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Karlheinz Stockhausen composed his iconic electroacoustic masterpiece Hymnen in the late 1960s. "Hymnen" means "anthems" – national anthems – and the work blends and transforms recordings of national anthems from around the world with many other sounds and atmospheres to create a powerfully immersive experience. That's true above all in this first-ever broadcast of Hymnen in four channel (4.0) surround sound: at last the technology exists to enable us to broadcast the work exactly as Stockhausen wanted us to hear it.

Hymnen is divided into four parts called "Regions". In this very rare complete performance, Regions 1, 2 and 4 are taken directly from Stockhausen’s original four-channel tape of electronic and concrete sounds. Region 3 is Stockhausen’s later version for four-channel tape and live orchestra – a live performance recorded at the Royal Festival Hall on 5 December 2015, by the London Sinfonietta, the Royal Academy of Music Manson Ensemble and conductor Wolfgang Lischke.

Additionally, Â鶹ԼÅÄ Radio 3 presenter and Stockhausen expert Robert Worby provides background and interviews with composers Rolf Gehlhaar and David C. Johnson who worked with Stockhausen on Hymnen. This additional material was recorded in stereo so will be present on the front two speakers only.

Hymnen broadcast timings:
00.00–11.05 General introduction and introduction to Regions 1 and 2 (including interview with David C. Johnson)
11.05–1h 08.50 Regions 1 and 2
1h 08.50–1h 17.40 Introduction to Region 3 (including interview with Rolf Gehlhaar)
1h 17.40–1h 56.20 Region 3
1h 56.45–1h 57.50 Introduction to Region 4
1h 57.50–2h 29.50 Region 4
2h 29.50–2h 31.05 Final announcement by Robert Worby