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Fire and Flame

Many religions have gods that are symbolised by fire, and religious or secular metaphors of flame are many and diverse. Mark Tully discusses the spiritual power of fire and flame.

The spiritual and symbolic power of fire and flame is found in a wide variety of cultures and religions. Flames are an important metaphor in secular literature and art too. Mark Tully searches for what draws so many to the image of a flame - moths, lovers, worshippers and poets.

He meets designer Sarah Van Gameren and discusses her artistic preoccupations with fire and designs which actually burst into flame themselves.

There's poetry by Simon Armitage and Christina Rossetti, and prose by the Indian novelist and politician Shashi Tharoor. Music comes from Gustav Holst and American composer Morten Lauridsen.

The readers are Jane Whittenshaw and David Westhead,

Presenter: Mark Tully
Producer: Frank Stirling

A 7digital production for Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 4.

28 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Oct 2023 06:05

Music Played

  • Gustav Holst

    Choral Hymns From The Rig Veda - To Agni God of Fire

    Performer: ÌýDavid Willcocks / Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • ÌýHolst: Choral Works.
    • ±«²Ô¾±³¦´Ç°ù²ÔÌý.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    By The FiresideÌý

    Performer: Vladimir Ashkenazy.
    • ÌýTchaikovsky: The Seasons.
    • Decca.
  • Morten Lauridsen

    ÌýQuando Son Piu Lontan ‘Fire SongsÂ’Ìý

    Performer: Stephen Layton: Polyphony.
    • ÌýLauridsen: Lux Aeterna, Madrigali, Latin MotetsÌý.
    • Ìý±á³Û±Ê·¡¸é±õ°¿±·.
  • Krysztof Penderecki

    ÌýThrenody to Victims of HiroshimaÌý

    Performer: ÌýAukso Orchestra.
    • ÌýPenderecki: Threnody To The Victims of Hiroshima, etc; Greenwood: 48 Responses to Polymorphia, Etc.Ìý.
    • ±·´Ç²Ô±ð²õ³Ü³¦³óÌý.
  • Peter, Paul and Mary

    Light One CandleÌý

    Performer: Peter, Paul and Mary.
    • ÌýNo Easy Walk to Freedom.
    • Gold Castle.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Die Geschopfe Des Prometheus, Op. 43: No. 13 Allegro (The Creatures of Prometheus)Ìý

    Performer: Melbourne Symphony Orchestra.
    • Beethoven: The Creatures of Prometheu Ballet Op. 43Ìý.
    • ±·²¹³æ´Ç²õÌý.

Readings

Title:ÌýThe Great Indian NovelÌý

Author: Shashi Tharoor

Published By Arcade PublishingÌý

Ìý

Title: SonnetsÌý

Author: Christina RossettiÌý

Published by Poetry FoundationÌý

Ìý

INTERVIEW - Sarah Van GamerenÌý

Ìý

Title: A Book of MatchesÌý

Author: Simon Armitage

Published by FaberÌý

Ìý

Title: Night in al-HamraÌý

Author: Saadi YoussefÌý

Published in Being Alive by BloodaxeÌý

Ìý

Title: Neither East Nor WestÌý

Author: Christiane BirdÌý

Published by Simon & SchusterÌý

Broadcasts

  • Sun 14 Jan 2018 06:05
  • Sun 14 Jan 2018 23:30
  • Sun 22 Oct 2023 06:05