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An English countryside calendar

Poetry, prose and music celebrating the English country calendar to mark 250 years since the birth of the painter John Constable.

Few artists evoke the British landscape so unforgettably as John Constable, with paintings like The Haywain, The Cornfield and A Country Lane bringing to mind the timeless cycle of the seasons. And so we celebrate English rural life in honour of Constable's birth 250 years ago with the actor and farmer Martin Clunes and The Archers actor Louiza Patikas. Their readings will connect us with rural bliss in John Clare’s Farm Breakfast, with the starker realities of life in the country in Stella Gibbons' Cold Comfort Farm and the unalloyed beauty of the land with John Keats, Gillian Clarke and Thomas Hardy. There is music tracking the seasons and celebrating sowing, growth and harvest, from Bach’s Sheep May Safely Graze to Chaminade's Automne to Vaughan William’s Pastoral Symphony.

Your readers are the actor and farmer Martin Clunes and Louiza Patikas, who plays Helen in The Archers on BBC Radio 4.

READINGS:
Anthony Bailey - John Constable: A Kingdom of His Own
Virgil - Georgics
William Wordsworth - Lines Written in Early Spring
Thomas Hardy - Jude the Obscure
John Clare - Farm Breakfast
Christina Rossetti - Spring
Edna St Vincent Millay - April
Anthony Bailey - John Constable: A Kingdom of His Own
Flora Thompson - Lark Rise to Candleford
Joe Dunthorn - Wild Abandon
Bella Bathurst - Field Work
Henry David Thoreau - Walden
Mimi Khalvati - The Black and White Cows
DH Lawrence - The Rainbow
George Eliot - Adam Bede
Anthony Bailey - John Constable: A Kingdom of His Own
Gillian Clarke - Plums
AG Street - Farmer’s Glory
John Keats – To Autumn
Andrew Miller - The Land in Winter
Emily Bronte - Spellbound
Stella Gibbons - Cold Comfort Farm
Helen McDonald - H is for Hawk
Gerard Manley Hopkins - Spring

Produced in Salford by Olive Clancy

21 days left to listen

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Last Sunday18:00
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:00

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sheep may safely graze orch. from Cantata BWV.208 (Was mir behagt.....)

    Ensemble: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Ensemble: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Music Arranger: Neville Marriner. Music Arranger: Neville Marriner.
    • EMI Classics.
    • Tr1.

  • Anthony Bailey

    John Constable, A Kingdom of His Own read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:02

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sheep may safely graze orch. from Cantata BWV.208 (Was mir behagt.....)

    Ensemble: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Music Arranger: Neville Marriner.
    • Best of the Academy.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 1.

  • Virgil

    Georgics read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:05

    Claude Debussy

    Printemps L 61 (Part 2, Modéré)

    Performer: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic.
    • Onyx.
    • Tr2.
  • 00:07

    Claude Debussy

    Printemps L 61 (Part 2, Modéré)

    Performer: Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Printemps L 61 (Part 2, Modéré).
    • Onyx.
    • 2.

  • William Wordsworth

    Lines Written in Early Spring read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:09

    Frederick Delius

    North Country Sketches - IV. The march of Spring

    Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Sony.
    • Tr5.
  • 00:10

    Frederick Delius

    North Country Sketches - IV. The march of Spring

    Performer: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Frederick Delius: Orchestral Music.
    • Sony.
    • 5.

  • Thomas Hardy

    Jude the Obscure read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:12

    George Butterworth

    2 English idylls for orchestra: No. 1, Allegro scherzando

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
    • BIS.
    • Tr9.

  • John Clare

    Farm Breakfast read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:14

    George Butterworth

    2 English idylls for orchestra: No. 1, Allegro scherzando

    Orchestra: BBC National Orchestra of Wales.
    • Butterworth: Orchestral Works & Works for Voice & Orchestra.
    • BIS.
    • 9.

  • Christina Rossetti

    Spring read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:17

    Yi-Qiang Sun

    Dance of Spring

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Deutsche Grammophon.
    • n/a.
  • 00:19

    Yi-Qiang Sun

    Dance of Spring

    Performer: Lang Lang.
    • Dragon Songs.
    • DG.
    • 1.

  • Edna St Vincent Millay

    April read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:21

    Ella Fitzgerald

    Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

    • Verve.
    • Tr5.
  • 00:22

    Ella Fitzgerald

    Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most

    • Whisper Not.
    • Verve.
    • 5.

  • Anthony Bailey

    A Kingdom of His Own read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:26

    Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in G minor, "Summer" (L'estate), Op 8 No 2, RV 315 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Rakhi Singh. Ensemble: Manchester Collective.
    • Bedroom Community.
    • Tr2.
  • 00:27

    Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in G minor, "Summer" (L'estate), Op 8 No 2, RV 315 (1st mvt)

    Performer: Rakhi Singh. Ensemble: Manchester Collective.
    • Bedroom Community.
    • Recreation EP.
    • 5.

  • Flora Thompson

    Lark Rise to Candleford

  • 00:28

    Doreen Carwithen

    Suffolk Suite for orchestra: no.3; Suffolk Morris: Ritmico

    Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Chandos.
    • Tr8.

  • Joe Dunthorn

    Wild Abandon read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:31

    Doreen Carwithen

    Suffolk Suite for orchestra: no.3; Suffolk Morris: Ritmico

    Performer: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Carwithen: Orchestral Music.
    • Chandos.
    • 8.
  • 00:32

    George Formby

    A Farmer's Boy

    • One Day Music.
    • Tr46.

