Main content

Delius's On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores the vernal landscape that surrounds Delius' joyous ode to spring, including Beethoven's own "Pastoral" and Takemitsu's Tokyo cherry blossom.

Sara Mohr-Pietsch explores the vernal landscape that surrounds Delius' joyous ode to spring, including Schubert's Vienna and Takemitsu's Tokyo cherry blossom. There is folk song from England and Norway and avian renditions from Beethoven's "Pastoral" symphony. Along with a nest-hogging concerto by Vivaldi, Sara reveals exactly how to imitate the call of the cuckoo.

24 days left to listen

1 hour, 29 minutes

Last on

Last Sunday13:30
BBC Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Barber's Adagio

Next

Vivaldi's Stabat Mater

See all episodes from Music Map

Music Played

  • Frederick Delius

    La Calinda (from Koanga)

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Barry Wordsworth.
    • Collins Classics.

  • Anon.

    Sumer is icumen in

    Ensemble: The Dufay Collective.
    • Chandos.

  • Florence Price

    Summer Moon

    Music Arranger: William Newell. Ensemble: Solem Quartet.
    • Orchid Classics.

  • Trad.

    Songs For Mixed Chorus: Sakura (Cherry Blossoms)

    Music Arranger: Toru Takemitsu. Choir: Shinyukai Choir. Conductor: Shin Sekiya.
    • Philips.

  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Rite of Spring: Part 2. Sacrificial Dance

    Orchestra: Orchestre de Paris – Philharmonie. Conductor: Klaus Mäkelä.
    • Decca.

  • Franz Schubert

    Im Frühling, D 882

    Music Arranger: Xandi van Dijk. Ensemble: Signum Quartett.
    • Pentatone.

  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto for violin and orchestra (RV.335) 'Cuckoo': 1. Allegro

    Performer: Elizabeth Wallfisch. Orchestra: Australian Brandenburg Orchestra.
    • ABC Classics.

  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Carnival of the Animals: IX. Le Coucou au fond des bois

    Ensemble: Les Siècles. Conductor: François‐Xavier Roth.
    • Harmonia Mundi.

  • Benjamin Britten

    Music for Friday Afternoons: Cuckoo

    Choir: Vienna Boys' Choir.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 "Pastoral": II. Szene am Bach

    Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe. Conductor: Yannick Nézet‐Séguin.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.

  • The Crazy Star Band

    The Dance of the Cuckoos

    Ensemble: The Crazy Star Band.
    • Spark.

  • Edvard Grieg

    Peer Gynt Suite No.1 Op.46: I. Morning Mood

    Orchestra: BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jerzy Maksymiuk.
    • Naxos.

  • Henry Balfour Gardiner

    Evening Hymn

    Ensemble: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Decca.

  • Percy Grainger

    Country Gardens

    Performer: Martin Jones.
    • Nimbus Records.

  • Richard Strauss

    Four Last Songs: No. 3, Beim Schlafengehen

    Singer: Jessye Norman. Orchestra: Gewandhaus Orchestra. Conductor: Kurt Masur.
    • Philips.

  • Traditional Norwegian

    I Ola-Dalom, I Ola-Kjønn

    Performer: Geir Botnen.
    • Simax.

  • Frederick Delius

    On Hearing the First Cuckoo in Spring

    Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Thomas Beecham.
    • Warner Classics.

Broadcast

  • Last Sunday13:30
    BBC Radio 3