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Paying Attention

Poets and composers often in their work help us to pay attention and notice the overlooked. In our spotlight today: ideas from Walt Whitman, David Foster Wallace, and Audre Lorde.

From Rachel Carson finding solace in noticing 'the exceeding beauty of the earth', via the deductions of Sherlock Holmes and a dog walk with poet Mark Doty to Joyce Sutphen's advice on How to Listen: today's programme celebrates paying attention to the variety of life. Walt Whitman hears the 'grand opera' of the city, Mr. Darcy can't help but notice Elizabeth Bennett, Audre Lorde speaks her truth to those who might listen, and Taylor Mali fights for his students' Undivided Attention. Our readers are Nathan Osgood and Sarah Slimani and our music ranges from Purcell and Byrd to Sondheim and Erroll Garner.

Producer: Rachel Gill

READINGS:
How To Listen by Joyce Sutphen
Exceeding Beauty of the Earth by Rachel Carson
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
Song of Myself by Walt Whitman
A Scandal in Bohemia by Arthur Conan Doyle
Upstream by Mary Oliver
The Pale King by David Foster Wallace
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Undivided Attention by Taylor Mali
Noticing by William Stafford
A Woman Speaks by Audre Lorde
To Sir With Love by E.R. Braithwaite
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
Golden Retrievals by Mark Doty

28 days left to listen

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Yesterday 19:45

Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Arvo P盲rt

    Spiegel im Spiegel

    Performer: Tasmin Little. Performer: Martin Roscoe.
  • 00:07

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stemme, BWV 645

    Performer: Yo鈥怸o Ma. Orchestra: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra. Conductor: Ton Koopman.
  • 00:11

    R. Nathaniel Dett

    Listen to the Lambs

    Choir: London Adventist Chorale. Conductor: Ken Burton.
  • 00:15

    David Arnold

    Sherlock Suite

    Composer: Michael Price. Orchestra: Danish National Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Hans Ek.
  • 00:21

    Catrin Finch

    Listen to the Grass Grow

    Performer: Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita.
  • 00:25

    Henry Purcell

    Awake and with Attention Hear

    Singer: Harry van der Kamp. Performer: Gustav Leonhardt.
  • 00:29

    Glenn Miller Orchestra

    Bugle Call Rag

  • 00:34

    The Lovin鈥 Spoonful

    Daydreamin'

  • 00:37

    Fr茅d茅ric Chopin

    Study in C major, Op.10 no.1

    Performer: Murray Perahia.
  • 00:39

    John Luther Adams

    Strange Birds Passing

    Ensemble: NEC Contemporary Ensemble. Conductor: John Heiss.
  • 00:46

    Julie Andrews

    Feed the Birds (Mary Poppins)

  • 00:49

    Steve Reich

    Clapping Music

    Ensemble: LSO Percussion Ensemble.
  • 00:52

    William Byrd

    Vigilate

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
  • 00:56

    Jon Lord

    Afterwards (To Notice Such Things)

    Performer: Jon Lord. Orchestra: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
  • 01:00

    Joseph Haydn

    Quartet in C major Op.76 no.3 'Emperor' (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Calidore String Quartet.
  • 01:05

    Erroll Garner

    Watch What Happens

  • 01:08

    Stephen Sondheim

    Children Will Listen (Into The Woods)

    Singer: Bernadette Peters.

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  • Sun 21 Jan 2024 17:30
  • Yesterday 19:45

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