Soul Music

Latest Episodes:

The Look of Love Sep 08, 2009

Show notes

Hal David discusses writing The Look of Love with Burt Bacharach, for the soundtrack of the spoof 1967 James Bond film Casino Royale.

This classic track, sung by Dusty Springfield, provided the musical backdrop for a love scene between Peter Sellers and Ursula Andress.

Dusty Springfield's former backing singer, Simon Bell, remembers being on stage at the Albert Hall when Dusty laughed her way through a performance of the song, and musician Jonathan Cohen describes how the samba rhythm underscoring Dusty's smooth vocals combine to make this an enduringly popular love song.

It has been covered many times by artists including Isaac Hayes, Gladys Knight and the French singer Mirielle Mathieu.

This programme hears from people whose personal memories of love and loss are forever linked with The Look of Love.

Contributors:

Sue Clarke Wally Welling Simon Bell Trevor Foster Jonathan Cohen Hal David

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Producer: Karen Gregor

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 2010.

Allegri's Miserere Sep 01, 2009

Show notes

Gregorio Allegri wrote the chord sequence for his Miserere in the 1630s for use during Holy Week in the Sistine Chapel.

This is located in the Apostolic Palace, official residence for the Pope in Vatican City

It then went through the hands of a 12-year-old Mozart, Mendelssohn and Liszt until it finally reached England in the early 20th century and got fixed into the version we know today.

The soaring soprano line that hits the famous top C and never fails to thrill has become a firm favourite for concert audiences around the world.

Textile designer Kaffe Fassett, writer Sarah Manguso and conductor Roy Goodman explain how they have all been deeply affected by this beautiful piece of music.

With Peter Phillips.

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2009.

What a Wonderful World Oct 14, 2008

Show notes

Louis Armstrong recorded the classic 'What a Wonderful World' in 1967, amidst civil rights demonstrations and protests against the Vietnam War.

It was a song written for him. Was it naïve or a powerful anthem for peace?

Featuring:

Prof. Peter Ling Laurence Bergreen Simon Weston Katie Melua Troy Andrews Milan Bertosa

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Producer: Sara Conkey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2008.

Chopin's Ballade No 1 in G Minor Oct 07, 2008

Show notes

Chopin's Ballade clearly tells a story, and yet that story differs for each person who hears or plays it.

Pianist Peter Donohoe heads a cast of people whose lives have been shaped and changed by hearing and playing this technically demanding, emotionally turbulent piece of music.

Featuring:

Peter Donohoe Pete Rosskamm Edi Bilimoria Richard Bielecki Andrew Armstrong Dr Jay B. Hess Joshua Wright

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in October 2008.

So What Sep 30, 2008

Show notes

***Visionary jazz musician Miles Davis joins BBC Radio 4 Extra's 100 Club – born 26th May 1926. He died in 1991 aged 65***

On 2nd March 1959, Miles Davis and his sextet began recording a new album: "Kind of Blue".

The first track was "So What" and the album became the best selling Jazz album of all time.

This programme tells the stories of people whose lives have been changed by this piece of music.

Featuring:

Clemency Burton-Hill Jonathan Eno Estelle Kokot Ashley Kahn Dr Richard Niles

Series exploring famous pieces of music and their emotional appeal.

Producer: Rosie Boulton

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2008.

Swan Lake Sep 23, 2008

Show notes

Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake is based on a children's show he wrote for his nephews and nieces.

Discover the story behind the famous ballet

And what is the impact on those who hear it and dance to it?

Featuring:

Dr. Elena Denzhkina-Campbell Dr. Margaret Reynolds Tom Conlon John Warrack Francesca Allen Jane Hackett Barbara Hughes Sir Roy Strong Matthew Drury, piano Marion Tait Gaylene Cummerfield Matthew Lawrence Scott Ambler

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact

Producer: Sarah Conkey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in September 2008.

Spem in Alium Jan 29, 2008

Show notes

Thomas Tallis's work is one of the most elaborate and spectacular pieces of choral music ever written.

Scored for 40 voices, the piece is best sung and heard in the round in order to appreciate an extraordinary sonic experience.

Choral conductor Simon Halsey and Michael Morpurgo discuss the music's spine-tingling effect on both performers and listeners.

Featuring:

Graeme Fife John Davies Clive Stafford-Smith

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

Producers: Rosie Boulton & Melvin Rickarby

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.

Tainted Love Jan 22, 2008

Show notes

This programme was first broadcast in 2008. Soft Cell hitmaker Dave Ball has died aged 66.

Originally a Motown song written by Ed Cobb and recorded by Gloria Jones, Tainted Love became famous on the UK's Northern Soul scene in the late 1970s.

It was heard by Marc Almond and Dave Ball who later became Soft Cell, and recorded a classic version.

Featuring:

Mark Ravenhill Peter Christopherson Ray Harris Russ Winstanley Alan King Dave Ball Mike Thorne Danny McNamara Nev Fountain

Series about pieces of music with a powerful emotional impact.

Producer: Sara Conkey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.

Finlandia Jan 15, 2008

Show notes

Jean Sibelius's glorious orchestral work was adopted by the Finnish people as a symbol of its fight for independence from Russia.

Well over 100 years later it is still regarded as Finland's second national anthem.

Its popularity is international, both in orchestral form and also in shorter form as the Finlandia Hymn.

Featuring:

* Jean Sibelius's great-grandson Jaakko Ilves * Conductor John Storgards.

Series about music that makes the hairs stand up on the back of our necks.

Producer: Karen Gregor

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.

New York, New York Jan 08, 2008

Show notes

Andrew Collins and Mark Shenton present the story behind the classic song New York, New York.

Songwriting duo John Kander and Fred Ebb wrote the title song for the film. Unfortunately, the star Robert de Niro didn't like it, so they furiously wrote another one.

John Kander talks about the story behind the classic song.

Featuring:

Lorrena Turner Michael Freedland Huw Madoc-Jones Terry Bennett Alun Howells Gareth Valentine John Kander Patrick Sasso Rosemary Watts

Series about music that makes the hairs stand up on the back of our necks.

Producer: Sara Conkey

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in January 2008.