Composer of the Week Podcast
1) Frederick Delius (1862-1934)
Donald explores the life of Delius through five of his relationshipsDonald Macleod meets the people who found themselves bewitched by Frederick Delius - both the man and his music.Music Featured:The W...Show More
2) Dmitry Shostakovich (1906-1975)
Donald Macleod explores Dmitri Shostakovich’s life during the years of World War II, a period indelibly linked to his most famous work – the ‘Leningrad’ symphony - which became an international symbol...Show More
3) Arvo Pärt
Composer of the Week celebrates the 90th birthday of Arvo Pärt, one of the world’s most-performed and recognisable living composers. A composer who had the courage to defy Soviet edicts, to spend year...Show More
4) Pyotr Il'yich Tchaikovsky (1840-1893)
Donald Macleod explores Tchaikovsky’s life away from home. He spent significant parts of his peak years travelling or staying with friends, and a remarkable amount of his music was composed whilst sta...Show More
5) Grace Williams (1906-1977)
Donald Macleod delves into the life and music of Welsh composer, Grace Williams.Music Featured: Elegy for Cynddylan Missa Cambrensis Castell Caernafon Four Medieval Welsh Poems Trumpet Concerto Suite ...Show More
6) Erik Satie (1866-1925)
Donald Macleod explores the life of maverick composer Erik Satie, the inventor of “furniture music”, whose innovations delighted and divided France. Satie's compositions – and their peculiar annotatio...Show More
7) Gavin Bryars
Kate Molleson meets Gavin Bryars, the celebrated and much-loved composer whose kaleidoscopic career defies categorisation. As an inveterate collaborator, Bryars has worked alongside figures as diverse...Show More
8) Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594)
Donald Macleod investigates the life of a Renaissance genius, Giovanni da PalestrinaGiovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina (c.1525-1594) was one of the most influential composers in European classical music...Show More
9) Fanny Mendelssohn (1805-1847)
Donald Macleod traces the musical development of Fanny Hensel née Mendelssohn. Whilst Fanny’s famous brother Felix Mendelssohn’s career flourished, the equally talented Fanny was often held back by th...Show More
10) Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)
Donald Macleod explores Beethoven’s endeavours to become the guardian of his brother’s son Karl - a relationship which from the start was built upon rocky foundations.Music Featured: Allegro and Minue...Show More