Halim El-Dabh: A life of vibration

Kate Molleson and Gillian Moore present BBC Radio 3's series exploring the pivotal 'modern' musical works of the 20th century, the groundbreaking composers who created them, and the radical cultural and artistic movements which gave rise to them. In this episode, Kate enters the world of the pioneering Egyptian composer Halim El-Dabh, leading to his piece Leiyla and the Poet [1959]. Along the way, we’ll delve into the ethnomusicology of fellow 20th-century composers, join the New York scene of the 1950s just off Broadway with Cage, Cowell and Martha Graham, and discover the American composer with whom El-Dabh shared a deep affinity.

Produced by Sam Phillips
A Reduced Listening production for BBC Radio 3

To listen on most smart speakers, just say 'ask BBC Sounds to play 20th Century Radicals'.