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The South Country

A sequence of music, poetry and prose celebrating the landscape of southern England, with readings by Tamsin Greig and Neil Pearson. With works by Edward Thomas, Belloc, Tippett.

Inspired by the recent republication of Edward Thomas's essay collection The South Country, the weekly sequence of music, poetry and prose celebrates the landscape of southern England, in particular three counties in which the poet loved to walk: Sussex, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

Tamsin Greig and Neil Pearson read prose by fellow observer-wanderers Gilbert White, William Cobbett and Richard Jefferies, and poetry by such lovers of the south as Flora Thompson, Andrew Young, Hilaire Belloc, Molly Holden and, of course, Edward Thomas himself. The music includes orchestral music and songs by John Ireland, Michael Tippett, The Copper Family and the English Acoustic Collective among others.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 3 Jul 2011 22:30
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Gustav Holst

    Song Without Words 'I'll love my love' (from 'A Hampshire Suite')

    Performers: Munich Symphony Orchestra / Douglas Bostock

    • CLASSICO CLASSCD284.

  • Flora Thompson

    Home Thoughts from the Desert, reader Tamsin Greig

  • Rudyard Kipling

    The Run of the Downs, reader Neil Pearson

  • 00:03

    John Ireland

    Rondo (from 'A Downland Suite')

    Performers: English Chamber Orchestra / David Garforth

    • CHANDOS CHAN8390.

  • Richard Jefferies

    Nature Near London (extract), reader Tamsin Greig

  • Edward Thomas

    Man and Dog, reader Neil Pearson

  • 00:09

    Traditional English

    The Roaming Journeyman

    Performers: Tom Willett (vocal)

    • TOPIC TSCD670.
  • 00:11

    John Ireland

    By the Mere

    Performers: Eric Parkin (piano)

    • CHANDOS CHAN9140.

  • Siegfried Sassoon

    On Scratchbury Camp, reader Tamsin Greig

  • 00:14

    John Dipper/Robert Harbron

    Train Tune / Tomcat

    Performers: English Acoustic Collective

    • RUFCD09.

  • Jane Austen

    Mansfield Park (extract), reader Tamsin Greig

  • 00:20

    Hubert Parry

    Frolic (from 'An English Suite')

    Performers: London Symphony Orchestra / Adrian Boult

    • LYRITA SRCD220.

  • William Cobbett

    Rural Rides (extract), reader Neil Pearson

  • 00:24

    Gustav Holst

    Fantasia on the Dargason (from 'A Hampshire Suite')

    Performers: Munich Symphony Orchestra / Douglas Bostock

    • CLASSICO CLASSCD284.

  • Andrew Young

    Wiltshire Downs, reader Tamsin Greig

  • 00:28

    Traditional English

    Salisbury Plain

    Arranger: Dolly Collins Performers: Shirley Collins (vocal), Dolly Collins (piano)

    • HARVEST CZ534.

  • Edward Thomas

    The Combe, reader Neil Pearson

  • 00:32

    Malcolm Arnold

    English Dance No. 3

    Performers: London Philharmonic Orchestra / Malcolm Arnold

    • LYRITA SRCD201.

  • Edward Thomas

    Women He Liked, reader Tamsin Greig

  • 00:36

    Traditional English

    The Birds in the Spring

    Performers: Bob and Ron Copper (vocals)

    • TOPIC TSCD534.

  • Gilbert White

    The Natural History of Selborne (extract), reader Neil Pearson

  • Francis William Bourdillon

    On the South Downs, reader Tamsin Greig

  • 00:40

    John Ireland

    Elegy (from 'A Downland Suite')

    Performers: English Chamber Orchestra / David Garforth

    • CHANDOS CHAN8390.

  • Hilaire Belloc

    The South Country, reader Neil Pearson

  • 00:48

    Michael Tippett

    Concerto for Double String Orchestra (2nd movement)

    Performers: Academy of St Martin-in-the-Fields / Sir Neville Marriner

    • EMI CDC555452 2.

  • Molly Holden

    After the Requested Cremation, reader Tamsin Greig

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