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Radio 3's primary contemporary music programme, featuring live performances and sessions

Radio 3's primary contemporary music programme, featuring live performances and studio sessions from the best new groups, and premiering works commissioned by the BBC

Hear and Now: Milton Babbitt and Moondog

Milton Babbitt and Moondog

07/05/2016

BBC Radio 3 - Hear and Now, Milton Babbitt and Moondog

Ivan Hewett marks the centenaries of maverick composers Milton Babbitt and Moondog.

Ivan Hewett marks the centenaries of composers Milton Babbitt and Moondog. With works by Babbitt played at St Nicholas Church in Brighton, plus John L Waters discussing Moondog.

Ivan Hewett celebrates the centenaries this month of two American mavericks who continue to inspire today: Milton Babbitt and Moondog. From a concert given at St Nicholas Church in Brighton in February, we hear rarely performed chamber works of Babbitt including two European premieres, alongside his masterpiece Philomel, performed by soprano Juliet Fraser to a newly restored tape part. Jazz pianist Ethan Iverson and writer Paul Griffiths discuss Philomel in a feature which includes archive interviews with the composer. And tonight's studio guest is writer, producer and musician John L. Walters who assesses the legacy and influence of Moondog, another extraordinary figure in American music, often to be found busking on the streets of New York dressed as a viking, and whose playful compositions, invented instruments and poetry won admirers in Igor Stravinsky and Philip Glass.

Milton Babbitt: Reflections, for piano and tape (1975)
Mark Knoop (piano)

Milton Babbitt: Homily (1987)
Adam Bushell (snare drum)

Milton Babbitt: None but the Lonely Flute (1987)
Helen Whittaker (flute)

Milton Babbitt: Philomel, for soprano and tape (1964)
Juliet Fraser (soprano)

Milton Babbitt: Autobiography of the Eye (2004; European premiere)
Sarah Gabriel (soprano)
Rohan de Saram (cello)

Milton Babbitt: An Encore (2006; European premiere)
Mandhira de Saram (violin)
Julian Trevelyan (piano)

Milton Babbitt: Accompanied Recitative (1994)
Huw Wiggin (soprano saxophone)
Julian Trevelyan (piano)

Milton Babbitt: Soli e Duettini (1989)
Jon Rattenbury, Brian Ashworth (guitars).

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.

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