (arr. Legrand) Porter: I Love Paris (arr. Legrand) Durand: Mademoiselle de Paris (arr. Legrand) Bernheim: Paris (arr. Legrand) Kosma: Les feuilles mortes (arr. Legrand) Lafarge: La Seine (arr. Legrand) F. Waller: The Jitterbug Waltz (arr. Legrand) Reinhart: Nuages (arr. Legrand) Count Basie: Blue and Sentimental (arr. Legrand) Sampson/Goodman: Stompin' at the Savoy (arr. Legrand) Thelonious Monk: ‘Round Midnight (arr. Legrand) Ellington: Don’t Get Around Much Anymore (arr. Legrand) Beiderbecke: In A Mist (arr. Legrand) Dans le magasin de parapluies Chez Dubourg, le joailier Devant le garage Chanson de Lola Blues Chez le Bougnat You Must Believe in Spring Windmills of Your Mind His Eyes, Her Eyes How do you keep the music playing? Watch what happens What are you doing with the rest of your life? The Go Between (Main Title) The Summer Knows The Hands of Time Overture from The Three Musketeers Songs from Yentl Nobody Knows After the Rain Amore (excepts) Once Upon a Summertime Michel & Melissa at Work Now and Then Concerto pour violoncelle I Will Wait For You Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Alice Mckee for BBC Audio Wales & West For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Michel Legrand (1932-2019) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026kjg And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod explores Vienna in the company of Franz Schubert Of all Europe’s major cities, perhaps Vienna is the one with the reputation as the most comfortable, the most sophisticated, and the most musical. In fact, has any other city been home to so many great composers as Vienna? Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn, and Salieri all spent their best years working there. Yet none of those starry names was born in the city, none were true Viennese. This week, Donald Macleod explores Vienna through the lens of arguably the greatest home grown composer the city has ever produced – Franz Schubert – a man whose short life spanned a crucial period in Austrian history, a time of crisis and much change. In his company we’ll explore Vienna’s churches and theatres, its parks, coffee houses and taverns, and also glimpse the darker side of the city too – the excesses of Europe’s aristocracy and the all seeing eyes of Vienna’s secret police. Music Featured: “Kupelwieser” Waltz in G flat Major, D Anh I/14 Symphony No 9 in C Major “The Great”, D944 (3rd mvt, Scherzo) String Quintet in C Major, D 956 (2nd mvt, Adagio) Beitrag zur fünfzigjährigen Jubelfeier des Herrn von Salieri, D407 Marches Militaires, D733 (No 1 in D Major) Gretchen am Spinnrade, D118 6 Moment Musicaux, Op 94, D780 (No 3 in F min) Mass No 1 in F Major, D105 (Gloria) Grande Marche Funebre, D859 Symphony No 2 in B flat Major, D125 (4th mvt,Presto) Rosamunde, D797 (No 5 ,Entracte No 3 in B flat Major: Andantino) Licht und Liebe, D352 Quartettsatz Lazarus, Act 2 (unfinished) Schwanengesang, D744 4 Impromptus, D899, Op90 (No 3 in G Flat Major) Symphony No 8 in B minor, D759 “Unfinished” (1st mvt, Allegro moderato) Symphony No 5 in B flat Major, D485 (1st mvt, Allegro) Winterreise, D911 (No 24, Der Leiermann) Der Wanderer, D489 Piano Quintet in A Major, D667 “The Trout” (3rd mvt, Scherzo) 38 Waltzes, D145, Op 18 (Nos 6, 8 & 9 ) An Sylvia, D891, Op 6 (No 4) Fantasy in F minor, D940, Op 103 Ave Maria, D839, Op 52, No 6 Mass No 6 in E Flat Major, D950 (Credo) Rosemunde incidental music, D797 (Nos 7-9) Alfonso and Estrella, D732 (Act I, Aria “Sei mir gegrusst, o Sonne!”) An die Musik Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips for BBC Audio Wales & West For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Schubert and Vienna https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0026800 And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

Donald Macleod visits the city of Riga to experience the seasonal music and Christmas traditions of Latvia – a country overflowing with choral excellence. Music Featured: trad.: Kaladô (arr. J. Vaivods) Dubra: Duo Seraphim Dubra: In Nativitate Domini (excerpts) anon.: Res est admirabilis Dubra: Te Deum Pēteris Butāns: In the Beginning was the Word Praulinš: Missa Rigensis: Credo Dubra: Mystery of His Birth Vasks: The Fruits Of Silence anon.: Gaude Maria Dubra: Hail, Queen of Heaven Dubra: Hodie Christus natus est Vasks: Missa for Mixed Choir and String Orchestra, II. Gloria Trad. Budēlīša Ziemassvētki / A Mummer's Christmas (excerpts) Praulinš: Cantate Domino Praulinš: Ziemsvetki Jaunaja Pasaule / Latvian Solstice in the New World Ešenvalds: In the bleak midwinter Ešenvalds: Stars Ešenvalds: Northern Lights Ešenvalds: Rivers of Light Vitols: The Dwarves and the Old Man of the Forest Vasks: Plainscapes (extract) Vasks: Piedzimšana / Birth Trad. Pūtiet guni Praulinš: Mass and Interludes “L'homme armé”: Hosanna in excelsis Ešenvalds: O Emmanuel Vitols: Gaismas Pils / Castle of Light Praulinš: Mass and Interludes “L'homme armé”: Pater sanctificetur Vasks: String Quartet No. 3: I. Moderato Ešenvalds A Christmas Legend / Ziemassvētku leģenda Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Chris Taylor for BBC Audio Wales & West For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Christmas in Latvia https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002611k And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z