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

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

The Essay Podcast

The Essay

Discussion & Talk

Factual: Arts, Culture & the Media

Essays from leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond.

Leading writers on arts, history, philosophy, science, religion and beyond, themed across a week - insight, opinion and intellectual surprise.

The Essay: Get Playing

The Essay: Get Playing: Episode 5: Get Playing: Alexander McCall Smith on the saxophone and the Really Terrible Orchestra

Get Playing: Alexander McCall Smith on playing the bassoon

Episode 5

Episode 5: Get Playing: Alexander McCall Smith on the saxophone and the Really Terrible Orchestra

Get Playing

Get Playing: Alexander McCall Smith on the saxophone and the Really Terrible Orchestra

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Writer Alexander McCall Smith on playing saxophone and the Really Terrible Orchestra.

As part of the BBC Music Get Playing scheme, author Alexander McCall Smith describes how he learned to play saxophone and formed the Really Terrible Orchestra.

As part of BBC Music Get Playing, supporting amateur music making around the UK this summer, 5 leading writers and artists contribute an Essay in this series, in which they talk about their little-known passions for playing an instrument. 

In the final programme of the series, the writer Alexander McCall Smith, author of "The No 1 Ladies' Detective Agency" describes how he learned to play saxophone which led to him starting The Really Terrible Orchestra.

His career as an amateur saxophonist began with lessons' from his wife's flute teacher and then, during a stay in the US, he began to assemble a collection of saxophones, including a fine bass instrument.

After returning home to Edinburgh, Alexander decided that he should encourage other amateur musicians to play together, no matter what their standard, and the Really Terrible Orchestra was born. In spite of its name, it has performed in concert halls to packed houses.

Producer: Emma Kingsley.

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.

Writers and artists they talk about their little-known passions for playing an instrument.

As part of the BBC Music Get Playing scheme, leading writers and artists they talk about their little-known passions for playing an instrument

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Episode 5: Get Playing: Alexander McCall Smith on the saxophone and the Really Terrible Orchestra

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