The Listening Service

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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

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Music: Classical

An odyssey through the musical universe, presented by Tom Service

Rethink music with The Listening Service. Tom Service presents a journey of imagination and insight, exploring how music works

The Listening Service: Igor Stravinsky: Understood Best by Children and Animals

What you see is what you hear?

Igor Stravinsky: Understood Best by Children and Animals

BBC Radio 3 - The Listening Service, Igor Stravinsky: Understood Best by Children and Animals

Tom Service seeks the essence of Igor Stravinsky's seemingly ever-changing musical style.

'My music is best understood by children and animals,' said Igor Stravinsky. Undaunted, Tom Service seeks the essence of one of the 20th century's most elusive composers.

"My music is best understood by children and animals," pronounced Igor Stravinsky, no doubt with a twinkle in his eye. According to his critics (and jealous colleagues), Stravinsky's composing consisted of picking up any old second-hand musical baubles he fancied, like a restless musical magpie - sometimes he even had the effrontery to leave them virtually unchanged. Frustratingly, audiences seemed to lap it up. To make matters worse, when it came to explaining his music, Igor liked nothing better than to hide behind contradictory and gnomic statements, as bewildering and frequent as his changes of musical style.

Tom Service goes in search of the essence of Stravinsky, at once one of the greatest yet most elusive 20th Century composers. Including contributions from playwright Meredith Oakes and Stravinsky biographer Jonathan Cross.

David Papp (producer).

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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Igor Stravinsky: Understood Best by Children and Animals

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