Billy Bragg on skiffle, Hokusai's Great Wave, Capt Jack Sparrow returns, Nicola Benedetti, poetry and atrocity
Billy Bragg on skiffle; Hokusai's Great Wave; return of Pirates of the Caribbean; Nicola Benedetti, winner of the Queen's Medal for Music; Michael Schmidt on poetry and atrocity.
Billy Bragg talks to John Wilson about the music that changed the world - skiffle. His book arguing this, Roots, Radicals and Rockers, is also an insightful survey of post-war youth culture. This was simple music, played on homemade instruments by teenagers - punk before punk. But many skiffle players went on to great things - members of The Beatles, for instance.
The Great Wave , a picture of a huge blue roller breaking over fishing boats, by the Japanese master, Hokusai, is one of the most widely recognised images in the world. An exhibition at the British Museum, Hokusai: Beyond the Great Wave, looks at the artist's latter years, his most creative according to the curator Tim Clark. And contemporary printmaker and artist Rebecca Salter explains the astonishing technique behind Hokusai's work.
This weekend cinemas audiences can see Johnny Depp return as Captain Jack Sparrow in fifth Pirates of the Caribbean film, a role which earned him an Oscar nomination in 2003. But, recently his acting has been overshadowed by stories of his personal life and bad box-office returns - Film critic Angie Errigo comes into look at the career trajectory of the Hollywood actor.
Yesterday violinist Nicola Benedetti was awarded The Queen's Medal for Music, the youngest person ever to receive it. She talks about her musical journey.
Yesterday Tony Walsh responded to the atrocity in Manchester with poetry. He wasn't the first: Shelley wrote The Mask of Anarchy after the Peterloo Massacre in Manchester in 1819, and the bombing of the city in 1996 inspired poems, too. Michael Schmidt, director of the poetry publisher, Carcanent Press, based in Manchester, considers the way poets react to such events.
Presenter: John Wilson
Producer: Julian May.
Last on
Chapters
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Billy Bragg
Duration: 07:52
Nicola Benedetti
Duration: 03:36
Hokusai's Great Wave
Duration: 07:26
Cpt Jack Sparrow Returns
Duration: 04:29
Poetry and atrocities
Duration: 04:12
Billy Bragg on skiffle
book is out now on Faber.
Image: Billy Bragg
Image credit: Andy Whale
Nicola Benedetti
has been awarded the Queen's Medal for Music.
Image: Nicola Benedetti
Nicola Benedetti is performing Shostakovich's 1st Violin Concerto at the Â鶹ԼÅÄ Proms on 18 July 2017 with Â鶹ԼÅÄ National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Thomas Sondergard
Hokusai's Great Wave
is at the British Museum, London until 13 August 2017.
Images
Main image above: Under the wave of Kanagawa (The Great Wave) from Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji. Colour woodblock, 1831. Acquisition supported by The Arts Fund.
A documentary about Hokusai made by the British Museum is in British cinemas on 04 June 2017.Â
Credit: The Trustees of the British MuseumÂ
Image to the left: Clear day with a southern breeze (Red Fuji) from Thirty-six views of Mt. Fuji. Colour woodblock, 1831.
Copyright: The Trustees of the British MuseumÂ
Capt Jack Sparrow returns
Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar's Revenge is in UK cinemas from 26 May 2017.
Image: Jonny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean:Salazar's Revenge
Image credit: Disney Enterprises,Inc
Poetry and atrocity
Image: Michael Schmidt
Image credit: Ben Schmidt
Credits
Role Contributor Presenter John Wilson Producer Julian May Interviewed Guest Billy Bragg Interviewed Guest Tim Clark Interviewed Guest Rebecca Salter Interviewed Guest Angie Errigo Interviewed Guest Nicola Benedetti Interviewed Guest Michael Schmidt Broadcast
- Wed 24 May 2017 19:15Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4 FM
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