Sounds of the Marshes, Valentin Silvestrov by Hélène Grimaud, and the Perfect Pitch

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Tom Service visits Dickens' North Kent marshes to interview two musicians about their creative interaction with the nature on their doorsteps. Electronic composer Matthew Herbert invites Tom into his studio overlooking the marshes and discusses his latest project, in which he brings the skeleton of a horse back to life through music. Folk singer Chris Wood discusses his connectedness to the land of the marshes and how it influences his music, and his search for the sound of now. One of the most recognised Ukrainian composers, Valentin Silvestrov, 85 years old, wrote no less than nine symphonies, countless pieces for ensembles and solo instruments, and a large choral repertoire. After being forced to flee his home country after Russia's invasion in 2022, he now lives in Berlin. With pianist Hélène Grimaud, who champions Silvestrov's music, again with her latest album Silent Songs (Deutsche Grammophon, 2023), we talk about a maestro of contemporary music. A 440. This is a point of reference for musicians, a standard pitch. But did you know that the establishment of this norm did not only have an artistic origin, but also scientific and even political stakes in history? Historian Fanny Gribenski, professor of music at New York University, talks about this fascinating story, as she publishes her latest book: Tuning the World: The Rise of 440 Hertz in Music, Science, and Politics, 1859–1955 (University of Chicago Press, 2023). ------------------------- with: Hélène Grimaud, Fanny Gribensky, Matthew Herbert, and Chris Wood presenter: Tom Service producer: Elizabeth Arno assistant producer: Julien Rosa with the participation of sound manager Gilly Chauhan