Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Healing

A sequence of poetry, prose and music on the subject of healing, with readings by Celia Imrie and Bill Paterson. Including HG Wells, plus Wagner, Adams, Durufle and Sting.

Two of Britain's most well loved actors - Celia Imrie and Bill Paterson - read poems and texts on the subject of Healing. Ranging from Jesus' healing miracles in the Gospels of the New Testatment to Florence Nightingale's advice on nursing, the texts and poems cover all aspects of healing. Doctors and nurses feature in works by HG Wells, Louisa M Alcott and Richard Gordon. Then there are spiritual, emotional and political healing as described by authors as diverse as Dorothy Parker, Robert Burns, Carol Ann Duffy and Nelson Mandela, interwoven with music by Wagner, John Adams, Durufle and Sting.

1 hour, 15 minutes

Last on

Christmas Eve 2010 17:00

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Ivor Gurney

    Song And Pain read by Bill Paterson

  • 00:00

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    St Matthew Passion: Kommt, ihr Töchter, helft mir klagen (opening chorus)

    Performers: The Monteverdi Choir, The London Oratory Junior Choir, The English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

    • Bach – Sacred Choral Works.
    • Archiv 469 769-2.
  • Bible (King James version)

    St Mark’s Gospel, Chapter 10 vv 46-52 read by Bill Paterson

  • 00:07

    Dave Brubeck

    Unsquare Dance

    Performers: Dave Brubeck (piano), Joe Morello (drums), Eugene Wright (bass)

    • CBS CDCBS 32046.
  • Edgar Albert Guest

    The Bumps and Bruises Doctor read by Celia Imrie

  • 00:09

    Aaron Copland

    Appalachian Spring Suite: Allegro (extract)

    Performers: Minneapolis Symphony, Antal Dorati (conductor)

    • Mercury 434 301-2.
  • Louise M Alcott

    Hospital Sketches (extract) read by Celia Imrie

  • 00:11

    John Adams

    The Wound-Dresser (extract)

    Performers: Christopher Maltman (baritone), Â鶹ԼÅÄ Symphony Orchestra, John Adams (conductor)

    • Late Junction Â鶹ԼÅÄLJ30012.
  • 00:13

    Robert Ramsey

    How are the Mighty Fallen

    Performers: Cambridge Taverner Choir, Owen Rees (conductor)

    • What is our life?.
    • Herald HAVPCD 187.
  • Philip Larkin

    Ambulances read by Bill Paterson

  • 00:20

    Sting

    Fragile

    • Fields of Gold: The Best of Sting 1984-94 (originally from Nothing like the sun).
    • A&M Records 540 307 2.
  • HG Wells

    Under the Knife (extract) read by Bill Paterson

  • 00:24

    Astor Piazzolla

    Celos

    Arranger: Carel Kraayenhof Performers: Gidon Kremer (violin), Michel Portal (clarinet), Per Arne Glorvigen (bandoneón), Vadim Sakharov (piano), Alois Posch (double bass)

    • Hommage à Piazzolla.
    • Nonesuch 7559-79407-2.
  • Florence Nightingale

    NOTES ON NURSING: What it is, and what it is not (extract) read by Celia Imrie

  • 00:29

    Eric Rogers

    Carry on Doctor/Doctor Again Suite: New Nurse in Town – or is she?

    Arranger: Gavin Sutherland Performers: City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra, Gavin Sutherland (conductor)

    • The Carry On Album.
    • ASV CD WHL 2119.
  • Richard Gordon

    Doctor in the House (extract) read by Bill Paterson

  • Caroline Anderson

    The Rebel of Penhally Bay (extract) (Mills and Boon, Medical) read by Celia Imrie

  • 00:33

    Sergey Rachmaninov

    Piano Concerto No 2 in C minor, Op 18: Mvt II Adagio Sostenuto (extract)

    Performers: Yefim Bronfman (piano), The Philharmonia, Esa-Pekka Salonen (conductor)

    • Sony SK 47183.
  • Dorothy Parker

    The False Friends read by Celia Imrie

  • 00:35

    Franz Schubert

    Gretchen am Spinnrade (Gretchen at the spinning-wheel) D118

    Performers: Karita Mattila (soprano), Ilmo Ranta (piano)

    • Wild Rose.
    • Ondine ODE 897-2.
  • 00:38

    Don Pullen

    Pain Inside (extract)

    Performer: Don Pullen (piano)

    • Healing Force.
    • Black Saint 1200102.
  • Anne Sexton

    Lullaby read by Celia Imrie

  • 00:40

    KD Lang/Ben Mink

    The Mind of Love

    Performers: k.d. Lang (vocals), Ben Mink (guitars, violin, viola, beat box), Teddy Borowiecki (piano), David Pitch (electric bass), Graham Boyle (percussion), Greg Leisz (steel guitar)

    • ±õ²Ô²µÃ©²Ô³Ü±ð.
    • Sire/Warner Brothers. 7599-26840-2.
  • Anne Reeve Aldrich

    A Nineteenth-Century Remedy read by Celia Imrie

  • Elizabeth Akers Allen

    Nature's Healers read by Bill Paterson

  • 00:46

    Malcolm Arnold

    Four Scottish Dances: Allegretto

    Performers: The Philharmonia, Bryden Thomson (conductor)

    • Arnold: Dances.
    • CHAN 8867.
  • D.H. Lawrence

    A Baby Asleep After Pain read by Bill Paterson

  • 00:49

    Manuel de Falla

    Nana

    Performers: Measha Brueggergosman (soprano), Justus Zeyen (piano)

    • Night and Dreams.
    • DG 477 8101.
  • James Weldon Johnson

    Sleep read by Bill Paterson

  • 00:51

    Higginbotham/Drake/Fisher

    Good Morning Heartache

    Performer: Billie Holiday

    • Billie Holiday – The Essential Recordings.
    • Music Club MCCD 095.
  • 00:54

    Maurice Duruflé

    Requiem: In Paradisum

    Performers: The Choir of Westminster Cathedral, Iain Simcock (organ), James O’Donnell (The Master of Music)

    • Hyperion CDA66757.
  • Bible (King James version)

    St John’s Gospel Chapter 11 vv 37-46 read by Bill Paterson

  • Carol Ann Duffy

    Mrs Lazarus read by Celia Imrie

  • 01:00

    Carlo Gesualdo

    In Monte Oliveti (On Mount Olivet)

    Performers: The King’s Singers

    • Tenebrae Repsonses for Maundy Thursday.
    • Signum SIGCD048.
  • Robert Burns

    A Prayer in the Prospect of Death read by Bill Paterson

  • 01:05

    Mokale Koapeng /Roderick Williams

    Khutšo (chant for peace)

    Performers: I Fagionlini, The SDASA Chorale, Mokale Koapeng (piano)

    • Simunye.
    • Detour 0630-18837-2.
  • Nelson Mandela

    The Long walk to Freedom (extract) read by Bill Paterson

  • Archive Recording

    Litany of Reconciliation (Coventry Cathedral)

  • 01:10

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Mass in B minor BWV 232: Dona Nobis Pacem

    Performers: The Monteverdi Choir, The English Baroque Soloists, John Eliot Gardiner (conductor)

    • Bach – Sacred Choral Works.
    • Archiv 469 769-2.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 14 Mar 2010 22:15
  • Christmas Eve 2010 17:00

The hidden history of plant-based diets

The hidden history of plant-based diets

Forget social media influencers - the meat-free movement started with the Victorians.

Books website

Get closer to books with in-depth articles, quizzes and our picks from radio & TV.