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GSOH: Good Sense of Humour

Texts and music on the theme of humour, with readings by Sophie Thompson and Sanjeev Bhaskar. Includes work by Hilaire Belloc, Shakespeare and Mozart, plus Satie and Sondheim.

This edition of Word & Music draws together a universal theme - what makes you laugh? Or as the personal ads put it: "GSOH", a Good Sense of Humour. Over the ages, poets and writers have drawn inspiration from the things that make us laugh and musicians have tickled our funny bones with their musical notes.

Sophie Thompson and Sanjeev Bhaskar read a selection works from Ogden Nash, Hilaire Belloc, Shakespeare and Wendy Cope and music to accompany these include the laughing aria from Die Fledermaus, some Erik Satie and a smidgen of Sondheim.

Producer: Belinda Naylor.

1 hour, 15 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Jan 2011 22:15
Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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Music Played

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

  • 00:00

    Malcolm Arnold

    The Comedy Overture – Beckus the Dandipratt

    Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra

    • Lyrita SRCD 318.
    • 7.

  • Michael Laskey

    The Laugh read by Sanjeev Bhaskar

  • 00:01

    Domenico Scarlatti

    Allegro Molto

    Performer: Uta Weyand

    • Hanssler Classic LC 06047.
    • 10.

  • Hugo Williams

    Saturday Morning read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:05

    Johann Strauss II - Die Fledermaus – Ach, Meine Herr'n und Damen

    Performer: Eva Lind, Wolfgang Brendel, Agnes Baltsa

  • John Donne

    The Bait read by Sanjeev Bhaskar

  • 00:10

    François Couperin

    Les Baricades Mistérieuses

    Performer: Robert de Visée

    • Capriccio LC 8748.
    • 13.

  • Sarah Coleridge

    My Henry Like a Modest Youth read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:16

    Rodgers and Hart

    My Funny Valentine

    Performer: Ella Fitzgerald

    • Verve Records RD 60752.
    • 6.

  • Wendy Cope

    Bloody Men read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:20

    Frédéric Chopin - Chant polonais No 1 in G – Maiden's Wish

    Performer: Stephen Hough

  • Thomas Moore

    The Time I’ve Lost in Wooing read by Sanjeev Bhaskar

  • 00:24

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Pagageno, Pagagena

    Performer: Simon Keenlyside, Lesley Garrett

    • Chandos CHAN 31212 (1).
    • 24.

  • Sophie Hannah

    Friday 13th February 2004 read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:27

    Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse

    Parade – Acrobates

    Performer: The New London Orchestra

    • Helios CDH 55176.
    • 5.

  • Justin Richardson

    Sisters read by Sanjeev Bhaskar

  • 00:31

    Gaetano Donizetti

    Don Pasquale, Cheti cheti immantinente

    Performer: Renato Bruson, Thomas Allen

    • BMG LC 0316.
    • 10.

  • Wendy Cope

    Making Coca for Kingsley Amis read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:34

    Felix Mendelssohn

    Spinning Song Op 67 No. 4

    Performer: Alexander Brailowsky

    • BMG LC 0316.
    • 12.

  • Eddie Braben

    Morecambe & Wise & Andre Previn

  • 00:38

    Edvard Grieg

    Piano Concerto in A Minor – Allegro molto moderato

    Performer: André Previn

    • Decca 417 728-2 DM.
    • 4.

  • Shakespeare

    Malvolio’s speech from Twelfth Night read by Sanjeev Bhaskar

  • 00:49

    Stephen Sondheim

    Into the Woods - Agony

    Performer: Mark Tinkler, Clive Carter

    • RCA Victor RD 60 752.
    • 25.

  • Hilaire Belloc

    Matilda read by Sophie Thompson

  • 00:54

    Richard Strauss

    Till Eulenspiegel – einmal anders

    Performer: Berliner Solisten

    • Teldec Classics 244 925-2.
    • 1.

  • Ian McMillan

    April is the Cruellest Month read by Ian McMillan

  • 01:03

    Dmitry Shostakovich

    String Quartet No 11 in F Minor, Op 122

    Performer: Sorrel Quartet

    • Chandos 9769.
    • 6.

  • Lewis Carroll

    Father William read by Sanjeev Bhaskar

  • 01:08

    Tom Lehrer

    When You Are Old and Grey

    Performer: Tom Lehrer

    • Rhino Phonic R27983.
    • 10.

  • Ogden Nash

    No Doctor Today, Thank you read by Sophie Thompson

  • 01:11

    Joseph Haydn

    Symphony in C Major, No 60 "Ill distratto"

    Performer: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra

    • Deutsche Gramophon 437783-2.
    • 6.

Broadcast

  • Sun 23 Jan 2011 22:15
    Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3

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