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Freezing and Finding

Episode 1 of 3

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.

1 hour, 15 minutes

Last on

Wed 27 Dec 2023 17:00

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Music Played

  • 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: Víkingur 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 16:30
  • Wed 27 Dec 2023 17:00

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