Hear more. Feel more. Be more! Come with me and dive into some great classical music. For over 1000 years great musicians have explored what it means to live, love, die and everything in between: asking all our deep and universal questions. Escape the cacophony - the noise of your brain and daily life; tune into the music, your feelings and emotions ‘good’ and ‘bad’ …and find the space, stillness and love that underpins everything. NB: May include loud noise, surprises, challenges, cacophonous racket. May cause shock, comfort, discomfort, smiles, tears, peace, transcendence. www.cacophonyonline.com classical music Home of the Women’s World Cup of Classical Music
Episodes
Monday Sep 20, 2021
Monday Sep 20, 2021
One of the closest [classical] things to electronic dance music, John Adams's Shaker Loops is one of my favourite things. Dreamy and reflective music mixed with thrilling dance music that leaves us ecstatic, maybe even transcendent!
Music here on Spotify or Youtube with the London Chamber Orchestra conducted by Christopher Warren Green in the classic recording I was given by my best school mate, Mark. You can buy it here in hi-quality download.
If you like pictures, there's a video option too that's pretty good with nice lighting (for classical music videos anyway!)
What do you think? I really want to know, so please tell me with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com.
You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.
Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing this episode or the 100 second trailer!
Thanks for listening!
Friday Sep 10, 2021
Friday Sep 10, 2021
Freethinking, inventive - quiet and mysterious one moment, giddy and playful the next, Debussy's préludes - short pieces for piano - are great escapes for your imagination!
Listening time 26 mins (podcast 9', music 17')
Music here on Spotify or Youtube with the excellent Jean-Efflam Bavouzet.
The pieces on the play list are:
1. Danseuses de Delphes (Dancers of Delphi)
5. Les collines d'Anacapri (The hills of Anacapri)
8. La fille aux cheveux de lin (The girl with the flaxon hair)
9. La sérénade interrompue (Interrupted serenade)
10. La cathédrale engloutie (The submerged cathedral)
You can buy a download of the pieces - in top quality sound here
What do you think? Please tell me with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com.
You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.
Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing the trailer!
Thanks for listening!
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Friday Aug 20, 2021
Powerful and moving, Lili Boulanger's cry From the Bottom of the Abyss (Psalm No.130) shows her deep commitment to her faith, and to her music-writing, in the face of major illness.
Diana Ambache, long-time champion of women composers, joins me to talk about Boulanger's short life, major talent and this subtle masterpiece for huge choir and orchestra. Listening time: 42 mins (18' podcast, 24' music)
Music here on Youtube or Spotify
The recording I've chosen features Manchester's BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the City of Birmingham Symphony Chorus and soloists Ann Murray and Neil MacKenzie, conducted by Yan Pascal Tortelier.
What do you think? Tell me at Cacophonyonline.com.
You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.
Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing the trailer!
Thanks for listening!
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
Tuesday Aug 10, 2021
The intensity, joy, heartbreak and thrills of great sporting moments are almost unmatchable... except by those in great music. The magic of the Olympics is transformed by the alchemist John Williams into four minutes of musical, life-affirming perfection. Olympic Fanfare and Theme is one of my favourite Williams pieces, and that's really saying something!
Music here, on Spotify or Youtube in a terrific performance that brings out every tiny detail from the LA Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.
You can buy a download of the piece in top quality sound for a mere 17 British pence!
What do you think? Best Williams piece ever? Tell me at Cacophonyonline.com.
You can support Cacophony here, by 'buying me a ko-fi'.
Please share the podcast with everyone you know - start by sharing the trailer!
Thanks for listening!
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Friday Jul 30, 2021
Celebratory music from Haydn that's pretty perfect and sure to leave you in a good mood and feeling happy!
Music here on youtube or spotify
Listening time 34 mins (podcast 7', music 27')
What do you think? Let us know with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com
If you like it, why not buy a download? You can get that here for less than a pound, or elsewhere. Cacophony doesn't make and money from it, but the musicians will make much more than through streaming. You can support Cacophony here.
