BBC Four

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World News Today: 18/01/2008

18/01/2008

BBC News Channel - World News Today, 18/01/2008

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A 24-hour impartial and independent news service offering breaking news, analysis and insight. It provides fast and comprehensive coverage of local, UK and international events.

Soweto Strings

13/01/2008

BBC Four - Soweto Strings

Documentary telling the story of a British music teacher's work in Soweto in South Africa.

Documentary telling the story of a British teacher's adventure in the black township of Soweto, enabling kids to transcend their environment through creative involvement in music.

An immensely moving and inspiring account of a British music teacher's adventure in the black township of Soweto, enabling kids to transcend the constraints of their environment, and find hope through creative involvement in music.

Under the heavily polluted shadow of one of the giant gold-mining slag heaps near Diepfloof, Soweto, in a township still dominated by violence, AIDS, and poverty, children of all ages play Bach, Mozart and Bartok with a verve and flair unique in the world. They play not because of some neo-missionary do-gooder's devotion, but because they feel drawn to music that is at once exotic and deeply familiar.

The Buskaid Music School in Soweto was founded by a distinguished British viola player Rosemary Nalden, who originally came to South Africa at the invitation of a local music teacher. She was so inspired by what she found there that she stayed, and eventually set up her own school, which struggles to keep going on little funding, but which has established itself as an unusual centre of excellence. The Buskaid String Orchestra has toured Europe and the USA several times and received unanimous praise. The Orchestra was invited to play at the 2007 Proms, where the young Sowetans received standing ovations.

Knowledge, arts, music and culture from the UK and the world.

BBC Four reflects arts, music and culture with an ambitious range of intellectually and culturally enriching programmes, taking an expert and in-depth approach to its subjects.

The story of distinguished British viola player Rosemary Nalden , who opened the Buskaid Music School in the South 
African township of Soweto.

Marc Bolan: The Final Word

14/09/2007

BBC Four - Marc Bolan: The Final Word

Documentary which examines Marc Bolan's childhood ambitions of fame and where it led him.

Documentary which examines Marc Bolan's childhood ambitions of fame and where it led him, using TV and radio interviews, Top of the Pops recordings and unique home movies.

Fellow glam rock star Suzi Quatro narrates a documentary which examines Marc Bolan's childhood ambitions of fame and where it led him, using previously lost TV and radio interviews, rediscovered Top of the Pops recordings, unseen concert footage and unique home movies. 

Includes contributions from his companion Gloria Jones, brother Harry Feld, producer Tony Visconti, Queen's Roger Taylor, Steve Harley, Zandra Rhodes and more, with Visconti also deconstructing the track Ride a White Swan.

Marc Bolan: the Final Word

The Pop, What Is It Good For? strand continues. Thirty years after his death, the elfin Marc Bolan's rise to fame with T Rex is retold with a mixture of rare concert footage, home movies, and contributions from friends and contemporaries. See panel.

Pop Britannia

Pop Britannia: Episode 3: Two Tribes

Episode 3

Episode 3: Two Tribes

Two Tribes

BBC Four - Pop Britannia, Two Tribes

A look at music's struggle between the forces of art and commerce from the early 1980s.

Documentary series telling the story of British pop music since the 1950s. This last part looks at the struggle between the forces of art and commerce since the 1980s.

Three-part documentary series telling the story of popular music and its place in British culture since the 1950s. This last part looks at the constant struggle between the forces of art and commerce. In the early 80s, punk-inspired art students such as The Human League and ABC took British pop to the top of the world's charts, but from the late 80s onwards, dynasties of star-makers such as Stock Aitken and Waterman have tried to mould British pop into a highly-profitable production line.

Documentary charting the history of British pop music.

3/3. How the post-punk movement of the early 1980s put British music back in the world spotlight, but also ushered in a new era of manufactured, production-line pop. See page 110.

Tommy

09/04/1999

BBC Two - Tommy

The Who's rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind boy with extraordinary pinball skills.

Ken Russell's flamboyant treatment of The Who's rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind boy who achieves a messianic status as a pinball player.

Ken Russell's flamboyant treatment of The Who's rock opera about a deaf, dumb and blind boy who develops an extraordinary ability at pinball. 

Under his sinister stepfather's influence, he achieves fame and a cult following, but his almost messianic status also spells the beginning of his destruction. 

Featuring musical contributions from a host of rock stars including Elton John, Eric Clapton and Tina Turner.

BBC Two

Knowledge, drama, comedy and the arts for a broad adult audience.

BBC Two is a lively channel of depth and substance, carrying a range of knowledge-building programming complemented by great drama, comedy and arts.

Ken Russell 's satirical adaptation of the rock opera written by Pete Townshend and the Who, starring Roger Daltrey , Oliver Reed and Ann-Margret. A few months after her husband goes missing during the Second World War, Nora Walker gives birth to a son whom she names Tommy. Later, the boy is rendered deaf, dumb and blind, but his life is transformed when he discovers pinball. (1975, 15)

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