Born in 1913, the poet R. S. Thomas was for many years a parish priest in his native Wales. Known for his passionate Welsh nationalism, his more recent work has become increasingly inward, exploring the paradoxes and self-doubts of faith in writing of great simplicity and resonance. In this film, Thomas talks in interview and reads from his poetry, which is illustrated with stunning footage of the Welsh landscapes from which he draws inspiration.
Corps
Hans van Manen’s Corps takes its inspiration from Alban Berg’s elegiac Violin Concerto and reflects the ‘longing for’ and ‘taking leave of’ expressed in the music. The nervous restlessness and often aggressive pattern of the movements capture the impotent rage invoked by the death of a loved one. The corps de ballet plays a leading role, interacting with twelve male dancers and three female dancers. This performance by the Dutch National Ballet was recorded in studio and Gidon Kremer is the soloist with the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Colin Davis.
Five Blind Boys
Gospel influences many musical styles, including blues, funk and rock. In this programme, great gospel veterans The Five Blind Boys of Alabama are seen in performance and talk about their music.
Examen
To produce this special television version of his work, which was first conceived as music theatre, Stockhausen worked in close collaboration with television director José Montes-Baquer to exploit to the full the possibilities offered by the electronic media. Video techniques provided the means to create a stunningly innovative mise-en-scène to match Stockhausen’s music, libretto, dance actions and gestures. This performance programme is also available with an introductory interview with the composer, illustrated with rehearsal footage, giving an insight into his creative processes.
Recital Andrei Gavrilov
One of today’s great concert pianists, Andrei Gavrilov enjoys a distinguished international career and has been awarded many of the music world’s top prizes for his audio releases. This recital was recorded in studio and features Gavrilov playing two works by the great pianist/composer Sergei Rachmaninov: Piece No. 1 in E flat minor from Morceaux de Fantaisie Op. 3, and Piece No. 3 in B minor from Moments Musicaux Op. 16.
Dancing
From the stylised steps of a Japanese kabuki dancer to the frenetic posturings on a disco floor, people around the world use dance to reflect their thoughts and beliefs, their philosophies and desires. Filmed in over a dozen countries on four continents, this series offers a global view of dance in its infinite variety, and is as much about why we dance as how we dance. Each programme focuses on a specific aspect of dance, such as its religious significance, its expression of social values and its role as a medium of cultural fusion.
On the Edge – Improvisation in Music
The essential role which improvisation plays in music is revealed through the playing and words of a wide selection of performers for whom it is central to their creative process. Musicians in Africa, India, America and Europe were filmed on location, and contributors include jazz drummer Max Roach, rock guitarist Jerry Garcia, baroque specialist Christopher Hogwood, flamenco doyen Mario Maya, blues man Buddy Guy, the great Indian sarangi player Ram Narayan, salsa ace Eddie Palmieri, Nashville session player Buddy Emmons, contemporary composer John Zorn and organist Naji Hakim.
The Temba Theatre Company
Britain’s leading Black theatre Company has developed an impressively broad range of work, ranging from the classics to modern and political dramas. Temba’s research into the theatrical traditions of Africa and the Caribbean led to the creation of their production Glory, which draws on the spectacular and vivacious styles they discovered. This programme looks at the play and explores its roots in the company’s own history and in the West Indies.
Madrigals with the Consort of Musicke
Two concerts, recorded live from the Holland Festival of Early Music, feature the internationally-acclaimed ensemble conducted by lutenist Anthony Rooley, with soprano Emma Kirkby and guest performer, recorder-player Marion Verbruggen. The repertoire highlights the close musical links that existed between Holland and England around the beginning of the seventeenth century, and the influence of the Italian madrigal composers of the day. Programme One: Songs by Jacob van Eyck, Luca Marenzio, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, John Ward, Thomas Ravenscroft and John Dowland. Programme Two: Songs by Jacob van Eyck, Cornelis Schuyt, Peter Philips and Robert Jones.
Pulling Out the Stops – A History of the Organ
The organ is one of the oldest and most glorious musical instruments known to man. Since the early fifteenth century, its history has been closely linked with the religious setting in which it came to reside. Visiting churches in Italy, Spain, France, Holland, Germany and Switzerland, this series looks at the work of the great organ-builders of Europe. Leading organists demonstrate the magnificent range and beauty of this complex instrument’s sound, from sixteenth-century compositions to contemporary masterpieces, among them works by de Cabézon, Frescobaldi, Couperin, Sweelinck, Buxtehude, Bach, Widor and Messiaen.