Freezing and Finding
Horatio Clare's immersive Slow Radio Sound Walk on Greenland's Arctic Circle Trail. Bringing to life the stark beauty of the Arctic tundra and exploring how Greenland came to be.
With a rich, varied and immersive listening experience, in the latest of his Slow Radio Sound Walks, as the winter draws and the snows threaten, Horatio Clare follows Greenland’s Arctic Circle Trail from the west coast of the country towards the vast ice-sheet. In a series of alien worlds, the scapes are changing all the time. The light, shapes and colours, the skies, waters and prospects are limitless.
Recorded in October when the tundra still has life, but the season changes, staying overnight in fishermen’s shacks overlooking fjords, Horatio Clare brings to life the harsh and scenic beauty of one of the classic walks of the world.
Remote, historic, silent, yet full of wildlife, on the first day of the three-day trek he’s joined by three stray huskies. The birdlife is out in force with snow buntings, displaying ravens and skeins of migrating geese. He crosses frozen mountain streams, high hanging valleys, tundra, bogs and natural amphitheatres. The hues are otherworldly with moon dust coloured lichen, burnt umbers, bronzed brass and dulled vermilions of endless reefs of moss. The atmospheres are all suspended under the fine pale blue and pearly white skies.
Specialist location sound recordings capture the zephyrs of wind, wing beats of birds in the sky above, the trickling water of streams and the effort of a challenging hike across the stunningly beautiful and remote Arctic tundra.
This first programme of three explores how Greenland came to be, from the early lives of the Inuit to the explorers and settlers in the early twentieth century.
Music accompanying the trek includes works by Peter Gregson, John Luther Adams, Einojuhani Rautavaara, Vikingur Olaffson, John Harle, Morton Feldman, Arvo Part, and the ice music of Terje Isungset.
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Greenland
Kate Molleson visits Greenland to explore the role of music for its communities today.
Music Played
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Peter Gregson
Found
Performer: Peter Gregson. -
Peter Gregson
Turn
Performer: Peter Gregson. -
John Luther Adams
In the White Silence - Beginning
Ensemble: Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble. Conductor: Tim Weiss. -
John Luther Adams
In the White Silence - Letter B
Ensemble: Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble. Conductor: Tim Weiss. -
Einojuhani Rautavaara
Cantus Arcticus, Op. 61 (Concerto for Birds & Orchestra) - III. Swans Migrating
Orchestra: Lahti Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Osmo Vänskä. -
Johann Sebastian Bach
Glassworks: Opening
Performer: VÃkingur Ólafsson. Music Arranger: Christian Badzura. -
John Harle
The Three Ravens
Performer: Alexander Bălănescu. Performer: John Harle. Singer: Sarah Leonard. Ensemble: John Harle Band. -
Morton Feldman
Rothko Chapel
Ensemble: UC Berkeley Chamber Chorus. -
John Luther Adams
In the White Silence - Letter C
Ensemble: Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble. Conductor: Tim Weiss. -
Terje Isungset
Silent Blue
Performer: Terje Isungset. Performer: Per Jørgensen. -
John Luther Adams
Become Ocean
Orchestra: Seattle Symphony. Conductor: Ludovic Morlot. -
Camille Saintâ€Saëns
Le Carnaval des animaux, no.7; Aquarium
Orchestra: Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn. -
Arvo Pärt
Spiegel im Spiegel
Performer: Daniel Hope. Performer: Simon Mulligan. -
John Luther Adams
In the White Silence - Letters E & G
Ensemble: Oberlin Contemporary Music Ensemble. Conductor: Tim Weiss.
Broadcasts
- Christmas Eve 2019 16:30Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3
- Wed 27 Dec 2023 17:00Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3