All the Stops with Anna Lapwood

Sam and Tim return from their summer break with a new season of classical shenanigans. Kicking things off is an interview with organist, conductor, broadcaster and all-round musical superstar Anna Lapwood. She discusses her latest release for solo organ, Images, recorded at Ely Cathedral, as well as the role of secular music in church services and the mixing of boy and girl choristers.

YolanDa Brown, Judith Weir and the Turdus Merula

In an episode dangerously overburdened with wholesomeness, the boys chat to saxophonist YolanDa Brown about her multiple MOBO awards and life as a Ceebeebies presenter. There’s also a heartwarming email exchange with master of the queens music Judith Weir – and the big secret behind the Star Trek Original Series theme is revealed.

Everybody Loves Raymond (Yiu)

Avast mateys. The boys are back from extended shore leave with a trunk full of classical doubloons. In today’s episode Tim talks to Raymond Yiu about his unconventional route into composing, Anthony Burgess and a new disc with the BBC Symphony Orchestra. Sam discusses common pitfalls in music analysis and the controversies surrounding Dr Susan McClary.

The Nutcracker: Live

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Sam and Tim are joined by the Classical PopUps players for a live edition of the podcast. Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet and the 1950s Ellington/Strayhorn remix both get the analysis treatment. There’s plenty of trivia along the way, along with a few giggles – and some Philharmonia gin. Merry Christmas!

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Paul Morley and Debussy Go Beyond the Sea

Tim chats to Paul Morley about his new book, A Sound Mind, which charts his journey into classical music, giving a history and critique of the genre from his own, unique perspective as a seasoned rock and pop journalist. Sam deconstructs a piece by one of Paul’s favourite composers, Debussy, and tries to work out what exactly it makes him FEEL. Watch out for new jingles, plenty of laughs and a healthy dose of pseudo intellectualism.

Eleanor Alberga and a Brighton Quailsong

Tim chats to British composer Eleanor Alberga about her Jamaican upbringing and her piece for narrators and orchestra, ‘Snow White and the Seven Dwarves’. Sam finds unlikely parallels between the NBA and Heinrich Biber’s ‘Sonata Representativa’, and chats to Cathy Boyes of the Brighton Early Music Festival.

Jess Gillam Does a David Attenborough Impression

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In the first episode of the new season Sam catches up with Jess Gillam for a JOINT analysis of one of the tracks from her newly-released second album, Time. Meanwhile, Tim reviews concerts from Apartment House and European trio Pavel Kolesnikov, Elina Buksha and Aurélien Pascal.

Music Credits:
‘Tim and Sam’s Podcast’ written and performed by Harry Sever
Brahms’s Intermezzo Op. 118 No. 2, performed by Timmy Fisher
‘Where the Bee Dances’ by Michael Nyman, performed by Jess Gillam and the Jess Gillam Ensemble

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Summer Bookclub

© Ann Godoff

© Ann Godoff

For the final episode of the season a host of musical big wigs – from Stephen Hough to Steven Isserlis, Errollyn Wallen to Tom Service – phone in to give the boys recommendations for summer reading. Sam also waxes lyrical on the panharmonium, a precursor to the modern synthesiser for which Beethoven wrote his Wellingtons Sieg, whilst Tim speaks to New York-based author Annik LaFarge about her upcoming book, Chasing Chopin: A Musical Journey Across Three Centuries, Four Countries, and a Half-Dozen Revolutions.

Pre-order Chasing Chopin from Hive:
www.hive.co.uk/Product/Annik-LaFarge/Chasing-Chopin--A-Musical-Journey-Across-Three-Centuries-/24876098

Chasing Chopin’s companion site has links to the music she covers as well as a bunch of other resources: www.whychopin.com

Music Credits:
‘Tim and Sam’s Podcast’ written and performed by Harry Sever
Beethoven’s ’Wellingtons Sieg’ performed by the Stuttgart Symphony under Hermann Scherchen

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Jennifer Pike and Nuns with Good Habits

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In this, the penultimate episode of this series, the boys take a trip to Renaissance Italy in pursuit of the abbess-composer Eleonora d'Este. Sam reviews Silhouettes, the latest disc from viola-piano duo Dana Zemtsov and Anna Fedorova, and Tim chats to violinist Jennifer Pike about Elgar, Vaughan Williams and Polish cuisine.

