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Mountains

Take a trek up literary and musical mountains. Readings include Annie Proulx, HP Lovecraft and Nan Shepherd. Music from Grieg, Miriam Makeba, Laurel & Hardy and John Coltrane.

Grab your sensible shoes, lightweight layers and a flask of hot tea, for a trek up and down literary and musical mountains across the world. Siobhan Redmond and Tachia Newall are our readers.

We begin our hike In the Tatra Mountains, inspired by composer V铆t臎zslav Nov谩k鈥檚 own journeys in Eastern Europe, then try to find the way to Cold Mountain with mysterious Chinese poet Han Shan, traverse the light-struck plateau of the Cairngorms beside Nan Shepherd, and haiku master Basho chuckles at foggy rain hiding Mount Fuji.
We also take in Cape Town鈥檚 Table Mountain with Miriam Makeba, yodelling from Fritz Liechti and his family, bass-baritone Paul Robeson sings of England鈥檚 pleasant pastures and mountains green, and hear a Himalayan trekking song accompanied by the Pahari folk tale 鈥楢 Monkey Objects to Criticism.鈥�

We also explore the romance of craggy summits and stars with Keats, plus Annie Proulx鈥檚 tragic love story of Brokeback Mountain alongside the film鈥檚 soundtrack by Gustavo Santaolalla, Laurel and Hardy are pining for the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, Bjork鈥檚 Hyperballad arranged for string quartet hurls belongings off the top of a mountain, and Erica Jong鈥檚 poem 鈥楥limbing You鈥� details a sour relationship akin to a doomed expedition.

Faced with falling talus from above, Robert Macfarlane鈥檚 鈥楳ountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination鈥� takes us to risky rambles up glaciers accompanied by Ferde Grofe鈥檚 Death Valley Suite, we also hear Edvard Grieg鈥檚 In the Hall of the Mountain King alongside HP Lovecraft鈥檚 鈥楳ountains of Madness鈥�, and head to Middle-earth as hobbits Samwise and Frodo come face-to-face with the ominous Mount Doom.

Metaphorical mountains include Naomi Long Madgett鈥檚 powerful poem 鈥楳idway鈥� representing the racism she fought to overcome in the United States, heard alongside John Coltrane鈥檚 Alabama, widely believed to be a response to the 16th Street Baptist Church bombing in Birmingham, Alabama on September 15th 1963. The nostalgic and unsettled quietude of Over the Hills and Far Away by Frederick Delius is interwoven with Elizabeth Bishop鈥檚 poem 鈥楾he Mountain鈥�, a reflection of the confusion and turmoil during the aging process as the world seems to change around you.

Producer: Nancy Bennie

READINGS:
Emily Dickinson 鈥� The Mountain Sat Upon the Plain
Han Shan 鈥� Cold Mountain translated by Gary Snyder
Nan Shepherd 鈥� The Living Mountain
Basho - The Narrow Road to Deep North and Other Travel Sketches translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa
Helen Mort - A Line Above the Sky: A story of mountains and motherhood
John Keats - Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art
Annie Proulx - Brokeback Mountain
Erica Jong 鈥� Climbing You
Robert Macfarlane - Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination
HP Lovecraft 鈥� Mountains of Madness
JRR Tolkien - The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
Alice Elizabeth Dracott 鈥� Simla Village Tales, or Folk Tales from the Himalayas
Naomi Long Madgett 鈥� Midway
Elizabeth Bishop 鈥� The Mountain
Emily Bronte 鈥� Loud Without the Wind was Roaring

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Sun 3 Nov 2024 18:00
麻豆约拍 Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    V铆tezslav Nov谩k

    V Tatr谩ch (In the Tatra Mountains), Op.26

    Orchestra: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta.
    • Nov谩k: In the Tatra Mountains, Lady Godiva & Eternal Longing.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.
  • 00:00

    V铆tezslav Nov谩k

    V Tatr谩ch (In the Tatra Mountains), Op.26

    Performer: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, JoAnn Falletta (conductor).
    • Naxos 8573683.
    • Tr1.

  • Emily Dickinson

    The Mountain Sat Upon the Plain

  • 00:05

    Guang Ren

    Coloured Clouds Chasing the Moon

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Dreams of China.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 7.
  • 00:05

    Ren Guang

    Coloured Clouds Chasing The Moon

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 477 7979.
    • Tr7.

  • Han Shan translated by Gary Snyder

    Cold Mountain

  • Nan Shepherd

    The Living Mountain

  • 00:08

    Trad.

