Composer of the Week: Amy Beach

Original version

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

BBC Radio 3

Radio 3

Migrated podcast image for: Composer Of The Week

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: Amy Beach (1867-1944): Sacred Works

Amy Beach (1867-1944)

Sacred Works

BBC Radio 3 - Composer of the Week, Amy Beach (1867-1944), Sacred Works

Donald Macleod delves into Amy Beach's sacred works.

Donald Macleod looks at how Amy Beach's religious beliefs influenced her music.

Donald Macleod explores the influence of religion upon the music of Amy Beach.

Amy Beach was born in the 19th century and, like all women composers of her generation, she found her path to greatness strewn with obstacles. This week, Donald Macleod charts her struggle to take control of her own destiny and become one of America’s most cherished cultural figures; a composer who helped lead her nation into the mainstream of classical music. Famed conductor, Leopold Stokowski noted that her symphony was “full of real music, without any pretence or effects but just real, sincere, simple and deep music.”  

Today’s programme looks at how Beach's religious beliefs impacted her life and work. From her upbringing by devout parents, to her own beliefs and involvement with the church, Beach composed many sacred works during her lifetime, including the large-scale Canticle of the Sun.
 
The Year’s at the Spring, Op 44 No 1
Robert White, tenor
Samuel Sanders, piano

Mamma’s Waltz
Kirsten Johnson, piano

Valse Caprice, Op 4
Kirsten Johnson, piano

Canticle of the Sun, Op 123
Susan Bender, soprano
Elizabeth McLean, mezzo soprano
Richard Turner, tenor
James Shaffran, bass
Capitol Hill Choral Society and Orchestra
Betty Buchanan, director

Though I take the wings of morning, Op 152
Katherine Kelton, mezzo-soprano
Catherine Bringerud, piano

Trio for violin, cello and piano, Op 150
The Ambache
Elizabeth Layton, violin
Martin Outram, viola
Diana Ambache, piano

Produced by Luke Whitlock for BBC Wales


Composer of the Week: Amy Beach (1867-1944)

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 charts the life and work of American composer Amy Beach.

Donald Macleod charts Amy Beach's struggle to take control of her own destiny and become one of America's most cherished cultural figures.

Accessibility links

Programme Index

Composer of the Week

Amy Beach (1867-1944)

Sacred Works

Genres

Brand

Series

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3