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Episode details

Radio 4,19 Dec 1999,45 mins

Michael Nyman

Desert Island Discs

Available for over a year

Sue Lawley's guest this week is Michael Nyman. Said to be the best-selling classical composer in Britain, as a child visiting the opera or concert hall his imagination would be caught by a particularly pleasing sequence of notes. Later, he was to use these as inspiration for his own compositions. A Purcell manuscript inspired his music for the The Draughtsman's Contract. Scottish folk songs the soundtrack to The Piano. [Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs] Favourite track: Farewell (Das Lied von der Erde (the song of the Earth)) by Gustav Mahler Book: Tristram Shandy by Laurence Sterne Luxury: A toilet

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Tracklist

  1. Track
    Artist
  2. 1.
    Okanawah
    Okanawah
    Okanawah
  3. 2.
    Because They're Young
    Because They're Young
    Duane Eddy
  4. 3.
    What Power art thou? (Prelude while cold genius rises) (from King Arthur)
    What Power art thou? (Prelude while cold genius rises) (from King Arthur)
    Henry Purcell