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Music for Solitariness

As part of the 麻豆社's Wellbeing Week, Radio 3 Unwind's Niall Breslin introduces a mixtape on the theme of Solitariness.

As part of the 麻豆社's Wellbeing Week, Radio 3 Unwind's Niall Breslin introduces a mixtape on the theme of Solitariness.

From Noel Coward enjoying his travels unhindered by attachments, and J.S. Bach's sublime writing for solo violin, to William Grant Still's poignant "Song for the lonely", today's Classical Mixtape reflects on the experience of being alone. Many will recall the long running children's TV dramatisation of Robinson Crusoe, with its memorable theme music, but there is less well-known music in this half hour mix, such as Margaret Hubicki's "Lonely piper", and Rebecca Dale's magical setting of Wordsworth celebrating the joys of solitude "I wandered lonely as a cloud". Kurt Weill's "Lonely house" sweetens into solitary dreaming from Debussy, and the sequence ends with a heart-breaking folk song setting from the Auvergne about an abandoned shepherdess, lushly orchestrated by Joseph Cantaloube.

Producer: Helen Garrison

12 hours left to listen

30 minutes

Last on

Sun 26 Apr 2026 20:30

Music Played

  • No毛l Coward

    I travel alone

    • Naxos.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Solo Violin Partita no.2 BWV.1004 (Sarabande)

    Performer: Daniel Pioro.
    • Octatonic Records.
  • William Grant Still

    Song For The Lonely

    Performer: Titus Underwood. Performer: Lara Downes.
    • Rising Sun Records.
  • Gian Piero Reverberi

    The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe - Main Theme

    Composer: Robert Mellin. Performer: Gian Piero Reverberi. Performer: Robert Mellin.
    • Silva Screen Records Ltd.
  • Margaret Hubicki

    The Lonely Piper (Irish Fantasy)

    Performer: James Kirby.
    • Chandos.
  • Rebecca Dale

    I Wandered Lonely As A Cloud

    Author: William Wordsworth. Ensemble: Tenebrae. Conductor: Nigel Short.
    • Rebecca Dale: Night Seasons.
    • Signum Records.
    • 7.
  • Kurt Weill

    Lonely house (Street Scene)

    Singer: Dawn Upshaw. Orchestra: Orchestra of St. Luke鈥檚. Conductor: David Zinman.
    • Nonesuch.
  • Claude Debussy

    搁锚惫别谤颈别

    Performer: Zoltan Kocsis.
    • Philips.
  • Joseph Canteloube

    Chants d'Auvergne - set 2 - 4; La Del茂ss谩do (The Deserted One)

    Singer: Victoria de los 脕ngeles. Orchestra: Orchestre Lamoureux. Conductor: Jean鈥怭ierre Jacquillat.
    • Warner Classics.

Broadcasts

  • Wed 14 May 2025 19:00
  • Sun 1 Jun 2025 17:30
  • Sun 26 Apr 2026 20:30

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