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The Elephant

In conversation with photographer and WWF conservationist Belinda Wright, Mark Tully discusses our cultural and spiritual relationship with elephants, domestically and in the wild.

Mark Tully investigates the significance of the ancient cultural and spiritual connections between humans and elephants.

Demon, god, Lord of the Jungle, beast of war and of servitude, both temple and carnival attraction, the elephant inspires awe, affection and fear in equal measure. We worship elephants and enslave them, love them and kill them in their thousands.

In conversation with photographer, conservationists and founder of The World Wide Fund for Nature, Belinda Wright, he discusses the myriad qualities of the elephants of Asia and Africa.

The programme includes literature and music from Africa, India, Europe and America, with work by D.H Lawrence, Heathcote Williams, George Orwell, Jack Mapango, Claude Debussy, June Tabor and Henry Mancini.

The Readers are Adjoa Andoh, Michael Feast and Francis Cadder.

Producer: Frank Stirling
A Unique production for ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 11 Dec 2022 23:30
ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4

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Impermanence

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Music Played

  • Claude Debussy

    Jimbo's Lullaby

    Performer: Carolyn Jones.
    • Debussy - Piano Music.
    • Indie Pool.

  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Aida - Triumphal March

    Performer: Orchestra e Coro del Teatro dellΒ’Opera di Roma. Performer: Zubin Mehta (conductor).
    • Aida.
    • EMI.

  • June Tabor

    Elephant

    • Angel Tiger.
    • Cooking Vinyl.

  • Camille Saint‐SaΓ«ns

    Carnival of the Animals

    Performer: London Sinfonietta Philharmonia Orchestra. Performer: Charles Dutoit (conductor).
    • Carnival of the Animals.
    • Decca.

  • Trad.

    Vakratunda Ganesh Mantra

    Performer: Sandeep Khurana.
    • Mantra Chants On New Age Music - Sacred Hindu Chants.
    • SK Infinity World.

  • Henry Mancini

    Baby Elephant Walk

    • The Best of Henry Mancini.
    • Sony Music Entertainment UK Ltd.

  • Elephant

    By Anon. trans. from Yoruba by Ulli Beier

  • Elephants

    by Kathleen Herbert

  • The Elephant is Slow to Mate

    by D. H. Lawrence

  • Sacred Elephant

    By Heathcote Williams

  • Shooting an Elephant

    By George Orwell

Broadcasts

  • Sun 27 Apr 2014 06:05
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 27 Apr 2014 23:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 11 Dec 2022 06:05
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4
  • Sun 11 Dec 2022 23:30
    ΒιΆΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 4