Music Matters: Music on the Front Line

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Music Matters: Music on the Front Line: John Simpson

John Simpson

Music on the Front Line

BBC Radio 3 - Music Matters, Music on the Front Line, John Simpson

John Simpson talks about music he's heard while reporting from conflict zones.

Clive Myrie in conversation with news correspondents. He and John Simpson share stories revealing music's power and significance when reporting from extreme conflict situations.

Clive Myrie is in conversation with news correspondents about the music they’ve heard whilst reporting from the front line. With his own extensive experience of covering wars, and his personal love of opera and jazz, Clive and John Simpson share stories to reveal something of the power and significance of music when working in extreme conflict situations.

The BBC's world affairs editor, John recalls hearing Beethoven’s song: The Pulse of an Irishman at the start of his career as a foreign correspondent in Northern Ireland during the Troubles, whilst learning how to cover wars and deal with danger. He remembers discovering Duke Ellington’s Runnin’ Wild on a 78 record in the main souk in Baghdad in 1990.  It became a constant musical companion, summing up the First Gulf War for him.  He heard Mercedes Sosa sing Como un Pájaro Libre during a momentous time in Argentina, whilst covering the war in the Falklands. And he played Shostakovich’s 7th Symphony throughout the Second Gulf War in 2003 where he came closest to being killed, and covered the civil war until 2011. 

Producer: Natalie Steed
Executive Producer: Rosie Boulton
A Must Try Softer Production

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.

Clive Myrie in conversation with news correspondents about music heard on the front line.

Clive Myrie in conversation with news correspondents about the music they've heard whilst reporting from the front line.

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