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Three hours of classical sparkle

Sarah Walker with three hours of classical music to reflect, restore and refresh, whether you’re about to tackle a to-do list, or you’re taking some time out with tea and a book.

It’s International Women’s Day! Today, Sarah celebrates music by women composers, from nostalgic film music by Rachel Portman to a sonorous oboe melody in Ruth Gipps’ Song for Orchestra and an uplifting orchestral Benediction by Margaret Bonds.

There’s also a chance to hear the whole of Louise Farrenc’s soaring first symphony, and music from Caroline Shaw’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Partita for 8 Singers is today’s Choral Reflection.

Also, we travel back to medieval times with Kassia and Hildegard of Bingen


A Tandem Production for BBC Radio 3.

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3 hours

Last on

Sun 8 Mar 202609:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

  • CĂ©cile Chaminade

    Flute Concertino, Op 107

    Performer: Sharon Bezaly. Orchestra: Residentie Orkest. Conductor: Neeme JĂ€rvi.
    • Great Works for Flute & Orchestra.
    • BIS.
    • 7.

  • Karen Tanaka

    Water Dance I

    Performer: Signe Bakke.
    • Lindberg Lyd.

  • Hildegard von Bingen

    O Virtus Sapientie Alio Modo

    Music Arranger: Stevie Wishart. Choir: Sinfonye. Conductor: Stevie Wishart.
    • Decca (UMO).

  • Fanny Mendelssohn

    Ouverture (arr for orchestra)

    Music Arranger: JoAnn Falletta. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta. Orchestra: The Women’s Philharmonic.
    • The Women's Philharmonic.
    • Musical Concepts.
    • 1.

  • Agathe Backer-GrĂžndahl

    3 Morceaux, Op 15, arr for brass ensemble (2nd mvt, 'Au Bal')

    Performer: Tine Thing Helseth. Music Arranger: Jarle Storlokken. Ensemble: tenThing.
    • She Composes Like A Man.
    • Lawo Classics.
    • 10.

  • Rachel Portman

    Main Title (Chocolat Soundtrack)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: David Snell.
    • Chocolat (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack).
    • Sony Classical.
    • 2.

  • Elfrida AndrĂ©e

    Symphony No 2 (4th mvt)

    Conductor: Gustaf Sjökvist. Orchestra: Stockholm Symphony Orchestra.
    • Sterling Records.

  • Caroline Shaw

    Partita for 8 Singers (2nd mvt, Sarabande)

    Lyricist: Sol LeWitt. Conductor: Brad Wells. Ensemble: Roomful of Teeth.
    • Roomful of Teeth.
    • New Amsterdam Records.
    • 1.

  • Agnes Tyrrell

    FantasiestĂŒck No 2, WoO

    Performer: Kyra Steckeweh.
    • CPO.

  • Maddalena Lombardini Sirmen

    Violin Concerto in B flat major, Op 3 No 1

    Performer: Zefira Valova. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro.
    • ApartĂ©.

  • Anna Thorvaldsdottir

    Heyr ĂŸĂș oss himnum ĂĄ [Hear us in the Heavens]

    Choir: Schola Cantorum Reykjavicensis. Conductor: Hörður Áskelsson.
    • Meditatio: Music for Mixed Choir.
    • BIS.
    • 110.

  • Margaret Bonds

    Montgomery Variations (No 7, 'Benediction')

    Conductor: Kellen Gray. Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra.
    • African American Voices II.
    • Linn Records.
    • 07.

  • Hania Rani

    Glass

    Performer: Anna Lapwood.
    • Firedove.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 14.

  • Ethel Smyth

    String Quartet in E minor (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Mannheim String Quartet.
    • CPO.

  • Florence Price

    Symphony No 1 in E minor (3rd mvt, 'Juba Dance')

    Orchestra: Chineke! Orchestra. Conductor: Roderick Cox.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd.

  • Jennifer Higdon

    Blue Cathedral

    Orchestra: Atlanta Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Robert Spano.
    • Rainbow Body.
    • Telarc.
    • 4.

  • Kassiani

    I en polles amarties [The Fallen Woman]

    Ensemble: VocaMe.
    • Byzantine Hymns of the first female composer of the Occident.
    • Christophorus.
    • 10.

  • Louise Farrenc

    Symphony No 1 in C minor, Op 32

    Conductor: Christoph König. Orchestra: European Soloists, Luxembourg.
    • Naxos.

  • Ethel Yeats

    Dawn of Spring

    Performer: Elena Urioste. Performer: Tom Poster.

  • Sophia Corri Dussek

    Harp Sonata in C minor, Op 2 No 3 (3rd mvt, Rondo-Allegro)

    Performer: Judy Loman.
    • Harp Showpieces.
    • Naxos.
    • 3.

  • Meredith Monk

    Ellis Island

    Performer: Katia LabĂšque. Performer: Marielle LabĂšque. Performer: Bryce Dessner. Performer: David Chalmin.
    • Universal Music Division Decca Records France.

  • Isabella Leonarda

    12 Sonatas, Op 16, Sonata Settima

    Ensemble: Cappella Strumentale Del Duomo Di Novara.
    • Tactus.

  • Lucy Walker

    O Nata Lux

    Choir: VOCES8.
    • Nightfall.
    • Decca Music Group Ltd.
    • 12.

  • Ruth Gipps

    Song for Orchestra, Op 33

    Conductor: Rumon Gamba. Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Chandos.

Broadcast

  • Sun 8 Mar 202609:00
    BBC Radio 3