  • Bella Bathurst

    Field Work read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:33

    Gary Judd

    British Summer Time

    Performer: Gary Judd.
    • Compendium Recordings.
    • n/a.
  • 00:33

    George Formby

    A Farmers Boy

    • The Very Best of George Formby.
    • One Day Music.
    • 46.
  • 00:35

    Gary Judd

    British Summer Time

    Performer: Gary Judd.
    • Field Sketches for Orchestra.
    • Compendium Recordings.
    • 1.

  • Henry David Thoreau

    Walden read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:36

    Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita

    Listen to the Grass grow

    • bendigedig.
    • Tr6.

  • Mimi Khalavati

    The Black and White Cows read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:40

    Alberto Ginastera

    Estancia, Op. 8 (Wheat Dance & The Farm Workers)

    Performer: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos.
    • Tr9.
  • 00:37

    Catrin Finch

    Listen to the Grass grow

    Composer: Seckou Keita. Performer: Catrin Finch.
    • Soar.
    • bendigedig.
    • 6.

  • DH Lawrence

    The Rainbow read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:42

    Alberto Ginastera

    Estancia, Op. 8 (Wheat Dance & The Farm Workers)

    Performer: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Ginastera Orchestral Works 1.
    • Chandos.
    • 1.

  • George Eliot

    Adam Bede read by Louize Patikas

  • 00:42

    Trad.

    Turners Waltz from Far From the Maddening Crowd

    Performer: Eliza Carthy.
    • Sony Classical.
    • Tr17.
  • 00:44

    Ralph Vaughan Williams

    A Farmer's son so sweet - arr. for chorus

    Performer: Joyful Company of Singers.
    • Albion Records.
    • Tr17.
  • 00:45

    Ralph Vaughan Williams

    A Farmer's son so sweet (arr. for chorus)

    Performer: The Joyful Company of Singers.
    • A Farmer's son so sweet - arr. for chorus.
    • Albion Recordings.
    • 17.

  • Anthony Bailey

    A Kingdom of His Own read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:46

    Cécile Chaminade

    6 Etudes de concert - book 1 Op.35 for piano: no.2; Automne

    Performer: Michael Guttman.
    • Decca.
    • Tr5.
  • 00:47

    Cécile Chaminade

    6 Etudes de concert - book 1 Op.35 for piano: no.2; Automne

    Performer: Michael Guttman.
    • Milhaud: Concertino de printemps / Rodrigo: Concierto de estio / Chaminade: Auto.
    • Decca.
    • 5.

  • Gillian Clarke

    Plums read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:49

    Caroline Shaw

    Plan and Elevation V The Beech TreePlan & Elevation: V. The Beech Tree Plan & Elevation: V. The Performer: Attaca Quartet

    • New Amsterdam/Nonesuch.
    • Tr7.
  • 00:51

    Caroline Shaw

    Plan and Elevation V The Beech TreePlan & Elevation

    Ensemble: Attacca Quartet.
    • New Orange.
    • New Amsterdam/Nonesuch.
    • 8.

  • AG Street

    Farmer’s Glory read by Martin Clunes

  • 00:52

    Herbie Hancock

    Harvest Time

    Performer: Herbie Hancock.
    • Sony.
    • Tr4.
  • 00:54

    Herbie Hancock

    Harvest Time

    Performer: Herbie Hancock.
    • The Piano.
    • Sony.
    • 4.

  • John Keats

    Autumn read by Louiza Patikas

  • 00:55

    Laura Marling

    Goodbye England (covered in snow)

    Performer: Laura Marling.
    • Virgin.
    • Tr5.
  • 00:57

    Laura Marling

    Goodbye England (covered in snow)

    Performer: Laura Marling.
    • I speak because i can.
    • Virgin.
    • 1.

  • Andrew Miller

    The Land in Winter

  • 00:57

    Grieg

    Two Melodies Op 63 Cow Keepers Tune

    Performer: Charles Mackerras.
    • Sunday Club Records.
    • Tr9.
  • 00:59

    Edvard Grieg

    Two Melodies Op 63 Cow Keepers Tune

    Performer: Charles Mackerras.
    • Mackerras Conducts.
    • Sunday Club Records.
    • 9.

  • Emily Bronte

    Spellbound read by Louiza Patikas

  • 01:00

    Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Dark Pastoral for cello and orchestra (final section)

    Performer: Guy Johnston.
    • Dutton Epoch.
    • Tr10.
  • 01:02

    Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Dark Pastoral for cello and orchestra (final section)

    Performer: Guy Johnston.
    • Vaughan Williams: Early and Late Works.
    • Dutton Epoch.
    • 10.

  • Stella Gibbons

    Cold Comfort Farm read by Martin Clunes

  • 01:04

    Fergus McCreadie

    The Unfurrowed Field

    Performer: Fergus McCreadie.
    • Edition Records.
    • Tr2.
  • 01:05

    Fergus McCreadie

    The Unfurrowed Field

    Performer: Fergus McCreadie.
    • The Forrest Floor.
    • Edition Records.
    • 2.

  • Helen McDonald

    H is for Hawk read by Louiza Patikas

  • 01:08

    Lili Boulanger

    D'un matin de printemps

    Performer: Orchestre national de Lyon.
    • Bru Zane.
    • Tr3.
  • 01:09

    Lili Boulanger

    D'un matin de printemps

    Performer: Orchestre national de Lyon.
    • Aux étoiles - French Symphonic Poems.
    • Bru Zane.
    • 3.

  • Gerard Manley Hopkins

    Spring read by Martin Clunes

Broadcast

  • Last Sunday18:00
    BBC Radio 3

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