Composer of the Week

• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)

  Donald Macleod investigates the life of a Renaissance genius, Giovanni da PalestrinaGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594) was one of the most influential composers in European classical music. With his countless masses, motets and madrigals, infused with a deep sense of spirituality and musical beauty, Palestrina was named the 'Saviour of Church Music' at a revolutionary time when Rome was rewriting the rules of music composition. But what do we know about this mysterious character, between historical fact and hagiographic myth? Donald Macleod follows the clues, to try and reconstruct the story of a fascinating composer, on the (approximately) 500th anniversary of his birth.Music Featured: Sicut cervus Laudate pueri Pueri hebraeorum (arr for dobro) Puer qui natus est Missa Assumpta est Maria (excerpt) Josquin des Prez: O virgo prudentissima Josquin des Prez: Fortuna d’un gran tempo Costanzo Festa: Sancta Maria succurre miseris Sacred Madrigals, Book 2, Città di Dio Ricercar del primo tuono Magnificat Primi toni Missa Ecce sacerdos magnus (Sanctus) Quam pulchri sunt gressus tui Pulchra es, amica mea (arr Volbers for recorder ensemble) Missa Papae Marcelli (excerpt) Vergine bella… Vergine saggia… Vestiva i colli Sabbato Sancto: Lectio III, Incipit oratio Ieremiae prophetae Motecta festorum totius anni cum Communi Sanctorum – liber primus Misso Herodes Nicola Vicentino: Jerusalem convertere Cristóbal de Morales: Gaude et laetare, Ferrariensis civitas Motecta festorum totius anni cum Communi Sanctorum (Fuit homo missus a Deo) Missa Papae Marcelli (Sanctus) Ricercar del secondo tuono Missa sine nomine a 6 arr Johann Sebastian Bach L'homme armé (exceprt) Adoramus te Christe arr Leopold Stokowski for orchestra O admirabile commercium Missa Ut re mi fa sol la (excerpt) Io son ferito (instrumental version) Missa Brevis (excerpt) Canite tuba (arr for brass ensemble) Deh hor foss’io col vago della luna (on a text by Petrarch) Offertoria totius anni (Jubilate Deo) arr A. Frackenpohl for brass ensemble Stabat Mater Missa pro defunctis (Sanctus-Benedictus) First Book of Madrigals (Sestina. Mai fu piu crud’o spietata morte) Ad te levavi Johann Joseph Fux: Gradus ad Parnassum (Fugue) Francesco Soriano: Alpha à 6 Canticum Canticorum (Osculetur me osculo oris sui) Missa Memor esto verbi tui a 5 (Credo) Missa Cantantibus organis (from the motet Cantantibus Organis by Palestrina) Sacred Madrigals, Book 2 (E questo spirto) Libera me Domine Ave MariaPresented by Donald Macleod Produced by Julien Rosa for BBC Audio Wales & WestFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002d7cq And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

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• Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)

  Donald Macleod traces the musical development of Fanny Hensel née Mendelssohn. Whilst Fanny’s famous brother Felix Mendelssohn’s career flourished, the equally talented Fanny was often held back by the conventions of the period and at times, by her own brother. Despite this, in her final years, Fanny would go on to publish her own music under her married name, Fanny Hensel. Music Featured:Das Jahr, H-U 385 Piano Quartet in A flat, H-U 55 Ferne, H-U 97 Der Fischer, H-U 85 An Suleika, H-U 148 Mailied, H-U 122 Piano Sonata in C minor, H-U 128 Prelude in G, H-U 243 Der Rosenkranz, H-U 168 Ostersonate, piano sonata in A, H-U 235 Am Flusse, H-U 204 Harfners Lied, H-U 162 Deinem Blick mich zu bequemen, H-U 151 Sonata o Fantasia, H-U 238 Hiob, H-U 258 Oratorio on words from the Bible, H-U 260 (Gott unser Schild) Klavierstück, in F minor H-U 302 (Allegro agitato) Hero und Leander, H-U 262 String Quartet in E flat, H-U 277 Mélodie, Op 4/5 No 4 (Lento appassionato) Overture, H-U 265 Im wunderschönen Monat Mai, H-U 323 Lobgesang, H-U 257 (Chorus: Meine Seele ist stille zu Gott) Warum sind denn die Rosen so blass, H-U 312 Gondellied, H-U 377 Capriccio in A flat, H-U 247 Aus meinen Tränen sprießen, H-U 327 Abschied von Rom, H-U 352 Die frühen Gräber, H-U 222 Dämmrung senkte sich von oben, H-U 392 Piano Trio in D minor, Op 11 Lobgesang, H-U 257 (excerpt) Im Herbste, H-U 416 Vorwulf, H-U 462 Bergeslust, H-U 466Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Audio Wales & WestFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002cym9And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

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  53:51
• Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)

  Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s endeavours to become the guardian of his brother’s son Karl - a relationship which from the start was built upon rocky foundations.Music Featured: Allegro and Minuet, WoO 26 (Excerpt) Symphony No 3 ‘Eroica’ (Scherzo. Allegro vivace) Leonore Prohaska, WoO 96 (Funeral March) Piano Sonata No 28 in A, Op 101 Sehnsucht, WoO 146 Das Geheimnis, WoO 145 Der Mann von Wort, Op 99 Symphony No 7 in A, Op 92 (Allegretto) Music, Love and Wine, Op 108 No 1 Behold my love how green the groves, Op 108 No 9 Symphony No 8 in F, Op 93 (Allegro vivace) Piano Sonata No 29 in B flat, Op 106 ‘Hammerklavier’ (Allegro) String Quintet in C minor, Op 104 (Allegro con brio) Missa Solemnis in D, Op 123 (Agnus Dei) Minuet, WoO17 (Mödlinger Tänze, No 2) Piano Sonata No 30 in E, Op 109 (Prestissimo) Symphony No 9 in D minor, Op 125 ‘Choral’ (Excerpt) Resignation, WoO 149 Abendlied Unterm Gestirnten Himmel, WoO150 Piano Sonata No 31 in A flat, Op 110 Bagatelle No 2, Op 126 (Allegro) Der Kuss, Op 128 Missa Solemnis in D, Op 123 (Gloria) Symphony No 9 in D minor, Op 125 ‘Choral’ (Scherzo) String Quartet No 12 in E flat, Op 127 (excerpt) Waltz in E flat, WoO 85 Tremate, empi, tremate, Op 116 String Quartet No 15 in A minor, Op 132 (Molto adagio) Elegischer Gesang ‘Sanft wie du lebtest‘, Op 118 Piano Sonata No 12 in A flat, Op 26 (Marche Funebre)Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Audio Wales & WestFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002cbw3And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

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  56:53
• Leos Janacek (1854-1928)

  Kate Molleson explores the maverick spirit, fierce passions and phenomenal twilight years of Leoš JanáčekLeoš Janáček was a true Czech original. He heard music in the way people talk on the streets, loved the local and made it universal - pouring his “speech melodies” into pioneering, devastating operas, and writing some of the most intimate confessionals in instrumental music. His life also came with a major plot twist – after years of toiling away unappreciated, he suddenly found fame in his 60s. Instead of winding down, Janáček revved up. This week, Kate Molleson explores his maverick spirit, his fierce passions, and the phenomenal flood of inspiration of his twilight years.Music Featured:Sinfonietta (Fanfare) The Wild Duck In the Mists (2nd mvt, Molto adagio) The Fiddler’s Child Songs of Hradčany (The Weeping Fountain) Jenůfa, Act II (Jenůfa’s Prayer) Moravian Folk Poetry in Song, JW V/2 (No 2, Constancy) On the Overgrown Path (Our Evenings; A Blown Away Leaf) Diary of One Who Disappeared (Nos 19-22) Katya Kabanova: Act II Scene 2 "Jste to vy, Katěrino Petrovno?"…."Choď si, dívka, do času" The Cunning Little Vixen Act II “Fox Goldenstripe…..That’s how it is!” Quartet No 1 ‘Kreutzer Sonata’ (1st & 2nd mvts) March of the Blue Birds Říkadla - Nursery Rhymes (excerpt) Lachian Dances (Nos 3-6) Mládí On the Overgrown Path (No 9, In Tears) Pohádka – Fairytale Glagolitic Mass (Intrada) The Excursions of Mr Broucek Suite (The Moon Waltz) 1905 Sonata Capriccio (2nd & 3rd mvt) Glagolitic Mass (excerpt) Moravian Love Songs (No 10 ‘Love’) Intimate Sketches (Waiting for You!) From the House of the Dead Suite (3rd mvt, Holiday is Coming) Quartet No 2 ‘Intimate Letters’ On the Overgrown Path (No 7, Good Night)Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales & WestFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Leos Janacek (1854-1928) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002c0h9And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

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  1:04:14
• Max Bruch (1839-1920)

  Donald Macleod colours in Bruch’s life story and reveals the breadth of his output“Only true melody outlasts all changes and shifts of time” – so said this week’s composer, Max Bruch, the creator of what may be the world’s best-loved violin concerto. But Bruch would hate us to think of him as a one hit wonder. He even came to resent the very sound of his first Violin concerto, the only piece by which he’s often remembered. This week, Donald Macleod colours in Bruch’s life story and reveals the breadth of his output, including some of his lesser-heard music.Music Featured: Frühlingslied, Op 7 No 5 (arr. for violin and piano) Septet, Op Posth (3rd mvt, Scherzo) Klavierstücke, Op 12 (excerpt) Piano Trio, Op 5 Die Loreley Overture String Quartet No 2 in E major, Op 10 (1st mvt, Allegro maestoso) Swedish Dances (No 10, Frisch, nicht zu schnell) Musicaklang, Op 71 No 5 Symphony No 1 (5th mvt, Finale) Schön Ellen, Op 24 Violin Concerto No 1 in G minor 12 Scottish Folksongs (No 2, Johnie und Jenny) Songs, Op 49 No 4 – Serenade Piano Quintet in G minor (3rd & 4th mvts) Gruss an die Heilige Nacht (Greeting to the Holy Night) Kol Nidrei Scottish Fantasy for violin and orchestra (4th mvt, Allegro guerriero) 8 Pieces for Clarinet, viola and piano, Op 83 No 2 In der Nacht, Op 72 4 Pieces, Op 70 (No 1, Aria) Concerto for Two Pianos (4th mvt) Double Concerto for clarinet and viola Sommerlust im Walde, Op 71 No 1 String Quartet No 1 (3rd mvt) Das Lied von der Glocke (final movements) Odysseus Prelude In Memoriam, Op 65Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales & WestFor full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for Max Bruch (1839-1920) https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002br0dAnd you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z

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  1:09:46

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