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Philip Ball

Michael Berkeley's guest is science writer Phlip Ball. His choices include a Bach prelude, a piano concerto by Bartok and a piano sonata by Prokofiev, plus Stravinsky and Ellington.

Michael Berkeley's guest this week is the science writer Philip Ball, author of a range of popular books on scientific and aesthetic subjects such as 'Elegant Solutions: Ten Beautiful Experiments in Chemistry'; 'Bright Earth: Art and the Invention of Colour'; 'Nature's Patterns: A Tapestry in Three Parts', and 'Universe of Stone: Chartres Cathedral and the Triumph of the Medieval Mind'. His latest book is 'The Music Instinct: How Music Works and Why We Can't Do Without It', which explores how the latest research in music psychology and brain science is piecing together the puzzle of how we understand and respond to music. He discusses his ideas with Michael Berkeley, using a range of personal musical favourites from a Bach Prelude to a piano concerto by Bartok, a piano sonata by Prokofiev, Stravinsky's Tango for two accordions, and a jazz number by Duke Ellington.

1 hour

Last on

Sun 9 May 2010 12:00
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Béla Bartók - Piano Concerto No 2 (3rd movement, Allegro Molto)

    Performers: Sviatoslav Richter (piano), Orchestre de Paris/Lorin Maazel

  • Duke Ellington

    Cottontail

    Performer: Duke Ellington

    • SHOUT FACTORY 37470.

  • Sergey Prokofiev

    Sonata No. 7 in B flat, Op 83 (1st movement Allegro inquieto – Andantino)

    Performer: Maurizio Pollini (piano)

    • DG 447 431-2.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude in E flat Minor (from The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I)

    Performer: Angela Hewitt (piano)

    • HYPERION CDS 44291.

  • Déodat de Séverac

    Dunántúli Ugrósok

    Performer: Muzsikás

    • HANNIBAL HNCD 1439.

  • Tom Waits

    Telephone Call from Istanbul (from Franks Wild Years)

    Performer: Tom Waits

    • ISLAND 4235723.

  • Paul Hindemith

    Interlude in A flat (No. 15 from Ludus Tonalis)

    Performer: John McCabe (piano)

    • HYPERION CDA 66824.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    Tango

    Orchestra: Budapest Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Iván Fischer.

    Performer: James Crabb and Geir Draugsvoll (accordions)

    • EMI 569705-2.

Broadcast

  • Sun 9 May 2010 12:00
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Private Passions

    Guests from all walks of life discuss their musical loves and hates