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Last broadcast on Sat, 10 Jul 2010, 12:15 on BBC Radio 3.
Synopsis
Petroc Trelawny talks to celebrated guitarist Julian Bream. Plus a look at the work of American musicologist Charles Rosen and Vincent Giroud's new book celebrating French opera.
Julian Bream
On Music Matters this week Petroc Trelawny meets the legendary guitarist and musical pioneer Julian Bream.
Since his early recitals as a child prodigy and his official debut at Cheltenham aged thirteen, Bream performed extensively for over five decades before retiring from the concert stage in 2002. Throughout his career he was also regularly on television – performing, presenting master classes and documentary series, and appearing on chat shows. He commissioned eminent composers such as Britten, Berkeley and Tippett to write for him and, as a lutenist, introduced audiences to early music.
Julian reflects on the days when he was one of Britain’s most recognised musicians and tells Petroc about his new charitable trust, set up to support exceptionally gifted young guitarists and to commission more new music for the instrument.
Julian Bream image © Simon Ambridge
Music and Sentiment
The acclaimed American pianist Charles Rosen has been a significant figure in popular musicology since the publication almost forty years ago of ‘The Classical Style’. Now in his early eighties his latest book, ‘Music and Sentiment’, analyzes the impact of emotion and sentiment in the composition, performance, and appreciation of music.
Petroc is joined by Nicholas Kenyon, Managing Director of the Barbican centre, and writer Nigel Simeone to discuss ‘Music and Sentiment’ and Rosen’s extensive contribution to musicology.
Music and Sentiment by Charles Rosen is available from Yale University Press
The Miners’ Hymns
The rich heritage of coal mining and brass banding in North East England is evident in the annual Durham Miners Gala which takes place this Saturday. Since the dramatic decline of the mining industry, the day is now primarily a wider trade union event but remains one of Europe’s largest political gatherings. Music is still central to the gala with numerous brass bands marching behind the silk colliery banners.
As part of the Durham Brass Festival ‘The Miners’ Hymns’, a new film paying homage to the industry, is also being screened this week with a live brass musical score.
Petroc talks to the film maker Bill Morrison and the composer Jóhann Jóhannsson about their collaboration. And we travel to Durham to visit the NASUWT Riverside band in rehearsal, and meet Alan Hope who explains the history and significance of brass bands to the Gala.
Performances of The Miners Hymns take place at Durham Cathedral on the 15th and 16th July
French Opera
A new book by the musicologist Vincent Giroud charts the history of French opera from its origins to the present day. Despite being second only to Italian opera in its breadth and diversity, only a handful of French operas are widely performed and well known.
Petroc talks to the author about why French opera is not more prominent in today’s repertoire, and is joined by Cormac Newark and Sarah Hibberd to review the book.
French Opera: A Short History by Vincent Giroud is available from Yale University Press
Durham Miners' Gala 2009
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Sat 10 Jul 201012:15
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