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Turn up the Volume, Dial up the Drama

From loud to soft, even louder and even softer, dynamics are crucial to the dramatic effect of music. Tom Service adjusts the volume.

From loud to soft, even louder and even softer, dynamics are crucial to the dramatic effect of music.
Tom Service discovers just how loud and soft classical music can be, and pop music that is louder still. Is it all about loudness, or are the quiet moments more evocative?

The Royal College of Music’s Head of Composition William Mival and ±«Óătv Sound engineer Matilda Macari give an insight into just how loud the music that we're hearing through our radios is.

Produced by Calantha Bonnissent.

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Fri 4 Dec 2020 16:30
±«Óătv Radio 3

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Music Played

  • ”țÂáö°ù°ì

    It's Oh So Quiet

    • Elektra.
    • na-na.

  • William Mival

    Quartet (RBG) for strings

    Performer: Belcea Quartet.

  • R. Murray Schafer

    The Darkly splendid Earth: the lonely traveller for violin and orchestra

    Conductor: GĂŒnther Herbig. Performer: Jacques Israelievitch. Performer: Toronto Symphony Orchestra.
    • CBC.
    • SMCD 5114.

  • Carl Orff

    Carmina burana - cantiones profanae for soloists, chorus and orchestra

    Conductor: Christian Thielemann. Performer: German Opera Berlin Chorus. Performer: German State Opera Orchestra.
    • DG.
    • 453 5872.

  • Christopher Guest

    Heavy Duty

    Performer: Spinal Tap.
    • Polydor.
    • 817-846-2.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    1812 overture Op.49

    Conductor: Erich Kunzel. Performer: Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.
    • TELARC.
    • CD80041.

  • Gustav Holst

    The Planets - suite Op.32

    Conductor: Andrew Davis. Performer: ±«Óătv Philharmonic.
    • CHANDOS.
    • CHSA5086.

  • Sleazy Joe

    Rock Star

    Performer: Sleazy Joe.
    • Display Records.
    • 00.

  • FINNEAS

    When The Party's Over

    Performer: Billie Eilish.
    • Darkroom/Interscope Records.
    • N/A.

  • Claude Debussy

    Suite bergamasque for piano

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA67898.

  • Arvo PĂ€rt

    Nunc dimittis for chorus

    Music Arranger: Peter Phillips. Performer: Tallis Scholars.
    • GIMELL.
    • CDGIM011.

  • Morton Feldman

    For Philip Guston for flute, percussion and piano/celesta

    Performer: Elmar Schrammel. Performer: Julia Breuer. Performer: Matthias Engler.
    • WERGO.
    • 6701 2.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Sonata quasi una fantasia in C sharp minor Op.27`2 (Moonlight) for piano (Piano sonata no.14)

    Performer: Daniel Barenboim.
    • DG.
    • 4779146.

  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony no. 9

    Conductor: Leonard Bernstein. Performer: New York Philharmonic.
    • CBS.
    • M3K42200.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Die Zauberflote - singspiel in 2 acts K.620

    Conductor: Neville Marriner. Performer: Kiri Te Kanawa. Performer: Olaf BĂ€r. Performer: Academy of St Martin-In-The-Fields Chamber Ens..
    • Philips.
    • 4262762.

  • Jean Sibelius

    Symphony no. 6 in D minor Op.104

    Conductor: Osmo VÀnskÀ. Performer: Minnesota Orchestra.
    • BIS-2006.
    • BIS-2006 SACD.

  • Gyorgy Ligeti

    Concerto for cello and orchestra

    Conductor: Baldur Brönnimann. Performer: Christian Poltéra. Performer: BIT20 Ensemble.
    • BIS.
    • BIS-2209.

  • Camille Saint‐SaĂ«ns

    Symphony no. 3 in C minor Op.78 (Organ symphony)

    Performer: Gaston Litaize. Performer: Chicago Symphony Orchestra.
    • DEUTSCHE GRAMMOPHON.
    • DG 415847-2.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Sinfonia concertante in E flat major K.364 for violin, viola and orchestra (KE.320d)

    Conductor: Yakov Kreizberg. Performer: Gordan Nikolitch. Performer: Julia Fischer. Performer: Radio Kamerorkest.
    • Pentatone.
    • PTC5186098.

  • Richard Wagner

    Das Rheingold [Part 1 of 'Der Ring des Nibelungen']

    Performer: Daniel Barenboim. Performer: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra.
    • WARNER.
    • 256462091-2.

  • Dmitry Shostakovich

    Symphony no. 7 in C major Op.60 (Leningrad)

    Conductor: Neeme JĂ€rvi. Performer: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • chandos.
    • CHAN8623.

  • Led Zeppelin

    Babe I'm Gonna Leave You

    • ATLANTIC.
    • 7567-83619-2.

  • Andrew Wyatt

    Shallow

    Composer: Anthony Rossomando. Composer: Lady Gaga. Composer: Mark Ronson. Performer: Bradley Cooper. Performer: Lady Gaga.
    • Interscope.
    • 00.

  • Metallica

    My Apocalypse

    • Vertigo.
    • 1784020.

  • Franz Liszt

    Concerto no. 1 in E flat major S.124 for piano and orchestra

    Conductor: Charles Dutoit. Performer: Jean‐Yves Thibaudet. Performer: Orchestre symphonique de MontrĂ©al.
    • DECCA.
    • 433 075-2.

  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Symphony no. 6 in B minor Op.74 (Pathetique)

    Conductor: Carlo Maria Giulini. Performer: Los Angeles Philharmonic.
    • DG.
    • 4778840.

  • Charles Ives

    Varied air and variations K.X.21 for piano

    Performer: Steven Mayer.
    • Naxos.
    • 8.559127.

  • Edward Elgar

    Symphony no. 2 in E flat major Op.63

    Conductor: Colin Davis. Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • LSO LIVE.
    • LSO0018D.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 20 Oct 2019 17:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Fri 25 Oct 2019 16:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Fri 4 Dec 2020 16:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3

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