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Is it canon?

The classical music canon - who decides what's in and what's out? Can it and should it change?

The classical music canon - who decides what's in and what's out? Can it and should it change?

Bach, Beethoven, Brahms - widely regarded as permanent fixtures in the generally accepted canon. But what about the Chevalier de Saint-Georges, Louise Farrenc or Steve Reich?

Tom Service looks at how and why certain composers and pieces of music became part of an established canon, and how things are changing over time, especially with the desire to see better representation of women and composers from more diverse backgrounds in the mix.

With writer and historian Katy Hamilton and oboist and researcher Uchenna Ngwe.

Available now

29 minutes

Last on

Fri 14 Aug 2020 16:30
±«Óătv Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Starlet Djs

    Can't Stop Dancin

    Performer: Starlet Djs.
    • Tempo Toons.
    • CDTOON28.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 5 in C minor Op.67

    Conductor: Teodor Currentzis. Performer: Musica Aeterna Orchestra.
    • Sony.
    • 19075884972.

  • Louis Spohr

    Nonet in F major Op.31 for wind quintet, string trio & double bass

    Performer: Ensemble 360.
    • ASV.
    • ASV GLD4026.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no.40 (K.550) in G minor, arr. Swingle for vocal ensemble

    Performer: Riccardo Minasi. Performer: Ensemble Resonanz.
    • HM.
    • Harmonia Mundi 90262930DI.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Sextet in C minor Op.40 for piano and wind

    Performer: Les Vents Français.
    • WARNER CLASSICS.
    • Warner Classics 2564 62318-5.

  • Joseph Bologne de Saint-Georges

    Concerto no. 10 in G major for violin and orchestra

    Conductor: Kevin Mallon. Performer: Zhou Qian. Performer: Toronto Camerata.
    • NAXOS.
    • 8.557322.

  • Joseph Haydn

    Quartet in D major Op.64`5 (Lark) for strings

    Performer: Amadeus Quartet.
    • DG.
    • 439479-2.

  • Gioachino Rossini

    William Tell - opera in 4 acts

    Conductor: Claudio Abbado. Performer: Chamber Orchestra of Europe.
    • DG 431653-2.
    • DG 431653-2.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Hooked on Classics

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Louis Clark.
    • Music Digital.
    • cd-6450.

  • Johann Pachelbel

    Canon and gigue in D major for 3 violins and continuo

    Performer: Daniel Hope.
    • DG.
    • DG 4779165.

  • William Byrne

    Paranormal Drone B

    Performer: William Byrne.
    • Bing Bang Boom.
    • BBB 079.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 6 in F major Op.68 (Pastoral)

    Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Performer: Orchestre RĂ©volutionnaire et Romantique.
    • ARCHIV.
    • 4778643.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no. 41 in C major K.551 (Jupiter)

    Conductor: Frans BrĂĽggen. Performer: Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century.

  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony no. 17 in G major K.129

    Performer: Trevor Pinnock. Performer: The English Concert.
    • Archiv.
    • Archiv 471 666-2.

  • Alexander von Zemlinsky

    Sinfonietta Op.23

    Conductor: James Judd. Performer: New Zealand S O.
    • Naxos.
    • 8.570240.

  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Overture (Suite) in C major TWV.55:C3 (Hamburger Ebbe und Fluth (Wasser-overture)) [2 ob, 2 hn & str]

    Performer: Ensemble Zefiro.
    • Ambroisie.
    • Ambroisie AMB9946.

  • Florence Price

    Symphony no. 3 in C minor

    Conductor: Valentina Peleggi. Performer: ±«Óătv National Orchestra of Wales.

  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Canon triplex a 6 BWV.1076

    Performer: Fretwork.
    • HM.
    • HMU907395.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 3 in E flat major Op.55 (Eroica)

    Conductor: Sir John Eliot Gardiner. Performer: Orchestre RĂ©volutionnaire et Romantique.
    • ARCHIV.
    • 4778643.

  • Robert Farnon

    The Westminster waltz for orchestra

    Conductor: Barry Wordsworth. Performer: ±«Óătv Concert Orchestra.
    • Sony.
    • Sony 88697707372.

  • Franz Schubert

    Erlkönig D.328

    Singer: Matthias Goerne. Performer: Andreas Haeifliger.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
    • HMC902141.

  • Madonna

    Material Girl

    • Warner Bros.
    • 9362-47901-2.

  • Johann Strauss II

    An der schonen, blauen Donau - waltz Op.314 for orchestra with chorus ad lib.

    Conductor: Mariss Jansons. Performer: Vienna Philharmonic.
    • Sony.
    • 88697927102.

  • Johannes Brahms

    Symphony no. 4 in E minor Op.98

    Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle. Performer: Berliner Philharmoniker.
    • EMI.
    • EMI 509992 67254 2 0.

  • Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

    Russian Easter festival [Svetliy prazdnik] - overture Op.36

    Music Arranger: Igor Markevitch. Performer: Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra.
    • Philiips.
    • Philips 4226432.

  • Anton Bruckner

    Symphony no. 7 in E major

    Conductor: Donald Runnicles. Performer: ±«Óătv Scottish Symphony Orchestra.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA67916.

  • Friedrich Dotzauer

    12 Etudes (Exercises) Op.158 for cello solo

    Performer: Anner Bylsma.
    • Sony G0100030676550.
    • Sony G0100030676550.

  • Antonio Pasculli

    Grand concerto on themes from Donizetti's 'La Favorita' in F major for oboe and piano

    Performer: Burkhard Glaetzner. Performer: Berliner Symphoniker. Conductor: Claus Peter Flor.
    • CAPRICCIO.
    • 10281-.

  • Samuel Coleridge-Taylor

    4 African dances for violin and piano

    Performer: Andrew Harley. Performer: John Fadial.
    • CENTAUR.
    • CRC 2691.

  • Barbara Strozzi

    I baci for 2 voices and continuo

    Performer: Musica Secreta.
    • Amon Ra records C.
    • DSAR61.

  • Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre

    Suite in G major for keyboard [from "Pieces de clavecin",1707]

    Performer: Karen Flint.
    • Plectra.
    • PL21003.

  • Julius Eastman

    Gay guerilla for 4 pianos

    Performer: David Friend. Performer: Emily Manzo. Performer: Jace Clayton.
    • New Amsterdam.
    • NWAM045.

  • Iannis Xenakis

    Pleiades for percussion ensemble

    Performer: Kroumata Percussion Ensemble.
    • BIS.
    • CD-482.

  • Jerry Herman

    I Am What I Am

    Music Arranger: N/A. Performer: Gloria Gaynor.
    • Chrysalis Records.
    • n/a.

  • Hue and Cry

    Labour Of Love

    • Virgin.
    • HACCD-1 (1).

  • Janelle Monáe

    Tightrope

    Performer: Janelle Monáe.
    • Bad Boy Records.
    • PROMO-PROMO.

  • Franz Liszt

    Etudes d'execution transcendante S.139 for piano [based on S.137-8]

    Performer: Alice Sara Ott.
    • Deutche Grammophon.
    • DG 4779181.

  • George Walker

    Sonata no. 1 for piano

    Performer: Natalie Hinderas.
    • New World.
    • NWCR629.

  • Billy Mayerl

    The Continental, transc. for piano [after Magidson/Conrad]

    Performer: Peter Skellern.
    • Camden.
    • 74321 393332.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 9 Aug 2020 19:00
    ±«Óătv Radio 3
  • Fri 14 Aug 2020 16:30
    ±«Óătv Radio 3

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