Please share the podcast with everyone you know - maybe by sharing the trailer?
Thanks for listening!
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Tuesday Jul 20, 2021
Even more irresistible than the Italian football team and their ace national anthem is Verdi's overture to Nabucco. It's rousing and joyous and one of my favourite things.
Music here, on Youtube or Spotify, super-stylishly played by the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Claudio Abbado.
Listening time: 13 mins (Intro podcast, 6'; music 7')
What do you think? Let us know with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com
If you like it, why not buy a download? You can get that here in top quality lossless sound for THIRTEEN English pence! or elsewhere...
You can support Cacophony here.
Saturday Jul 10, 2021
Saturday Jul 10, 2021
I get floored every time by these six songs of lost youth, love and life written on the cusp of World War 1 by a young composer who didn't make it through. Raw, simple and unforgettable.
Music here, with the terrific partnership of Roderick Williams and Iain Burnside, on Youtube
or Spotify. Listening time: 21 mins (Intro podcast, 8'; music 13')
Here you'll find all the words to the songs.
Recorded in inescapable heavy rain, so apologies for the sound quality on this episode!
What do you think? Let us know with a comment at Cacophonyonline.com
If you like it, why not buy a download? You can get that here in top quality lossless sound for an English fiver or elsewhere. Cacophony doesn't make any money from it, but the musicians will make much more than through streaming. You can support Cacophony here.
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
Thursday Jul 01, 2021
How Scottish do you have to be to be worthy of the name? If you're going to write a Scottish Symphony should it contain Scottish music? Does Mendelssohn pass the test? Regardless, his Symphony No.3 is brilliant, moving and surprising...
Music here on Youtube or Spotify (full piece. Part 2 on the Youtube vid starts at 20:46)
Listening time: 29 mins (Podcast 9', music 20') or 49' if you listen to the whole piece.
I'd love to hear from you! If you liked this (or didn't) please tell me with a comment at cacophonyonline.com
If you really like the piece, please consider buying a recording. The artists get very little from streams, so the best way to support them is to buy the album. You can buy it as a download here, and elsewhere.
If you like Cacophony and want to support it please click here to 'buy me a coffee'!
Please subscribe to the podcast and share it with your friends and family.
Thanks for listening!
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
Wednesday Jun 30, 2021
Every time I hear it, I'm amazed by the power and emotion in Mendelssohn's music. Inspired by a trip to Scotland, his Symphony No.3 delights and surprises, without resorting to bagpipes!
Music here on Youtube or Spotify
Listening time: 32 mins (Podcast 12', music 20')
I'd love to hear from you! If you liked this (or didn't) please tell me with a comment at cacophonyonline.com
If you really like the piece, please consider buying a recording. The artists get very little from streams, so the best way to support them is to buy the album. You can buy it as a download here, and elsewhere.
If you like Cacophony and want to support it please click here to 'buy me a coffee'!
Please subscribe to the podcast and share it with your friends and family.
Thanks for listening!
Sunday Jun 20, 2021
Sunday Jun 20, 2021
Asked to write funeral music for his friend and patron during the middle of a war, with millions dying all around plus a shortage of musicians, Heinrich Schütz finds hope, beauty and joy among the devastation. His Musikalische Exequien [Funeral Music] is a 400-year old masterpiece that still works its magic.
Music here on Youtube or Spotify, sung with urgent intensity by The Sixteen.
Listening time: 39 mins (Podcast 11', music 28')
If you want to know exactly what's being sung, you can download the cd booklet, which contains (among much else) the words in German with a rather old-churchy-English translation.
Your feelings are important! If you liked this (or didn't) please tell me with a comment at cacophonyonline.com
If you really like the piece, please consider buying a recording. The artists get very little from streams, so the best way to support them is to buy the album. You can buy it as a download here, and elsewhere.
If you like Cacophony and want to support it please click here to 'buy me a coffee'!
Please subscribe to the podcast and share it with your friends and family.
Thanks for listening!