The Essay: Forever Songs

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

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The Essay: Forever Songs: Time Has told Me

Time Has told Me

Forever Songs

BBC Radio 3 - The Essay, Forever Songs, Time Has told Me

Karine Polwart considers music's ritual power to connect, soothe, honour and remember.

Musician Karine Polwart recounts a unique collaboration during the lockdown of 2020, considering in this essay the power of song to transport us to a place and time.

In the depths of lockdown during 2020 multi-award winning musician Karine Polwart offered to play a private gig for neighbour and local legend Al Beck just weeks before he would die from cancer.

The resulting correspondence became an unexpectedly rewarding collaboration as they shared their love of music through Al's choice of songs. In this essay Karine considers the power of song to transport us to a place and time conjuring up important moments in our lives.

Written and Presented by Karine Polwart
Producer by Peter McManus
Mixed by Sean Mullervy

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.

Karine Polwart considers the ritual power of music to connect, soothe, honour and remember

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