6. Power and Protest
Justin Webb (Today and Americast presenter) explores the relationship between classical music and American political history. Today, how music reflects more recent conflicts.
Justin Webb (presenter of Today and Americast, and former Âé¶¹Éç North America Editor) explores the surprising relationship between classical music and American politics. From the days of the Founding Fathers, music was used to assert an American identity, distinct from a European musical tradition. And evolving political and social ideals, dreams and struggles were mirrored in the music being created - from Manifest Destiny to #MeToo, from Civil War to Civil Rights.
Today, the role of music in the push for racial equality and social unity. And the challenges facing classical music in today's divided America.
Producer - Megan Jones, Âé¶¹Éç Audio Wales
On radio
More episodes
Next
Coming soon
Broadcast
- Sat 14 Feb 2026 13:00Âé¶¹Éç Radio 3
Knock on wood – six stunning wooden concert halls around the world
Steel and concrete can't beat good old wood to produce the best sounds for music.
The evolution of video game music
Tom Service traces the rise of an exciting new genre, from bleeps to responsive scores.
Why music can literally make us lose track of time
Try our psychoacoustic experiment to see how tempo can affect your timekeeping abilities.
Podcast
-
Music Matters
The stories that matter, the people that matter, the music that matters