Cacophony

Individual, passionate, soulful music rooted in the southern states, Florence Price's Symphony No.1 was the first by a black woman composer to be played by a major US orchestra back in the 1930s. A Moment of History, but those 'twin handicaps' [her words] meant that her music has hardly been played since and we've been missing out on really great music from a distinctive voice - it's time to put that right! (Listening time 47 mins: podcast 8', music 39')   Music here on Spotify or Apple Music in a brand new recording with another of the 'great' US Orchestras, the Philadelphia Orchestra and conductor, Yannick Nézet-Séguin or on Youtube with the New Black Repertory Ensemble & Leslie B. Dunner, conductor.   What do you think? Let me know with an easy voicemail or comment at Cacophonyonline.com, Facebook or Twitter. You can buy the Philadelphia recording as a download here.   If you'd like to support Cacophony there are four easy great ways - share this episode - share the 100 second trailer - buy u

Thrilling, chilling, but still somehow delighting in its brilliance, Dvořák's Noon Witch packs a punch and leaves you stunned. Also in this episode, free parenting advice and some musings on Dr Suess! Listen to the complete piece here on Apple Music, Youtube, or Spotify, in fab live-in-concert recordings from the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor Sir Charles Mackerras. Unfortunately you can't get these as a download. So if you want to buy it, try this recording from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and Rafael Kubelik for only 55p.   If you enjoyed this, check out previous episodes for more excellent Dvorak and if you like Witches head for Musorgsky's Night on Bare Mountain.   Let me know what you think! Ways to get in touch bellow: Comment at cacophonyonline.com, Facebook or Twitter or now you can leave me a voice message  If you'd like to support Cacophony there are four great ways: - share this episode - share the 100 second trailer - buy us a cuppa at  ko-fi.com - subscribe and ke

One of music's ultimate mood improvers, Dvořák's "Slavonic Dances" put a smile on everyone's face. Not merely shallow dance tunes, this is music that shows us the warmest, most generous view of humanity. It's no wonder everyone loves them! Listening time 15-45mins (Podcast is 10.5', total music length is 35')   Listen to the music here on Spotify, Apple Music, or Youtube (this is harder to dip in and out of, because it's all one track on Youtube. You get another 8 dances too that he wrote later. Just as good, some say... better!) They're thrilling performances from the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra and conductor, Rafael Kubelik, which you can buy as high quality download here.   What do you think? Which dance is your favourite? We'd love to hear from you at cacophonyonline.com, Facebook or Twitter. If you'd like to support Cacophony there are four great ways: - share this episode - share the 100 second trailer - buy us a cuppa at  ko-fi.com - subscribe and keep listening!     Thanks for liste

A few years back my Mum got me to buy her this for Christmas and I've finally got around to 'discovering' it for myself. It's powerful, intense and profound: Schubert's Fantasy for piano duet. I think you'll love it. [Listening time 25 mins - podcast 6', music 18')   Listen to the complete piece on Youtube, Apple Music or Spotify performed by the wonderful Maria João Pires and Ricardo Castro, which you can also buy as a download here, for a couple of quid. The official title is Fantasy in F minor for piano four hands, D.940   What do you think? We'd love to hear from you at cacophonyonline.com, Facebook or Twitter. If you'd like to support Cacophony there are four great ways: - share this episode - share the 100 second trailer - buy us a cuppa at  ko-fi.com - subscribe and keep listening!     Thanks for listening!

One of my favourite things on TV in recent years has been Wolf Hall. Debbie Wiseman's haunting and memorable music captures all the tension, mood and atmosphere.   Music here on Youtube or Spotify both taken from the official soundtrack which you can buy at lots of places.   What do you think? I really want to know, so please tell me with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com.   You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing this episode or the 100 second trailer!   Thanks for listening!

Everyone knows and loves Silent Night, right? But you probably haven't heard it sound quite like this. It probably won't actually give you nightmares, but it will certainly stay with you (Listening time 7mins: podcast 3', music 7'). And despite the bleak music, I do wish you a happy Christmas!   Music here with pictures, played by Starikov Stepan and Nail Mavliudov:  or on Spotify or Apple Music, played by Daniel Hope and Alexei Botvinov, which you can also buy here as a download for less than £1. Tell me what you think - is this a cacophony, a joke or a thought provoking masterpiece? Comment at cacophonyonline.com If you'd like to support Cacophony, you can buy me a ko-fi here.   Please share our love of great music by sharing this episode and/or the trailer: www.cacophonyonline.com/trailer    Thanks for listening!        

