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Over and Over

John McCarthy considers the pleasures and benefits of repetition, via interviews with Taiji teacher Murray Douglas and choral conductor Simon Halsey.

John McCarthy considers the pleasures and benefits of repetition.

In interview with Taiji teacher Murray Douglas and choral conductor Simon Halsey, John explores the role that repetition has in our lives. He discusses ways in which repeating an action over and over can lead to a deeper understanding and appreciation of our lives and ourselves. And the fact that repetition can bring shape and structure to our passing years. Far from being boring or tedious, repetition affords an opportunity for focused attention and reflection.

The programme includes readings from works by Kate Atkinson, Maya Angelou and Portia Nelson. Plus music by Pachelbel, John Coltrane, James Blunt and J.S.Bach.

The readers are Jonathan Keeble and Wunmi Mosaku.

Produced by Rosie Boulton
A Whistledown Production for ±«Óãtv Radio 4.

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Apr 2014 23:30
±«Óãtv Radio 4

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Music Played

  • Falling: The Code by Li-Young Lee

    Li-YoungÂ’s poem focuses on the repeating sound of fruit falling.

  • Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

    In our extract, the novelÂ’s central character Ursula is dozing in a deck chair in Hyde Park, on the point of re-birth.

  • Autobiography in Five Short Chapters by Portia Nelson

    This poem suggests that it is possible to learn from our mistakes – eventually.

  • Still I Rise by Maya Angelou, permission granted by Dr Maya Angelou

    There is no way that Maya Angelou is going to be subdued. Her poem repeatedly affirms her intention to rise.

  • Johann Pachelbel

    Pachelbel's Canon

    Performer: Trevor Pinnock. Performer: English Consort.
    • Best of Baroque.
    • Archive.

  • Trad.

    Shegu Monlam

    Performer: Tashi Lhunpo Monks.
    • Time of the Skeleton Lords.
    • Tashi Lhunpho Monastry UK Trust.

  • Steve Reich

    Proverb

    Performer: Theatre of Voices. Performer: Steve Reid Ensemble.
    • Proverb.
    • Nonesuch.

  • James Blunt

    Same Mistake

    • All the Lost Souls.
    • Atlantic.

  • Frank Loesser, Jimmy Mchugh

    Say it Over and Over Again

    Performer: John Coltrane Quartet.
    • Ballads.
    • Impulse.

  • J.S.Bach

    St Matthew Passion – Wir setzen uns mit Tranen nieder

    Performer: Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Performer: Monteverdi Choir.
    • J.S Bach St Matthew Passion.
    • Archiv.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 13 Apr 2014 06:05
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4
  • Sun 13 Apr 2014 23:30
    ±«Óãtv Radio 4