This is a rarity on two counts - it's a really good French symphony from the 1800s, and it's written by a woman! The brilliant, Symphony No.3 by Louise Farrenc.

Listen [and watch] on youtube 

or Spotify 

Listening time 43mins (7 'intro, 36' music)

I don't really like using old pictures of composers, but when we're playing music by women, who are entirely new to us and aren't just another dead white guy (with or without a wig) it seems appropriate! 

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

Some music conjures up a sense of place perfectly and no one has done it better then Benjamin Britten's depiction of the Suffolk coast of England. Bleak, angry, foreboding and special - this is Four Sea Interludes from the opera Peter Grimes.

Music here on youtube or Spotify 

Listening time: 23 mins [Intro podcast 7', Music 16']

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

It's great to be able to escape from modern life's concerns. Dvorak's sixth symphony is full of good tunes, and a spirit of generosity and optimism.  Also a bit of Nationalism... but in a good way. So forget about everything else for a bit and bask in Dvorak's warmth and positivity.

Listening time =24 mins (Intro 5' plus second half of symphony 18')

Music here (2nd half of symphony only) on Youtube (sound only) or Spotify

or the whole piece of music here on Youtube or Spotify

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

It's great to be able to escape from life's concerns. Dvorak's sixth symphony is full of good tunes, and a spirit of generosity and optimism. So forget about everything else for a bit and bask in Dvorak's warmth and positivity!

Listening time =35 mins (Intro 7' plus first half of symphony 28')

Music here on Youtube (sound only) or Spotify

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

They say you never forget your first loves and one of mine was Carmina Burana, by Carl Orff - it's immediate and high impact. Even before I was properly into music I was into this... and you will be too! There's really nothing like the sound of a huge choir and orchestra: it's awesome stuff!

Music here on youtube - we're listening to the first 27 minutes - but the whole thing is here if you get swept along. Please do!

And on Spotify

Listening time: 35mins [Intro podcast 8', Music 27']

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

This is a journey of discovery for me, exploring some musical detective work and blatant speculation with Songs from the 12/13th Century Carmina Burana - drinking, love and wickedness and all hugely entertaining! New music to me and lots to enjoy.

Music on Youtube

or Spotify

Listening time: 26mins [Intro podcast 5', Music 21']

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

Visionary, mystic, theologian, scientist, naturalist, medic, nun and more: Hildegard of Bingen, born in 1098, is also one of the very first known composers - and savvy enough to preserve her legacy!

Her life was extraordinary in any era and her music is timeless, moving and special.

Listening time = 17mins (intro 7', music 10')

This episode's music here on Youtube 

or here on Spotify

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

300 years ago JS Bach was writing music at the cutting edge - with the newest instruments and freshest ideas. My friend, conductor and TV presenter, Jason Lai says Bach's Brandenburg Concerto No.5 is an 'unbelievable box of delights' and he's got much more to say too in our conversation about this conversational music, that's both moving and full of life.

Listening time = 34mins (intro conversation 14', music 20')

Music here, in the live performance we speak about:

https://youtu.be/LHjbRMIIhuM

or on Spotify

Find out more about the guest, my friend, conductor, presenter and coach, Jason Lai.

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

I love the final September burst of summer and this piece - Samuel Barber's  Summer Music - is the perfect accompaniment. Languid, hazy and slightly wistful.

Music here on Youtube or Spotify.

Listening time c16 mins (Intro podcast 4', music 12')

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!

My daughter's bed time reading inspires a brief trip to the opera, for some great singing - high drama and high silliness from Mozart's Magic Flute.

Listening time =  14 mins (5' podcast, 9' music)

Music here, with pictures, from a recent production from London's Royal Opera House.

Or here with just music on Spotify

Please comment on Facebook or at Cacophonyonline.com

Rate, share and subscribe to the podcast

Thanks for listening!