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Composer James MacMillan explores music inspired by the biblical story of creation and humanity’s fascination with the universe.

James MacMillan and guests Dr Rowan Williams, Prof Margarita Mooney Clayton, composer Jay Capperauld and musicologist Dr Sarah Moerman explore how music reflects humanity’s fascination with the universe. Topics include cosmic inspiration in both sacred and secular music, the role of the stars in the Nativity story, and our place within the universe.

21 days left to listen

56 minutes

Last on

Sat 20 Dec 202513:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Richard Strauss

    Also Sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30: I. Prelude. Sonnenaufgang

    Orchestra: Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Pierre Boulez.
    • Also Sprach Zarathustra / Totenfeier.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

  • Edward Elgar

    Canto Popolare (In Moonlight)

    Performer: Lydia Mordkovitch. Performer: Julian Milford.
    • Chandos.

  • Ēriks Ešenvalds

    Stars

    Performer: The Choir Of Trinity College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Layton.
    • Northern Lights & other choral works.
    • Hyperion.
    • 15.

  • Charles Ives

    The Unanswered Question

    Orchestra: San Francisco Symphony. Conductor: Michael Tilson Thomas.
    • An American Journey.
    • RCA Victor Group.
    • 15.

  • John Adams

    El Niño: The Christmas Star

    Singer: Lorraine Hunt Lieberson. Singer: Theatre of Voices. Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Singer: Sir Willard White. Choir: London Voices. Choir: Maîtrise De Paris. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • Adams, J: El Niño.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 11.

  • Marc‐Antoine Charpentier

    Noël sur les instruments, H. 534: No. 4, Or nous dites Marie

    Choir: English Baroque Soloists. Conductor: Christophe Rousset.
    • Charpentier: Baroque Christmas.
    • SDG.
    • 14.

  • Basque Trad

    The Angel Gabriel

    Lyricist: Sabine Baring‐Gould. Singer: Maddy Prior. Ensemble: The Carnival Band.
    • A Tapestry of Carols.
    • Saydisc.
    • 8.

  • Hannah Peel & Tubular Brass

    Sunrise Through The Dusty Nebula

    • Mary Casio: Journey To Cassiopeia.
    • Society of Sound Music.
    • 2.

  • Ottorino Respighi

    Trittico Botticelliano: II. L'adorazione Dei Magi

    Orchestra: Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège. Conductor: John Neschling.
    • Church Windows, Etc..
    • BIS.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Sat 20 Dec 202513:00
    BBC Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Music Matters

    The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters