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Keep Calm and Carry On

With extracts from Dr Adam Kay's This Is Going to Hurt, Jerome K Jerome's Three Men in a Boat, Beryl Bainbridge's novel about the Titanic and Caleb Femi's poem Coping.

Keep Calm and Carry On 鈥� a slogan that, in World War II, captured the essence of stoicism 鈥� and which is often still apposite today. As a prelude to Mental Health Awareness Week, the theme of which this year is 鈥渁nxiety鈥�, today鈥檚 programme explores the idea of keeping calm in the face of stress or adversity. We鈥檒l have sage advice from Ancient Greek philosopher Epictetus, the best-selling Little Book of Calm, and The Hitchhiker鈥檚 Guide to the Galaxy 鈥� the famous cover of which offers the simple practical motto: 鈥淒on鈥檛 panic.鈥� We鈥檒l hear from Sir Francis Drake, who was determined to finish his game of bowls before fighting the Spanish Armada, and Adam Kay, the NHS doctor who has to cope with being left in charge of his hospital patients overnight.

Shakespeare's Lady Macbeth urges her anxiety-stricken murderous husband simply to wash away the blood; James Bond keeps his cool against a shark attack; and the audience at the premiere of one of Haydn鈥檚 London symphonies still enjoy the concert despite almost being crushed by a falling chandelier. Caleb Femi鈥檚 poem Coping speaks movingly about personal loss, and Anita Moorjani attributes her recovery from terminal cancer to her positive mindset.

The music includes a calm operatic moment from Beethoven鈥檚 Fidelio, soothing tracks by Grace Williams and Anna Clyne, and Sam Ryder鈥檚 nul points-defying UK Eurovision 2022 entry offers solace to lonely space travellers.

Our readers are Colin McFarlane and Madeline Smith - veteran of British film institutions Hammer Horror, James Bond and, most appositely, the Carry Ons.

Producer: Graham Rogers

READINGS:
William Shakespeare: Macbeth
Paul Wilson: The Little Book of Calm
Beryl Bainbridge: Every Man For Himself
Jerome K. Jerome: Three Men in a Boat
Albert Christoph Dies: Haydn: Two Contemporary Portraits
Maurice Riordan: The Billboard
H. E. Bates: The Darling Buds of May
Ian Fleming: Live and Let Die
Anita Moorjani: Dying to be Me
Caleb Femi: Coping
Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan: Black Books
Christina Rosetti: Remember
Francis Drake: Disturb us, Lord
William Wharton: A Midnight Clear
Adam Kay: This Is Going To Hurt
Douglas Adams: The Hitchhiker鈥檚 Guide to the Galaxy
Tishani Doshi: Poems Lull Us Into Safety

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Sun 7 May 2023 17:30
蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

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Music Played

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

  • 00:01

    Geraldine Mucha

    Macbeth Suite - Introduction

    Orchestra: Hradec Kr谩lov茅 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andreas Sebastian Weiser.
    • Arco Diva UP 01922231.
    • 2.

  • William Shakespeare

    Macbeth 聳 excerpt, read by Colin McFarlane and Madeline Smith

  • 00:03

    Geraldine Mucha

    Macbeth Suite - Introduction

    Orchestra: Hradec Kr谩lov茅 Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Andreas Sebastian Weiser.
    • Arco Diva UP 01922231.
    • 2.
  • 00:04

    Amy Beach

    By the Still Waters

    Performer: Isata Kanneh鈥怣ason.
    • Decca 4851663.
    • 12.
  • 00:07

    Hannah Peel

    The Universe Before Matter (from The Unfolding)

    Orchestra: Paraorchestra. Conductor: Charles Hazlewood.
    • Real World 00884108010501.
    • 1.

  • Paul Wilson

    The Little Book of Calm 聳 excerpts, read by Madeline Smith and Colin McFarlane

  • Beryl Bainbridge

    Every Man For Himself 聳 excerpt, read by Madeline Smith

  • 00:09

    Hubert Parry

    Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

    Performer: Grimethorpe Colliery Band.
    • Black Sheep Music 888002392343.
    • 4.
  • 00:10

    Hubert Parry

    Dear Lord and Father of Mankind

    Choir: Choir of King鈥檚 College, Cambridge. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
    • Warner 5099932731552.
    • 6.
  • 00:11

    Algernon Drummond

    The Eton Boating Song

    Ensemble: The Band of the Grenadier Guards.
    • Sharp Edge Records 5051509132087.
    • 4.

  • Jerome K. Jerome

    Three Men in a Boat 聳 excerpt, read by Colin McFarlane

  • 00:13

    Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No.96 in D 'The Miracle' - Finale

    Ensemble: Academy of Ancient Music. Conductor: Christopher Hogwood.
    • Decca 00028947591115.
    • 4.

