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Justin Webb (Today and Americast presenter) explores the relationship between classical music and American political history. Today, the musical influence of immigrants and emigrés

Justin Webb (presenter of Today and Americast, and former BBC North America Editor) explores the surprising relationship between classical music and American politics. From the days of the Founding Fathers, music was used to assert an American identity, distinct from a European musical tradition. And evolving political and social ideals, dreams and struggles were mirrored in the music being created - from Manifest Destiny to #MeToo, from Civil War to Civil Rights.

In today's episode, we explore the musical melting pot, and the influence of immigrants and emigrés, who brought with them new musical ideas that would shape American cultural life

Producer Megan Jones, BBC Audio Wales

4 days left to listen

56 minutes

Last on

Sat 31 Jan 202613:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    King's Row Fanfare

    Orchestra: National Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Gerhardt.
    • SONY : 82876-77086-2.
    • SONY.
    • 13.

  • Scott Joplin

    Elite Syncopations

    Performer: Scott Joplin.
    • HISTORY : 885150941010.
    • HISTORY.
    • 5.

  • Antonín Dvořák

    Symphony No 9 in E minor 'From the New World' Op 95 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Naxos : 8.570714.
    • Naxos.
    • 2.

  • Harry Burleigh

    Deep River

    Performer: Ann Sears. Singer: Oral Moses.
    • ALBANY RECORDS : 034061033226.
    • ALBANY RECORDS.
    • 1.

  • George Gershwin

    Catfish Row Suite from 'Porgy and Bess' (No 1, Catfish Row)

    Performer: Stefano Bollani. Orchestra: Gewandhausorchester Leipzig. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • DECCA : 478-2739.
    • DECCA.
    • 2.

  • Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate

    Oshta

    Performer: Jerod Impichchaachaaha' Tate.
    • SONO LUMINUS.

  • Leonard Bernstein

    West Side Story, Act 1 (No 4, The Dance at the Gym)

    Ensemble: Original Broadway Cast Of West Side Story. Conductor: Max Goberman.
    • SONY CLASSICAL : G010003720144U.
    • SONY CLASSICAL.
    • 4.

  • Gabriela Lena Frank

    Mestizo Waltz

    Orchestra: Utah Symphony. Conductor: Keith Lockhart.
    • REFERENCE RECORDINGS.

  • Franz Waxman

    The Fire and Epilogue (From 'Rebecca')

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: Joel McNeely.
    • VARESE SARABANDE : 302-066-160-2.
    • VARESE SARABANDE.
    • 5.

  • Florence Price

    Juba Dance

    Orchestra: Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Deutsche Grammophon : 4862029.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Sat 31 Jan 202613:00
    BBC Radio 3

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Podcast

  • Music Matters

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