    A Highland Lamentation

    Performer: Lauren MacColl. Performer: Calum Stewart.
    • Wooden Flute and Fiddle.
    • Make Believe Records.
    • 9.
  • 00:08

    Trad.

    A Highland Lamentation

    Performer: Lauren MacColl. Performer: Calum Stewart.
    • Make Believe Records MBR3CD.
    • Tr9.
  • 00:11

    Alison Stephens

    Mount Fuji

    Performer: Alison Stephens.
    • Souvenirs For Mandolin And Guitar.
    • Chandos.
    • 13.
  • 00:11

    Alison Stephens

    Mount Fuji

    • Chandos CHAN10563.
    • Tr13.

  • Basho translated by Nobuyuki Yuasa

    The Narrow Road to Deep North and Other Travel Sketches

  • Helen Mort

    A Line Above the Sky: A story of mountains and motherhood

  • 00:12

    Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    In Nature's Realm (V P艡铆rod臎), Op. 91 - Concert Overture

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Istv谩n Kert茅sz.
    • Complete Symphonies.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd..
    • 6.
  • 00:12

    Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    In Nature's Realm (V P艡铆rod臎), Op. 91 - Concert Overture

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Istv谩n Kert茅sz.
    • Decca 478 6459.
    • Tr6.
  • 00:18

    罢谤盲诲

    Dert Anet dem Bargli (There Over the Mountain in the Valley)

    Ensemble: Fritz Liechti.
    • Mountain Songs and Yodeling of the Alps.
    • Folkways Records.
    • 3.
  • 00:18

    Trad.

    Dert Anet dem Bargli (There Over the Mountain in the Valley)

    Performer: Fritz Liechti.
    • Folkways Records FW8807.
    • Tr3.
  • 00:20

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Souvenir d'un lieu cher - 3 pieces Op.42 for violin and piano, No.3 Melodie

    Performer: Berl Senofsky. Performer: Won Me Cho.
    • The Art Of Violin Volume One: Concert Favorites.
    • Cembal d'amour CD 106.
    • 18.
  • 00:20

    Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Souvenir d'un lieu cher - 3 pieces Op.42 for violin and piano, No.3 Melodie

    Performer: Berl Senofsky (violin), Won Me Cho (piano).
    • Cembal D'Amour Historic Series CD106.
    • Tr18.

  • John Keats

    Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art

  • 00:23

    Trad.

    Table Mountain

    Ensemble: Miriam Makeba. Performer: The Skylarks.
    • The Sweet Sound of Africa.
    • Not Now Music.
    • 4.
  • 00:23

    罢谤盲诲

    Table Mountain

    Performer: Miriam Makeba.
    • Not Now Music NOT2CD 413.
    • Tr4.

  • Annie Proulx

    Brokeback Mountain

  • 00:26

    Gustavo Santaolalla

    Brokeback Mountain 3

    Performer: Gustavo Santaolalla. Performer: Studio Orchestra.
    • Brokeback Mountain (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Verve Forecast.
    • 15.
  • 00:26

    Gustavo Santaolalla

    Brokeback Mountain 3

    Performer: Gustavo Santaolalla. Performer: Studio Orchestra.
    • Verve Forecast 0602498865859.
    • Tr15.
  • 00:28

    Robert B. Sherman

    Hushabye Mountain

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.
    • Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Var猫se Sarabande.
    • 4.
  • 00:28

    Robert B. Sherman

    Hushabye Mountain

    Performer: Dick Van Dyke.
    • Var猫se Sarabande VSCD6542.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:30

    Ballard MacDonald

    The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

    Composer: Harry Carroll. Performer: Stan Laurel. Performer: Oliver Hardy. Performer: The Avalon Boys.
    • The Very Best Of.
    • Stardust.
    • 1.
  • 00:30

    Laurel & Hardy

    The Trail of the Lonesome Pine

    • Stardust 884385232603.
    • Tr1.

  • Erica Jong

    Climbing You

  • 00:32

    Francis Poulenc

    Improvisations No.13 in A minor

    Performer: Pascal Rog茅.
    • Decca 475042-2.
    • Tr27.
  • 00:32

    Francis Poulenc

    Improvisations No.13 in A minor

    Performer: Pascal Rog茅.
    • Poulenc: Piano Works.
    • Decca.
    • 27.
  • 00:34

    叠箩枚谤办

    Hyperballad (Brodsky Quartet Version)

    Ensemble: Brodsky Quartet. Singer: 叠箩枚谤办.
    • Post Extra.
    • Polydor.
    • 3.
  • 00:34

    叠箩枚谤办 & Brodsky Quartet

    Hyperballad (Brodsky Quartet Version)

    • Polydor 5277332.
    • Tr3.

