A panorama of pioneering
American music of this century, from Charles Ives 's shockers - with the rules of American football explained to the audience by tonight's conductor - to John Adams 's prize-winning concerto.
From the Royal Albert Hall , London.
Simon Preston (organ), Ernst Kovacic (violin), BBC Symphony Orchestra, conductor Leonard Slatkin
Ives, orch Schuman Variations on "America"
Ives, orch Schuller General Slocum; Yale-Princeton Football Game
Copland Organ Symphony
8.15 Pure Gravy
American writer Raymond Carver was a reformed alcoholic, and his poem Pure Gravy refers to the ten successful years he had before his death at the age of 56. His widow Tess Gallagher recounts their final year together, and Kerry Shale reads from Carver's last collection of poetry.
8.35 Adams Violin Concerto
Duke Ellington Harlem