Ellie and Ben are a pair of black and white (respectively) besties who like talking about classical music.
Sure, Bach’s great and all that, but what about th...
This week, it’s finally happening... we’re talking about Amy Beach, and no one is happier about it than Ben. In fact, he might actually say she’s his favourite Patribachy composer (bold claim indeed).But, in true Down with the Patribachy fashion, it takes us an embarrassingly long time to actually get there. Along the way, we get somewhat sidetracked by Virgo discourse, cultural appropriation in folk-inspired music, and wheth.Also this week, Ellie may or may not say something so outrageous that Ben threatens to retire from the podcast entirely. Will he go through with it? No. But is it dramatic? Yes.It’s chaotic, it’s unhinged, but it’s a great time, as always. You can listen to some lovely music by Amy Beach below:🎵 Listen on Spotify🎶 Listen on Apple Music🎟️ Get your ticket for EMPOWER 2025: London – an incredible evening celebrating women in music, featuring live performances and industry talks with legends like Errollyn Wallen CBE, Jess Gillam MBE, Héloïse Werner, and Dr. Leah Broad. It’s happening Friday, 21 March 2025 at King’s Place, London, and it’s completely unmissable.👉 Tickets & more info at empowerwomenchangingmusic.comAnd as always, visit us at www.debutpodcasts.co.uk for more, including our BRAND NEW BLOG!
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Episode 7: Judith Weir
We’re back with another week of Down with the Patribachy and this time, we’re talking about the brilliant DAME Judith Weir – the first female Master of the Queen's Music!But, as always, we take a slightly scenic route to get there. In this episode, Ellie attempts to tell Judith's story in chronological order (spoiler: she fails), Ben contributes ✨very little✨ and GUYS we have our first ever (unofficial) sponsor!!! It’s unpaid, but that’s showbiz, baby.It’s another chaotic, brilliant, joyful week at Down with the Patribachy.Fancy listening to some of Dame Judith's bangers? Obvs:🎵 Listen on Spotify🎶 Listen on Apple MusicMore music, info and our FIRST EVER DEBUT BLOG (written by B himself) at debutpodcasts.co.uk.🎟️ Get your ticket for EMPOWER 2025: London – an incredible evening celebrating women in music, featuring live performances and industry talks with legends like Errollyn Wallen CBE, Jess Gillam MBE, Héloïse Werner, and Dr. Leah Broad. It’s happening Friday, 21 March 2025 at King’s Place, London, and it’s completely unmissable.👉 Tickets & more info at empowerwomenchangingmusic.com
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Episode 6: William Grant Still
This week, we eventually get around to talking about William Grant Still – the legendary composer who blended African musical heritage with Western classical traditions to create something truly groundbreaking. But not before we take some serious detours.Expect:🎻 A deep dive into Still’s fusion of spirituals, jazz, and orchestral music📚 Ben’s History Club (aka revision videos on YouTube)⏳ Ellie’s ongoing war with chronological order🗣️ An unexpected ASMR moment (?!?)💧 A theory that there must be something in the water in Little Rock, Arkansas🎭 And a bold claim about the future of Welsh musicalsThe word of the week (more than ever) is "anyway", because honestly, we need it.Set the mood with these playlists:🎵 Listen on Spotify🎶 Listen on Apple MusicMore music, more history, and more fun at www.debutpodcasts.co.uk!
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Episode 5: Grace Williams
It’s our St David’s Day special 🏴 (well, the day before – but close enough 💐), and we’re celebrating by diving into the life and music of Grace Williams – the trailblazing Welsh composer who fused national identity with European modernism. From stormy seas to nursery tunes, she created some of the most evocative music of the 20th century, all while battling the expectation that composing was a man’s job.That is, of course, if we can ever actually get past the introduction… Expect many false starts, some truly cursed attempts at professionalism, and a deep dive into the magic of Grace’s music Hear more below:🎼 Listen on YouTube🎵 Listen on Spotify🎶 Listen on Apple MusicMore music, more history, and a BRAND NEW BLOG (xxx) at www.debutpodcasts.co.uk!
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Episode 4: Fanny Mendelssohn
This week, things are a little bit chaotic, but we’re shining a spotlight on Fanny Mendelssohn – a musical genius too often overshadowed by her famous brother, Felix (even though she wrote some of his best tunes 🙄). It’s time to give Fanny her due! We’re talking about her STUNNING compositions, the magic of Salon concerts (think candlelight, great music, and even better gossip), and why her work deserves to stand on its own.Oh, and in groundbreaking news… we got our first ever sponsor! Finally, the corporate world has recognised our tireless work dismantling the patriarchy through niche classical music chat. Stay tuned for what is sure to be the most seamless and not-at-all ridiculous ad break in podcast history.Set the mood with these playlists:🎵 Listen on Spotify🎶 Listen on Apple MusicMore music, more history, and more fun at www.debutpodcasts.co.uk!
Ellie and Ben are a pair of black and white (respectively) besties who like talking about classical music.
Sure, Bach’s great and all that, but what about the composers they don’t teach at school, the ones who don’t have pale skin, curly wigs or a Y chromosome, the composers you might not know so well?
Each week, Ellie and Ben chat through an underrepresented composer they think you should know better, swiping left or right on the classical musicians neglected from history and choosing whether to add them to their brand-spanking-new, DEI-friendly canon.
UK