Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

But Is It Music? (1945-1989)

How the crisis of writing music in a post-war world was met in different ways by the likes of Britten, Bernstein, Cage, Boulez, Stockhausen, and Reich.

We discover how the crisis of writing music in a post-war world was met in very different ways by the likes of Britten, Bernstein, Cage, Boulez, Stockhausen, Maxwell Davies, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop, Tavener, Reich, Adams and Glass. Tavener plays badminton whilst drunk, Cage defends his 4'33" of 'silence' and Delia Derbyshire, co-creator of the Doctor Who theme tune, reveals how British techno music has its roots in the bowels of the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ.

1 hour

Last on

Wed 12 Oct 2016 01:00

Clip

Music Played

  • Unknown

    'Peter Grimes' archive track

  • John Cage

    4m33s

  • John Cage

    A Dreamer That Remains, Do Not Loiter

    Performer: Joe Kubera.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Ain't Got No Tears Left

    Performer: Leonard Bernstein.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    America

  • John Cage

    Audiology Experiment

  • John Tavener

    Celtic Requiem

    Performer: London Sinfonietta Chorus.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Chichester Pslams

    Performer: Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra. Performer: Poznan Philharmonic Choir. Performer: Tölzer Knabenchor.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Choir rehearsal

    Performer: Children's School Choir in Suffolk.
  • Unknown

    Choral singing

  • Steve Reich

    Clapping Music

    Performer: Steve Reich and other.
  • Michael Tippett

    Concerto for Double String Orchestra

    Performer: London Sympony Orchestra.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Cool, Fugue: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

    Performer: NEW YORK PHILHARMONIC COLUMBIA WIND ENSEMBLE.
  • Steve Reich

    Corver Piano Counterpart

    Performer: London Steve Reich Ensemble.
  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    De Assumtione Beatae Mariae Virginis

  • Ron Grainer

    Doctor Who

    Music Arranger: Delia Derbyshire. Performer: The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop.
  • Delia Derbyshire

    Electronic sound

    Performer: Electronic machinery.
  • Pierre Boulez

    Eolat

  • Peter Maxwell Davies

    Excerpt from 'O Magnum Mysterium'

    Performer: The Cirencester Grammar School Orchestra.
  • William Walton

    Facade (Fanfare)

    Performer: Melos Ensemble.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Four Sea Interlude from 'Peter Grimes'

    Performer: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Philharmonic.
  • Annette Tucker

    Get Me To The World On Time

    Composer: Jill Jones. Performer: The Electric Prunes.
  • John Adams

    Grand Pianola Music

    Performer: San Francisco Opera, Ballet and Symphony Orchestras.
  • Steve Reich

    Harlem Riots

  • Karlheinz Stockhausen

    Helikopter-Streichquartett

    Performer: Arditti Quartet.
  • ³§β€ΝΦ³ζ±θ°ω±π²υ²υ

    Hey Music Lover

  • Karlheinz Stockhausen

    Kontakte

  • Philip Glass

    Koyaanisqatsi - The Grid

    Performer: De Ruiter. Performer: Western Wind.
  • Philip Glass

    Kundun - Projector

  • Edward Elgar

    Land of Hope and Glory

  • Pierre Boulez

    Le Marteau san maitre

    Performer: Aurèle Nicolet. Performer: Serge Collot. Performer: Anton Stingl.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Mambo: Symphonic Dances from West Side Story

    Performer: New York Philharmonic Columbia Wind Ensemble.
  • Pierre Boulez

    Multiples

    Performer: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Symphony Orchestra.
  • Steve Reich

    Music for 18 Musicians

    Performer: Steve Reich and others.
  • John Stafford Smith

    National Anthem of Great Britain

  • Pierre Boulez

    Notations pour Piano

    Performer: Elisabeth Laurence. Performer: Members L'Ensemble Intercontemporain. Performer: Chen Pi-hsien. Performer: Bernhard Wambach.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Oft in the Stilly Isles

  • Leonard Bernstein

    On The Town

    Performer: New York Philharmonic Columbia Wind Ensemble.
  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop

    Oscillation

    Performer: Electronic machinery.
  • Philip Glass

    Pearl's Girl

  • Benjamin Britten

    Performance from Peter Grimes

    Performer: English Opera Group.
  • John Cage

    Piano Composition

  • John Cage

    Piano excerpt from 'La Bacanal'

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Piano excerpt from 'The Age of Anxiety'

    Performer: Leonard Bernstein.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Piano excert from 'Peter Grimes'

    Performer: Benjamin Britten.
  • Steve Reich

    Piano Phase

    Performer: London Steve Reich Ensemble.
  • Pierre Boulez

    Pli Selon Pli (Improvisation sur Mallarme)

  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop

    Quatermass and the Pit

    Performer: The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Rehearsal excerpt from 'The Building of the House'

    Performer: East Anglian Choirsand English Chamber Orchestra.
  • Delia Derbyshire

    Rhythmic clicking

  • Steve Reich

    Sextet (v2)

    Performer: London Steve Reich Ensemble.
  • John Dankworth

    Signature tune of 'Tomorrow's World'

    Performer: Johnny Hawksworth Orchestra.
  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop

    Signature tune of 'Workshop'

    Performer: The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop.
  • Delia Derbyshire

    Signature tune to 'Who Is...'

    Performer: Delia Derbyshire. Performer: The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop.
  • John Tavener

    Singing with piano at party

  • Leonard Bernstein

    Something's Coming

    Performer: Jose Carreras & New York Scratch Orchestra.
  • Karlheinz Stockhausen

    Gesang Der JΓΌnglinge

  • Karlheinz Stockhausen

    Stimmung

  • Pierre Boulez

    Sur Mallarme No. 2

    Performer: The New Ensemble & Halina Lumomska.
  • Philip Glass

    Symphony No. 3

    Performer: Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Symphony Orchestra.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    Symphony No. 5

    Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
  • Leonard Bernstein

    The Age of Anxiety

    Performer: Leonard Bernstein & Orchestra.
  • The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop

    The Artist Speaks

    Performer: The Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radiophonic Workshop.
  • Benjamin Britten

    The Spacious Firmament on High

    Performer: City of London Sinfonia.
  • John Tavener

    The Whale

    Performer: London Sinfonietta.
  • Benjamin Britten

    Those Who Pass the Borough

  • The Trumpeteers

    Trumpets - Gloriana Fanfare

Credits

Role Contributor
Narrator Rebecca Front
Producer Sophie Deveson
Director Sophie Deveson
Executive Producer Jonty Claypole
Production Coordinator Grace Brassington

Broadcasts