Piano Pilgrimage

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Piano Pilgrimage: Episode 3

Episode 3

BBC Radio 4 - Piano Pilgrimage, Episode 3

Jazz pianist Jamie Cullum meets piano enthusiasts up and down the country.

Jamie Cullum meets buskers, teenage prodigies and people with dementia, to find out what the piano means to them. From 2014.

In the final part of his pilgrimage, Jamie finds out what the piano means to its biggest fans. Starting outside York Minster, he comes across two fellow jazz pianists whose passion keeps them coming out on to the streets to busk on a specially modified upright.

Next, Jamie heads to a retirement village in Sheffield where he performs with musicians from a charity, Lost Chord, that uses the piano to help people living with dementia.

Jamie hears from Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger about the piano playing challenge he set himself, before learning about left hand alone repertoire from one-handed pianist Nicholas McCarthy.

In Northern Ireland, Jamie meets the talented young piano players being mentored by Adele's piano player, Neil Cowley. Over a pint at Bennigan's Bar, Jamie finds out from the pub's legendary landlord Joe, how a piano turned the place into the heart of Derry's music scene. Jamie then tests the ivories for a moving final performance together with Joe and local musician Põl.

Produced by Andrea Rangecroft.
A Folded Wing production for BBC Radio 4.

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