If you want a change from Christmas pop, Christmas baroque is the way to go - here's a sparkling little gem from Arcangelo Corelli - a great 15 minute way to reset, reflect and energise - it manages all these things! (17 mins: podcast 3', music 14')   Music here on Spotify or Youtube with pictures. Officially it's Concerto Grosso in G minor op.6 no.8 "Fatto per la notte di Natale" Happy Christmas! What do you think? I really want to know, so please tell me with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com.   You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing this episode or the 100 second trailer!   Thanks for listening!      

A bold statement from composer Carl Nielsen, that music IS life, who demonstrates it with a breathtaking symphony of awesome power and overwhelming optimism. The perfect piece for Cacophony's 100th episode. (50 mins: podcast 15', music 35') Music here with pictures from the terrific Orquesta Sinfónica de Galicia conducted by Dima Slobodeniouk - and check out the lovey smile and wink from the oboe player at 5'50"! or here on Spotify with the equally terrific Danish National Radio Symphony Orchestra and Michael Schønwandt. You can buy this as a download here.   I think Carl Nielsen looks like John Bercow, what do you think? Please let me know what you think of Cacophony, this music, and lookalikes with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com   Please share this episode and also the 100 second trailer cacophonyonline.com/trailer   If you're able to support Cacophony financially we're very grateful. You can do that at ko-fi.com   Thanks for listening!

For Cacophony episode 99, I wanted to explore something deeply personal. Mahler's Symphony No.4 is one of the first pieces I discovered for myself and it moves me like very little else. Sometimes pained, sometimes playful, but most often sublime, the third movement takes you all the way to heaven, just by opening your heart. Listening time 33 mins (podcast 11', music 22')   Music here, on Youtube or Spotify with conductor Esa-Pekka Salonen (who conducted the performance I recorded off the radio back in the day) and the LA Philharmonic Orchestra. The solo singer in the last movement if you listen to that is Barbara Hendricks. You can buy a high quality download of the whole piece for the shockingly low price of £1.11 here!   What do you think of this brilliant piece? What do you think of Cacophony? Tell us with a comment at the website, Facebook or Twitter. Please share this episode and the trailer!   If you'd like to support Cacophony with cash you can click here to 'buy us a Kofi"!    Thanks for lis

It's inexplicable to me, but Anton Bruckner's music has been dividing opinion since he started writing around 140 years ago. He goes in search of the meaning of life and comes back with... Marmite! Personally, I love it. There are few better noises than the transcendental climax of a Bruckner symphony. In this episode, it's the thrilling end of his 3rd. (Podcast 8', Music 13') Music here with video or sound only on youtube or Spotify.   What do you think? I really want to know, so please tell me with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com.   You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing this episode or the 100 second trailer!   Thanks for listening!        

One of the closest [classical] things to electronic dance music, John Adams's Shaker Loops is one of my favourite things. Dreamy and reflective music mixed with thrilling dance music that leaves us ecstatic, maybe even transcendent! Music here on Spotify or Youtube with the London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Christopher Warren Green in the classic recording I was given by my best school mate, Mark. You can buy it here in hi-quality download.  If you like pictures, there's a video option too that's pretty good with nice lighting (for classical music videos anyway!)   What do you think? I really want to know, so please tell me with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com.   You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing this episode or the 100 second trailer!   Thanks for listening!    

Freethinking, inventive - quiet and mysterious one moment, giddy and playful the next, Debussy's préludes - short pieces for piano - are great escapes for your imagination! Listening time 26 mins (podcast 9', music 17')   Music here on Spotify or Youtube with the excellent Jean-Efflam Bavouzet. The pieces on the play list are: 1. Danseuses de Delphes (Dancers of Delphi) 5. Les collines d'Anacapri (The hills of Anacapri) 8. La fille aux cheveux de lin (The girl with the flaxon hair) 9. La sérénade interrompue (Interrupted serenade) 10. La cathédrale engloutie (The submerged cathedral) You can buy a download of the pieces -  in top quality sound here   What do you think? Please tell me with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com.   You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing the trailer!   Thanks for listening!        

Powerful and moving, Lili Boulanger's cry From the Bottom of the Abyss (Psalm No.130) shows her deep commitment to her faith, and to her music-writing, in the face of major illness. Diana Ambache, long-time champion of women composers, joins me to talk about Boulanger's short life, major talent and this subtle masterpiece for huge choir and orchestra. Listening time: 42 mins (18' podcast, 24' music) Music here on Youtube or Spotify    The recording I've chosen features Manchester's BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists Ann Murray and Neil MacKenzie, conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier.    What do you think? Tell me at Cacophonyonline.com.   You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing the trailer!   Thanks for listening!    

