Listen:
Availability:
Sorry, this programme is not available to listen again. (why?)
Last broadcast on Sat, 11 Jul 2009, 12:15 on BBC Radio 3.
Synopsis
Petroc Trelawny presents the music magazine, with a focus on French music as he meets mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, one of the world's leading interpreters of French song, and finds out about a new book on French piano works by Roy Howat. Also a discussion on music and cricket writer Neville Cardus, and Petroc finds out how Louis Braille's raised-dot system is applied to music notation.
Neville Cardus
With the Ashes underway, Music Matters pays tribute to a legendary writer on music and cricket. Born in Rusholme, Manchester, Neville Cardus was the first ever music critic to be knighted, and is widely recognised as the father of cricket journalism. He spent most of his life writing about both passions for the Guardian, with a distinctive style that was very much of its time.
Robin Daniels, author of a new memoir, and fans Roy Hattersley, Christopher Hogwood and James Naughtie, share their thoughts on Cardus’s importance for the sporting and musical worlds, and to assess his legacy Petroc is joined by fellow journalists and writers on music and cricket, Michael Kennedy and Michael Henderson.
Cardus: Celebrant of Beauty by Robin Daniels is published by Palatine Books (£25.00 hardback)
The Art of French Piano Music
French piano music has been a lifelong passion for author, academic and pianist Roy Howat – he has been playing, editing, teaching and talking about it for over 30 years. For many pianists, an air of mystery surrounds French piano music of the late 19th and early 20th centuries – that of Debussy, Ravel, Chabrier and Fauré. In a new book, Howat argues that the music contains no secrets, and its performance should be equally straightforward. He also explores the links between the music and impressionistic art of the period.
At the piano he joins Petroc to discuss and demonstrate his ideas.
The Art of French Piano Music by Roy Howat is published by Yale University Press (£30.00 hardback)
Roy Howat performs Fauré with the Kreutzer Quartet at Wiltons Music Hall in London on Sunday 19th July and his new 2-CD set of Fauré piano solos and duets (with Emily Kilpatrick) is due for release in September on ABC Classics
Susan Graham
Born in New Mexico and raised in Texas, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham has sung leading roles in the great opera houses of the world, covering repertoire from the 17th to 20th centuries. Winning critical acclaim for her performance of both the core operatic repertoire and new works by contemporary composers such as Tobias Picker, it is for her interpretation of French music that Graham is most celebrated.
Ahead of two performances at the Proms, she talks to Petroc from New York about her passion for French music – which started with the piano music – and about her new found respect for Michael Jackson and the need for cultural ambassadors in today’s society.
Susan Graham sings at the BBC Proms (both concerts broadcast live on Radio 3):
Monday 27th July (lunchtime): French Song with Malcolm Martineau
Thursday 30th July: La mort de Cléopâtre
Braille Music
Louise Braille was born 200 years ago just outside Paris, and was blinded as a result of an accident in his father’s workshop. He then spent much of his life devising the system of raised cells widely used around the world today for the translation of books and public signs. Braille music is less well known than its literary cousin, but it can be a lifeline to many blind musicians, from beginner to professional – and advances in technology are changing the way Braille music is translated, edited and made available.
Lutenist Matthew Wadsworth, who has been blind since birth, tells Petroc how crucial Braille music has been for his career, and in the company of music officer James Risdon, Petroc visits the RNIB’s translation and printing services in Peterborough to find out about the process of translating a musical score into Braille.
Photograph credits:
An example of Braille Music courtesy of RNIB
Susan Graham; credit Dario Acosta
Broadcast
-
Sat 11 Jul 200912:15
© MMIX~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~02~RS~){kind=small}