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Magic Numbers

Sule Rimi and Alibe Parsons read poems that find beauty and wisdom in digits, numerals, and counting. Accompanied by numerological work from Olivier Messiaen and Iannis Xenakis.

Numbers are beautiful, and mathematics is an art: that is the formula for this episode, in which Sule Rimi and Alibe Parsons read work from poets and philosophers entranced by the beauty, order, irrationality, and infinite wisdom to be found in digits, numerals, and counting.

In addition, they are accompanied by music from composers embedding numerology and codes into their work, including Johann Sebastian Bach, Olivier Messiaen and Iannis Xenakis.

Readings:

Bertrand Russell - The Study of Mathematics (Extract)
Mary Cornish - Numbers
Philip Larkin - Counting
Jo Shapcott - Shapcott's Variation on Schoenberg's orchestration of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, St Anne (Prom 24)
Carl Sandburg - Number Man
Ben Jonson - VI. - To the Same
Emily Dickinson - It’s all I have to bring today
Daniil Kharms - A Sonnet
Velimir Khlebnikov - Numbers
Plato - Epinomis (Extract) (trans. Edith Hamilton, Huntington Cairns)
Emily Dickinson - ‘Tis One by One - the Father counts -
Edna St. Vincent Millay - Euclid alone has looked on Beauty bare
Wisława Szymborska - Pi
Jakob Bernoulli - Treatise on Infinite Series
Douglas Goetsch - Counting
Paul Erdos - a famous quote
Michael Donaghy - Two Spells for Sleeping

Produced by Jack Howson.
A Reduced Listening production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3.

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Sun 1 Nov 2020 17:30
ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3

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Music Played

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

  • 00:00

    Michael Nyman

    Drowning by Number 3 (Drowning by Numbers)

    Ensemble: Michael Nyman Band.

  • Bertrand Russell

    The Study of Mathematics (Extract) read by Alibe Parsons

  • 00:03

    Philip Glass

    Knee Play 1 (Einstein on the Beach)

    Ensemble: Philip Glass Ensemble.

  • Mary Cornish

    Numbers read by Alibe Parsons

  • 00:08

    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Cinque... Dieci... (Le Nozze di Figaro)

    Singer: Nuccia Focile. Singer: Alastair Miles. Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
  • 00:10

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Fugue in E flat major (St Anne), BWV.552

    Music Arranger: Arnold Schoenberg. Orchestra: ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.

  • Philip Larkin

    Counting read by Sule Rimi

  • 00:16

    Johann Sebastian Bach

    Aria da capo (Goldberg Variations, BWV.988)

    Performer: Glenn Gould.

  • Jo Shapcott

    Shapcott's Variation on Schoenberg's orchestration of Bach's Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, St Anne (Prom 24) read by Sule Rimi

  • Carl Sandburg

    Number Man read by Alibe Parsons

  • Ben Jonson

    VI. - To The Same read by Sule Rimi

  • 00:20

    Carl Orff

    Vivamus, mea Lesbia (Catulli Carmina)

    Orchestra: MDR Sinfonieorchester. Conductor: Herbert Kegel.
  • 00:22

    Aleksandra Vrebalov

    Numbers

    Ensemble: Kronos Quartet.

  • Emily Dickinson

    It’s all I have to bring today read by Alibe Parsons

  • Daniil Kharms

    A sonnet read by Sule Rimi

  • 00:29

    Kurt Schwitters

    Drei

    Ensemble: Sprechborer.
  • 00:30

    The Beatles

    Revolution 9

  • Velimir Khlebnikov

    Numbers read by Sule Rimi

  • 00:31

    José Manuel López López

    Calculo secreto

    Performer: Johannes Fischer.

  • Plato

    Epinomis (Extract) read by Alibe Parsons

  • 00:32

    Micachu & the Shapes

    Calculator

  • 00:34

    Olivier Messiaen

    Ile de Feu II (Quatre etudes de rhythme)

    Performer: Yvonne Loriod.

  • Emily Dickinson

    ‘Tis One by One - the Father counts - read by Alibe Parsons

  • Edna St. Vincent Millay

    Euclid alone has looked on Beauty bare read by Sule Rimi

  • 00:39

    Kate Bush

    Pi

  • WisÅ‚awa Szymborska

    Pi read by Sule Rimi

  • 00:47

    Iannis Xenakis

    Pithoprakta

    Orchestra: French National Radio Orchestra. Conductor: Maurice Le Roux.
  • 00:56

    Per Nørgård

    Momentum - cello concerto no.2 (4th mvt: Infinity)

    Performer: Jakob Kullberg. Orchestra: New Music Orchestra. Conductor: Szymon Bywalec.

  • Jakob Bernoulli

    Treatise on Infinite Series read by Sule Rimi

  • Douglas Goetsch

    Counting read by Alibe Parsons

  • 01:04

    Paul Lansky

    Alphanumeric Sound

  • 01:05

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 9 in D minor, Op.125 (Choral)(4th mvt: Presto)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.

  • Paul Erdos

    A famous quote by read by Sule Rimi

  • 01:07

    Blue Claw Philharmonic

    Ode to Joy (Sleep Baby Music Mix)

  • Michael Donaghy

    Two Spells For Sleeping read by Sule Rimi

  • 01:08

    Ludovico Einaudi

    Numbers

Broadcast

  • Sun 1 Nov 2020 17:30
    ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3

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