The intensity, joy, heartbreak and thrills of great sporting moments are almost unmatchable... except by those in great music. The magic of the Olympics is transformed by the alchemist John Williams into four minutes of musical, life-affirming perfection. Olympic Fanfare and Theme is one of my favourite Williams pieces, and that's really saying something! Music here, on Spotify or Youtube in a terrific performance that brings out every tiny detail from the LA Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.  You can buy a download of the piece in top quality sound for a mere 17 British pence!   What do you think? Best Williams piece ever? Tell me at Cacophonyonline.com.   You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing the trailer!   Thanks for listening!      

Celebratory music from Haydn that's pretty perfect and sure to leave you in a good mood and feeling happy!   Music here on youtube or spotify Listening time 34 mins (podcast 7', music 27')   What do you think? Let us know with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com   If you like it, why not buy a download? You can get that here for less than a pound, or elsewhere. Cacophony doesn't make and money from it, but the musicians will make much more than through streaming. You can support Cacophony here.   Please share the podcast with everyone you know - maybe by sharing the trailer? Thanks for listening!  

Even more irresistible than the Italian football team and their ace national anthem is Verdi's overture to Nabucco. It's rousing and joyous and one of my favourite things.   Music here, on Youtube or Spotify, super-stylishly played by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado. Listening time: 13 mins (Intro podcast, 6'; music 7')   What do you think? Let us know with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com   If you like it, why not buy a download? You can get that here in top quality lossless sound for THIRTEEN English pence! or elsewhere...  You can support Cacophony here.  

I get floored every time by these six songs of lost youth, love and life written on the cusp of World War 1 by a young composer who didn't make it through. Raw, simple and unforgettable. Music here, with the terrific partnership of Roderick Williams and Iain Burnside, on Youtube or Spotify.  Listening time: 21 mins (Intro podcast, 8'; music 13') Here you'll find all the words to the songs.   Recorded in inescapable heavy rain, so apologies for the sound quality on this episode!   What do you think? Let us know with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com   If you like it, why not buy a download? You can get that here in top quality lossless sound for an English fiver or elsewhere. Cacophony doesn't make any money from it, but the musicians will make much more than through streaming. You can support Cacophony here.      

How Scottish do you have to be to be worthy of the name? If you're going to write a Scottish Symphony should it contain Scottish music? Does Mendelssohn pass the test? Regardless, his Symphony No.3 is brilliant, moving and surprising...   Music here on Youtube or Spotify (full piece. Part 2 on the Youtube vid starts at 21:15) Listening time: 29 mins (Podcast 9', music 20') or 49' if you listen to the whole piece.    I'd love to hear from you! If you liked this (or didn't) please tell me with a comment at cacophonyonline.com If you really like the piece, please consider buying a recording. The artists get very little from streams, so the best way to support them is to buy the album. You can buy it as a download here, and elsewhere. If you like Cacophony and want to support it please click here to 'buy me a coffee'!   Please subscribe to the podcast and share it with your friends and family.   Thanks for listening!  

Every time I hear it, I'm amazed by the power and emotion in Mendelssohn's music. Inspired by a trip to Scotland, his Symphony No.3 delights and surprises, without resorting to bagpipes!   Music here on Youtube or Spotify Listening time: 32 mins (Podcast 12', music 20')   I'd love to hear from you! If you liked this (or didn't) please tell me with a comment at cacophonyonline.com If you really like the piece, please consider buying a recording. The artists get very little from streams, so the best way to support them is to buy the album. You can buy it as a download here, and elsewhere. If you like Cacophony and want to support it please click here to 'buy me a coffee'!   Please subscribe to the podcast and share it with your friends and family.   Thanks for listening!        

Asked to write funeral music for his friend and patron during the middle of a war, with millions dying all around plus a shortage of musicians, Heinrich Schütz finds hope, beauty and joy among the devastation. His Musikalische Exequien [Funeral Music] is a 400-year old masterpiece that still works its magic.   Music here on Youtube or Spotify, sung with urgent intensity by The Sixteen. Listening time: 39 mins (Podcast 11', music 28')   If you want to know exactly what's being sung, you can download the cd booklet, which contains (among much else) the words in German with a rather old-churchy-English translation.   Your feelings are important! If you liked this (or didn't) please tell me with a comment at cacophonyonline.com If you really like the piece, please consider buying a recording. The artists get very little from streams, so the best way to support them is to buy the album. You can buy it as a download here, and elsewhere. If you like Cacophony and want to support it please click here to 'buy