  • Albert Christoph Dies, trans. Vernon Gotwals

    Haydn: Two Contemporary Portraits 聳 excerpt, read by Madeline Smith

  • 00:16

    Arthur Sullivan

    In a contemplative fashion (from The Gondoliers)

    Librettist: William Gilbert. Singer: Elsie Morison. Singer: Marjorie Thomas. Singer: Richard Lewis. Singer: John Cameron. Orchestra: Pro Arte Orchestra. Conductor: Malcolm Sargent.
    • Warner 5099909509757.
    • Tr 7.

  • Maurice Riordan

    The Billboard, read by Colin McFarlane

  • 00:19

    Claude Debussy

    Clair de lune

    Performer: Jean鈥怸ves Thibaudet.
    • Decca 460247-2.
    • 7.

  • H. E. Bates

    The Darling Buds of May 聳 excerpt, read by Madeline Smith

  • 00:24

    George Martin

    Trespassers Will Be Eaten (from Live and Let Die 聳 music for the film)

    Performer: George Martin (conductor).
    • Capitol Records 05099992841550.
    • 11.

  • Ian Fleming

    Live and Let Die 聳 excerpt, read by Colin McFarlane

  • 00:26

    Grace Williams

    Calm Sea in Summer (Sea Sketches)

    Orchestra: English Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: David Atherton.
    • Lyrita SRCD323.
    • 17.

  • Anita Moorjani

    Dying to be Me 聳 excerpt, read by Madeline Smith

  • 00:32

    Miles Davis

    He Loved Him Madly

    Performer: Miles Davis.
    • Columbia G010000670108U.
    • 1.

  • Caleb Femi

    Coping, read by Colin McFarlane

  • 00:34

    Alexis Ffrench

    Walk With Us (for Black Lives Matter)

    Performer: Alexis Ffrench.
    • Sony G010004436374C.
    • 15.
  • 00:36

    Max Steiner

    A Summer Place

    Performer: Percy Faith & His Orchestra.
    • Acrobat 888002589040.
    • 10.

  • Dylan Moran, Graham Linehan

    Black Books 聳 excerpt, read by Madeline Smith and Colin McFarlane

  • 00:38

    Johann Strauss II

    Rosen aus dem Suden - Waltz

    Music Arranger: Arnold Schoenberg. Ensemble: Linos Ensemble.
    • Capriccio C5004.
    • 2.

  • Carry On Up the Khyber

  • 00:41

    Anna Clyne

    When you're broken open (from Dance)

    Performer: Inbal Segev. Orchestra: London Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Marin Alsop.
    • Avie AV2419.
    • 1.

  • Christina Rosetti

    Remember, read by Madeline Smith

  • 00:45

    Paul Simon

    Quiet

    Performer: Paul Simon.
    • Legacy G010001989885C.
    • 11.
  • 00:49

    Hannah Peel

    The Universe Before Matter (from The Unfolding)

    Orchestra: Paraorchestra. Conductor: Charles Hazlewood.
    • Real World 00884108010501.
    • 1.

  • Epictetus

    Quotations read by Colin McFarlane and Madeline Smith

  • 00:51

    William Byrd

    The March Before the Battle

    Performer: Dowland Consort.
    • BIS BISCD451.
    • 1.

  • Visit Plymouth website

    Sir Francis Drake, read by Colin McFarlane

  • 00:52

    John Dowland

    A Dream - fantasia

    Performer: Jakob Lindberg.
    • BIS BIS2082.
    • 15.

  • Francis Drake

    Disturb us, Lord, read by Madeline Smith

  • 00:53

    Gracie Fields

    Wish me luck as you wave me goodbye

    • Music Today Records 5051509109058.
    • 1.
  • 00:54

    罢谤盲诲

    O Tannenbaum

    Performer: Sunday Night Piano Club.
    • Pianoramix 5037300002262.
    • 7.

  • William Wharton

    A Midnight Clear 聳 excerpt, read by Colin McFarlane

  • 00:56

    Jerry Goldsmith

    Theme from Dr. Kildare

    Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra.
    • Silva Screen TVPMCD807.
    • Tr 25.

  • Adam Kay

    This Is Going To Hurt 聳 excerpt, read by Madeline Smith

  • 00:58

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Mir ist so Wunderbar (from Fidelio)

    Singer: Juliane Banse. Singer: Angela Denoke. Singer: Rainer Trost. Singer: L谩szl贸 Polg谩r. Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Warner 5099945757358.
    • 6.
  • 01:01

    Janet Beat

    Dancing on Moonbeams

    • Trunk Records JBH091LP.
    • 1.

  • Douglas Adams

    The Hitch Hiker聮s Guide to the Galaxy 聳 excerpt, read by Madeline Smith and Colin McFarlane

  • 01:04

    Sam Ryder

    SPACE MAN

    • Parlophone UK 190296301537.
    • 1.
  • 01:08

    Amjad Ali Khan

    Serenity (Raga Jaijaivanti)

    Performer: Amjad Ali Khan.
    • Music Today 829410863865.
    • 1.

  • Tishani Doshi

    Poems Lull Us Into Safety, read by Madeline Smith

Broadcasts

  • Sun 12 Jun 2022 17:30
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 3
  • Sun 7 May 2023 17:30
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

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