Alex Aldren sings on the wards: https://youtu.be/_j5rmoI1750

Olivia Giovetti on opera and blackface:
https://van-us.atavist.com/color-blind

Helen Mirrren introduced the Israel Philharmonic:
https://youtu.be/Ib3O-9Sp6ss

Laura Volpi interviews dr Laurie Stras:
https://bachtrack.com/interview-laurie-stras-renaissance-music-choral-march-2019

Tête à tête opera festival:
https://www.tete-a-tete.org.uk/festival/2020-festival-whats-on/

Sky Orchestra:
http://www.skyorchestra.co.uk/

Music Credits:
‘Tim and Sam’s Podcast’ written and performed by Harry Sever
'O beate Christi confessor' by (possibly) Leonora d'Este, performed by Musica Secreta
Rebecca Clarke's Sonata for Viola, Mov. 1, performed by Dana Zemtsov and Anna Fedorova
Elgar's Violin Sonata, Mov. 1, performed by Jennifer Pike and Martin Roscoe
Vaughan Williams's The Lark Ascending, performed by Jennifer Pike and Martin Roscoe

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Julius Eastman and Aurora’s Heavenly Spheres

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Sam and Tim dissect one of Julius Eastman’s most controversially titled works, catch up with the gang from Living Room Live and discuss spherical music with the Founder and Principal Conductor of the Aurora Orchestra, Nicholas Collon.

Thomas Wilkins, Michael Morgan, Jonathon Heyward and Roderick Cox discuss their careers through the lens of their skin colour and mutual experiences of prejudice within the industry:
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=922849801475019

Stolen John Packer instruments:
https://www.4barsrest.com/news/41452/burglars-target-john-packer-ltd

Susie Blankfield’s jewellery collection:
https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/susiemakesbeads

Harry Enfield shocks Radio 4’s listeners:
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2020/jun/11/harry-enfield-defends-use-of-blackface-today-programme-nick-robinson


Music Credits:
‘Tim and Sam’s Podcast’ written and performed by Harry Sever 
’Sneaky Snitch’ by Kevin MacLeod https://incompetech.com/, promoted by MrSnooze https://youtu.be/I2m1h0ALpY4, Creative Commons — CC BY 3.0 https://goo.gl/A7jRXA
Julius Eastman’s ‘Evil N*****’, performed by Piano for Two
Max Richter’s ‘Journey (CP1919)’, performed by Aurora under Nicholas Collon


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Touring in the Wake of COVID–19

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The boys take a closer look at the jet-set nature of the classical music industry, and ask whether the current crisis presents an opportunity to make some changes. Interviews with Director of the Association of British Orchestras Mark Pemberton, conductor and founder of STARGAZE André de Ridder, and critic and journalist Andrew Mellor.

Further Listening and Reading
Classical Top Five Podcast: https://podtail.com/en/podcast/the-classical-top-5/
Classical Music Consumer Segmentation Study – How Americans Relate to Classical Music and Their Local Orchestras: https://www.esm.rochester.edu/iml/prjc/poly/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2002_Classical_Music_Consumer_Report.pdf
The Audience Agency – National Classical Music Audiences: https://www.theaudienceagency.org/asset/1303
Tim Baker – Stop Re-inventing The Wheel : https://www.culturehive.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/Stop-Reinventing-the-Wheel-Guide-to-Classical-Music-Audiences.pdf
Understanding Audiences for the Arts Handbook: http://www.sparc.dept.shef.ac.uk/research/uaca/handbook/
Sarah Price – Risk and Reward in Classical Music Concert Attendance: http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/16628/

Does Harry Christophers Live in a Castle?

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Tim and Sam are back with special guests Harry Christophers and Katy Hill of The Sixteen to talk about their latest video and podcast, Choral Chihuahua – PLUS Sam reveals the only piece of music impossible to perform during lockdown.

The Guardian’s Chief Culture Writer Charlotte Higgins on the future of the arts:
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/18/war-arts-stronger-covid-19-devastated-theatres-museums-imagination

Scottish Opera’s Fever:
https://www.scottishopera.org.uk/fever

Chichester Youth Festival’s Beauty and the Beast:
https://www.cft.org.uk/beauty-and-the-beast-broadcast 


Music Credits:
‘Tim and Sam’s Podcast’ written and performed by Harry Sever 
Theme Tune from ‘The Wheel of Fortune’ performed by TV Theme Band
Richard Sheppard’s Libera Nos, performed by The Sixteen
Final movement from Sibelius’s Fifth Symphony, performed by Timmy Fisher

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