An important new account of the history of music written and presented by one of Britain's most respected broadcasters is the focus of this special competition. The Making of Music shows the BBC at its best, devoting significant airtime to this important project, which is also available to buy on CD and download. Scroll to the bottom of the page for the chance to win one of three copies of the new 6-CD set.
James Naughtie, in this major BBC Radio 4 series, uncovers the roots of our music, revealing how composers and performers, princes, patrons and chance happenings built a classical tradition that has become the soundtrack to our history. Volume 1 takes us from Plainchant to Paganini.
The history of classical music is inextricably linked with the places where it was written, its purposes and patrons - and with politics, war and social change. From the earliest music of the monasteries to the court and church music of the Renaissance and Reformation into the age of democracy, composers changed with the times. They coped with the restraints imposed by religion and state, even as they responded to new ways of thinking, new instruments and the impact of artistic revolutions. Their music speaks of their time as well as their individualism.
Bach and Handel were contemporaries, both German by birth, but the settings in which they worked were strikingly different; Haydn and Mozart relied on rich patrons from whom their musical successors would soon break free. The influence of the French Revolution on Beethoven and others changed the composer's role dramatically; the Romantics bred the big symphony and the conductor, and virtuosi like Liszt, Chopin and Paganini; Italy consummated a love affair with opera which was entwined with its national story; amateur music-making in the nineteenth century helped to create a mass audience that embraced the European tradition and carried it forward.
The Making of Music is a sixty-part series which launches across both BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 3 on Monday 4 June. James Naughtie presents BBC Radio 4's programme at 3.45pm immediately followed at 4pm by an hour on BBC Radio 3, during which time listeners can enjoy full performances of some of the works referred to in the earlier programme.
______________________________________________________________THE COMPETITION:
The competition is now over. Congratulations to the winners: Michael Bradley, Jerome Fester and Christine Ainsworth. Thanks to all who entered.
______________________________________________________________BBC Audiobooks will be publishing The Making of Music Vol 2 on 15th October following the broadcast of the second half of the series on BBC Radio 4 which resumes after the Last Night of the Proms.
The Making of Music Vol. 1 is available from all good bookshops, online at www.bbcshop.com or by BBC Audiobooks direct mail on 0800 136 919
This title is also available to purchase as a download from digital retailers such as Audible, Audioville, Audio-Read, Overdrive, Mediabay, iTunes, 7 Digital, Simply Audiobooks, Spoken Network, TuneTribe and Plays on the Net.
______________________________________________________________Rules, terms and conditions 1. This competition is organised by MusicalCriticism.com. 2. MusicalCriticism.com reserves the right to cancel or amend the competition at any time without prior notice. Any changes will be posted within the competition notice. 3. In the event of a dispute regarding the terms and conditions, conduct, results and all other matters relating to this competition, the decision of the Editor shall be final and no correspondence or discussion shall be entered into. 4. To qualify for this competition you must be a resident of the United Kingdom. 5. Contributors and employees, their associates and members of their families and households are not eligible to enter. 6. Only one entry per person is permitted for this competition. 7. Entries received after the closing date of 16 July 2007 will be automatically disqualified. No purchase required. 8. The winners will be chosen at random after the closing date, from all correct entries received by 16 July 2007. 9. Prizes are non-transferable. No cash alternatives will be offered. Winners will be notified by email and their prizes delivered by post. 10. The winners' names will be posted on this page after the closing date.