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BBC Radio 3 is a radio channel that started transmitting on the 30th September 1967. It replaced Third Programme.

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Composer of the Week

Music: Classical

An informative guide to composers' lives and their music.

An informative and accessible guide to composers' lives and their music.

Composer of the Week: Field and Chopin (1782-1837 and 1810-1849)

Composer of the Week: Field and Chopin (1782-1837 and 1810-1849): Episode 2: Field and Chopin Spread Their Wings

Field and Chopin (1782-1837 and 1810-1849)

Episode 2

Episode 2: Field and Chopin Spread Their Wings

Field and Chopin Spread Their Wings

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Field and Chopin (1782-1837 and 1810-1849), Field and Chopin Spread Their Wings

Donald Macleod explores Field and Chopin's early careers.

Donald Macleod explores Field and Chopin's early careers. With Field: Sonata in A, Op 1 No 2. Chopin: Ballade No 1 in G minor, Op 23.

Donald Macleod in conversation with the pianist Míceál O'Rourke, explores two piano giants, the towering Romantic Fryderyk Chopin, and the Father of the Nocturne John Field.

John Field was now quickly establishing himself as a piano virtuoso in London, and was soon in demand for portrait painters and medallists. One picture to have survived from around 1800, shows Field to be sat, quill in hand, in the very act of composing his early Sonata in A major for the piano. These first sonatas Field dedicated to Clementi.

Clementi planned a business trip to Paris, and then on to St Petersburg, and Field journeyed with him. It was in Russia that Field would make his home for the rest of his life, and quickly established himself amongst the rich and aristocratic. For these aristocratic circles, Field composed a number of chamber works, including his Divertissement no.1 in E major.

Field now became so popular in both Moscow and St Petersburg, that he had an apartment in both cities. He kept his own servants and carriage, and often wouldn't turn up for appointments and lessons, but instead enjoy himself with friends drinking champagne, and smoking Havana cigars. Russian music did influence some of the works Field went on to compose, including his Variations on Kamarinskaya.

The Kamarinskaya variations by Field proved to be a source of inspiration to the younger composer Fryderyk Chopin, as pianist Míceál O'Rourke demonstrates. This is evident in Chopin's Variations in B flat on La ci darem la mano opus 2, which marked the composer's arrival on an international music stage.

Chopin like Field, moved away from his native land, and both composers went on to push the boundaries of piano playing and writing. For Chopin, this is very evident in his Ballades, such as Ballade no.1 in G minor.

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Donald Macleod explores the lives and work of Fryderyk Chopin and John Field

Donald Macleod is joined by pianist Míċeál O'Rourke to explore the work of Romantic composer Fryderyk Chopin, and the 'father of the nocturne', John Field

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Composer of the Week

Field and Chopin (1782-1837 and 1810-1849)

Episode 2: Field and Chopin Spread Their Wings

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