Between The Ears

Tiles of the Alhambra

Saturday 25 November 2006 22:30-23:00 (Radio 3)

This experimental feature celebrates the extraordinary tiles which adorn the Moorish palace of The Alhambra in Granada. Each room has elaborate tiles which are full of precise symmetries, different patterns, colours and geometric complexities. The feature presents an aural picture of six tiles from the simplest repeated square pattern to the explosion of shapes and patterns in the Hall of the Ambassadors which seem to represent infinity itself. Weaving through the feature are the sounds of the Alhambra with fountains, channels of water, the sumptuous gardens and the reflection of tiles in pools of water. With contributions from art historians Michael Jacobs, Robert Irvin and Dalu Jones, and mathematician Marcus du Sautoy. Featuring music specially commissioned for the programme by the Spanish composer Carlos Miranda.

Carlos Miranda's music will be featured alone in an edition of Radio 3's Pre-Hear in the coming months.

Links:
Marcus du Sautoy's book, Symmetry
Robert Irwin's book, Alhambra

Duration:

30 minutes

Playlist

Between The Ears

Episode and Playlist Information

• 9 Dec 06 Bread On The Waters
• 2 Dec 06 The Edge
• 25 Nov 06 Tiles of Alhambra
• 18 Nov 06 The Soldiers' Poet
• 11 Nov 06 Cloudscape
• 4 Nov 06 Affirmation
• 30 Sep 06 Three and the Third