Confession
Mark Tully asks if confession is really good for us. He considers the pros and cons of owning up in political life and talks to historian Eamon Duffy about the rite of confession.
On the last Sunday in Lent, Mark Tully asks if confession is really good for us. He examines the secular and political benefits of owning up to crimes and misdemeanours in public life, as well as talking to religious historian and writer Eamon Duffy about the history of confession as a religious rite.
There are stories here of politicians caught red-handed, a priest confessing posthumously to his atheism - and to his hatred for the confessional box - and of the sheer psychological relief of forgiving.
The programme includes readings from James Joyce, Elizabeth Jennings and A. C. Clarke, with music by Caroline Barnett and Hans Zimmer among others.
The readers are Adjoa Andoh and Arsher Ali
Producer: Frank Stirling
A Unique production for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4.
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Music Played
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Carol Barnett
Confession Suite III
Performer: Carol Barnett.- Cyprus, First Impressions.
- Inova.
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Hans Zimmer
Nixon Defeated
- Frost/Nixon [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack].
- Varèse Sarabande.
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Niels Marthinsen
The Confessional Suite: I.Moderato
Performer: Aarhus Symfoniorkester.- Monster Symphony / Panorama / The Confessional Suite.
- Dacapo.
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Peter Cornelius
Absolve Domine
Performer: KammerChor Saarbrücken.- Peter Cornelius: Seele, Vergiss sie Nicht.
- Carus.
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M. Wedel
Lent Confession
Performer: St. JohnÂ’s Russian Orthodox Choir.- Folk Songs of Old Russia.
- Cook Records.
Readings
Title: Mary Magdalene  Author: Christina Rosetti  Published by Aurum Press in ‘The Illustrated Poets’ Â
Title: Father Meslier’s Confessional Author: A.C. Clarke Published by Overstep Books in ‘Fr Meslier’s Confession’Â
Title: ForgivenessAuthor: Elizabeth Jennings Published by Carcanet in ‘Moments of Grace’Â
Broadcasts
- Sun 29 Mar 2015 06:05Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4 FM
- Sun 29 Mar 2015 23:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4