  • Robert Macfarlane

    Mountains of the Mind: A History of a Fascination

  • 00:39

    Ferde Grof茅

    Death Valley Suite: Funeral Mountains

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: William T. Stromberg.
    • Grofe: Death Valley Suite / Hudson River Suite / Hollywood Suite.
    • Naxos.
    • 12.
  • 00:39

    Ferde Grof茅

    Death Valley Suite: Funeral Mountains

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: William T. Stromberg.
    • Naxos 8559017.
    • Tr12.

  • H.P Lovecraft

    Mountains of Madness

  • 00:43

    Edvard Grieg

    Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - 4. In the Hall of the Mountain King

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.
    • Decca 478 3356.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:43

    Edvard Grieg

    Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46 - 4. In the Hall of the Mountain King

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Herbert Blomstedt.
    • Grieg: Piano Concerto; Peer Gynt.
    • Decca.
    • 4.
  • 00:46

    Orlande de Lassus

    Motet: In Monte Oliveti (6vv 1568)

    Performer: Collegium Regale. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Lassus: Lamentationes Jeremiae Prophetae.
    • Signum Records.
    • 4.
  • 00:46

    Orlande de Lassus

    Motet: In Monte Oliveti (6vv 1568)

    Performer: Collegium Regale. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Signum Records SIGCD 076.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:50

    Howard Shore

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King "Hope Fails"

    Conductor: Howard Shore. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: London Voices.
    • The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Original Motion Picture Soundtrac.
    • Reprise.
    • 14.
  • 00:50

    Howard Shore

    Motet: Hope Fails

    Performer: London Philharmonic Orchestra, Howard Shore (conductor).
    • Reprise Records 9362-48521-2.
    • Tr14.

  • J.R.R. Tolkien

    The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

  • 00:52

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Die Gesch枚pfe Des Prometheus, Op.43 - Overture

    Orchestra: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Die Gesch枚pfe Des Prometheus.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 1.
  • 00:52

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Die Gesch枚pfe des Prometheus, Op. 43 - Overture

    Performer: Orpheus Chamber Orchestra.
    • Deutsche Grammophon 419 608-2.
    • Tr1.
  • 00:57

    罢谤盲诲

    Resamm Phiriry (Trekking Song)

    Performer: Bharat Nepali Party.
    • BCD/3RDP 8712177034277.
    • Tr1.
  • 00:57

    Trad.

    Resamm Phiriry (Trekking Song)

    Ensemble: Bharat Nepali Party.
    • Himalayan Trekking Songs.
    • BCD/3RDP.
    • 1.

  • Alice Elizabeth Dracott

    Simla Village Tales, or Folk Tales From the Himalayas

  • 01:01

    John Coltrane

    Alabama

    Performer: John Coltrane.
    • The Gentle Side Of John Coltrane.
    • Impulse.
    • 8.
  • 01:01

    John Coltrane

    Alabama

    Performer: John Coltrane.
    • Impulse GRP 11072.
    • Tr8.

  • Naomi Long Madgett

    Midway

  • 01:03

    Frederick Delius

    Over the Hills and Far Away

    Orchestra: Orchestra of the Welsh National Opera. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Decca 443 171-2.
    • Tr13.

  • Elizabeth Bishop

    The Mountain

  • 01:08

    Hubert Parry

    Jerusalem

    Singer: Paul Robeson.
    • The Very Best of Paul Robeson, Pt. 2.
    • Fantastic Voyage.
    • 8.
  • 01:08

    Hubert Parry

    Jerusalem

    Performer: Paul Robeson.
    • Fantastic Voyage FVDD033.
    • Tr8.
  • 01:10

    Jonny Greenwood

    Sandalwood II

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Ziegler.
    • Phantom Thread (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Nonesuch.
    • 14.
  • 01:10

    Jonny Greenwood

    Sandalwood II

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Robert Ziegler (conductor). Conductor: Robert Ziegler.
    • Nonesuch 7559-79333-9.
    • Tr14.

  • Emily Bronte

    Loud Without the Wind was Roaring

Broadcast

  • Sun 3 Nov 2024 18:00
    麻豆约拍 Radio 3

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