Relayed from the National Museum of Wales.

National Orchestra of Wales

Haydn was fond of giving descriptive titles to his symphonies, such as The Hen, The Philosopher, The Queen of France, The Bear, and so on. This Military Symphony is so called because in the second and fourth Movements Haydn used the Triangle, Cymbals and Big Drum-an exceptional battery to include in an Orchestra in his time.
There are four Movements in the work, of which we are to hear the last three.
The Second Movement is a cheerful, light piece, in which the extra percussion instruments first appear.
The Third Movement is a graceful Minuet, and the Fourth a jiggish, frolicsome Movement, with the Drums and Cymbals and Triangle coming in, near the end, for all they are worth.

(to 13.45)

S.B. from Liverpool

Relayed from the Glen Pavilion Clifton, Bristol.

The Overture to Coriolanus, listeners may remember, was not written for Shakespeare's tragedy, but it is possible that (as Wagner thought) the composer had in mind when writing it the scene in that play in which Coriolanus yields to the prayers of his wife and mother, and refuses to besiege his native city, from which he had been banished. For this, his allies condemned him to death. The two chief melodies employed may well stand, the first for the hero, and the gentler second for the women.
At the end, the opening melody is heard in faltering, weakened tones, and we realise the tragedy of the hero's death.

(9.30 Local Announcements)
(to 23.00)