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The Friendly Guide to Music (Classical)

  • Genres: Classical
  • Location: London, United Kingdom
  • Language: English
Last updated 233 days ago Update show info

Episode 16: The Contemporary Era pt 2

Sat, Dec 22 2007 Listen
We enter the 20th Century, the century when Schoenberg invented a unique method for making music sound awful. We've got music from Karl 'My Moustache will Have Your Eye Out' Jenkins, Peter 'Don't mention the Swan' Maxwell-Davies, and Arvo 'Don't Forget my Umlaut' Prt. It's a race to the 21st century. Find out who wins in this final podcast.

Episode 15: The Contemporary Era pt 1

Sat, Dec 15 2007 Listen
From John Rutter to the Lord of the Rings himself Howard Shore. Featuring Hans Zimmer, the man who not only composed the music to Gladiator but also composed the music to Henry Kelly's classic TV show Going for Gold!

Episode 14: The Modern Era

Fri, Dec 14 2007 Listen
Igor Stravinsky, one of the greatest composers of the 20th century, one could even say the 'musical version of Picasso, was alive for a considerable part of the 20th century - from 1882-1971.

Episode 13: The Nationalist Composers Part 2

Fri, Dec 14 2007 Listen
Grieg in Norway, Albeniz in Spain, Sullivan in England and a pair of Strauss' in Austria. Who used to play the piano backwards? Who went to school with Grieg in Leipzig? And what famous Opera has a leading man called Gerald?

Episode 11: The French Romantics

Sat, Nov 24 2007 Listen
Which sun seeking French genius could play the piano at two and composed his first piece at four? How did Gabriel Faure's career get started by a passing blind woman?

Episode 12: The Nationalist Composers Pt 1

Fri, Nov 23 2007 Listen
This week Tony Robinson looks at the nationalist composers. The Russians...Glinka, Borodin, Mussorgsky and the Czechoslovakians...Smetana and Dvorak.

Episode 10: The End of the Romantic Period

Tue, Nov 20 2007 Listen
Tony discusses the end of the Romantic period and presents music from one of the last great Romantic composers - Rachmaninov - as well as examples of Debussy's 'modern' music.

Episode 9: The Late Romantics Pt 2

Sat, Nov 10 2007 Listen
Learn everything you've ever wanted to know about Wagner, Mahler and Finland's finest - Sibelius. Plus, Tony pays tribute to England's finest composer - Edward Elgar.

Episode 8: The Late Romantics Pt 1

Sat, Nov 3 2007 Listen
Who was refused entry to the Milan conservatory because he was too old. Who left lots of money to a musicians benevolent home which is still going today? Whose piece of work was labelled Beethovens 10th? Plus, Clara Schumann and Brahms.

Episode 7:The Early Romantics Part 2

Sat, Oct 27 2007 Listen
Tony continues his look at the Romantic period. From Felix Mendelssohn to Franz Liszt. Plus, there's Bizet, Chopin and Schumann.

Episode 6: The Early Romantics Part 1

Sat, Oct 20 2007 Listen
Tony Robinson delves into the Romantic period. Who could play a whole piece on one string, while having a gremlin sit on his shoulder?

Episode 5: The Classical Period Part 3

Sat, Oct 13 2007 Listen
This week Tony Robinson covers arguably the greatest 71 years in the history of Classical music. From the birth of Mozart in 1756 to the death of Beethoven in 1827.

Episode 4: The Classical Period Part 2

Wed, Oct 3 2007 Listen
Tony enters the golden period which is classical music and answers these questions: What are the eight wonders of the Classical world? Who wins Classical Music's silliest name competition and who are Luigi Butchering and Antonio Slayer?

Episode 3: The Classical Period

Sat, Sep 29 2007 Listen
Who locked Vivaldi away in his safe? Is Elevazione more than just lift music? Who smuggled a harpsichord down their trousers? And what have Handel and Slade got in common?

Episode 2: The Baroque Period

Sat, Sep 22 2007 Listen
From the angelic fluffy bits of Allegri to the arcangelic stringy bits of Corelli and the the Jake and Elwood of the baroque period - Bach and Handel.

Episode 1: Early Music

Sat, Sep 15 2007 Listen
From the earliest signs of musical life right through to the end of the Early bit. Tony talks about the the Singing Nun, the first jobshare in music, John from Palestrina and the race to write the first ever opera.

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