Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Birmingham

Writers from Erasmus Darwin to Jonathan Coe and Clare Morrall on Birmingham - the industrial powerhouse and cultural centre. With music from the CBSO, Ex Cathedra and Laura Mvula.

Actors Helen George and Kevin McNally read works by writers from Erasmus Darwin to Clare Morrall, Jonathan Coe to Roy Fisher and Benjamin Zephaniah which explore Birmingham's history as the industrial powerhouse and cultural centre in a programme which marks the city hosting the Commonwealth Games. Readings pick out the number 62 bus route, Soho Road and the river running alongside the Soho works powering mills into motion, the Dudley Road and "the beat.. which makes this road complete", the "chocolate girls" who work at Bournville, and the day Queen Victoria came to visit and was greeted by 500,000 people. The music includes recordings by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Contemporary Music Group, Ex Cathedra and Laura Mvula.

Readings -
Second City: Birmingham and the Forging of Modern Britain, by Richard Vinen
Astonishing Splashes of Colour, by Clare Morrall
Soho Road Then And Now, by Benjamin Zephaniah - read by the poet
Samuel Langford reviews Gustav Holst conducting five of his The Planets at Birmingham Town Hall, 1920
Moonlight and Gas, by Constance Naden
The Economy of Vegetation, by Erasmus Darwin
Chocolate Girls, by Annie Murray
Arthur and George, by Julian Barnes
Eve's Ransom, by George Gissing
Floozie, by Rachael Nicolas
Birmingham Roller, by Liz Berry - read by the poet
Birmingham River, by Roy Fisher
January, by Charlotte Wetton
Changing Places, by David Lodge
The Rotters' Club, by Jonathan Coe
Turning 30, by Mike Gayle

Producer: Barnaby Gordon

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Sun 24 Jul 2022 17:00
蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

More episodes

Previous

Courtroom Drama

Next

Electricity

See all episodes from Words and Music

Music Played

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

  • Richard Vinen

    Second City: Birmingham and the Forging of Modern Britain, read by Kevin McNally

  • 00:01

    Leos Jan谩膷ek

    Glagolitic Mass (final mvt "Intrada")

    Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI CDC7475042.
    • Tr 4.

  • Clare Morrall

    Astonishing Splashes of Colour, read by Helen George

  • 00:03

    Thomas Newman

    Birmingham (He Named Me Malala

    Conductor: Thomas Newman.
    • Sony Classical 88875153712.
    • Tr 12.

  • Benjamin Zephaniah

    Soho Road Then and Now, read by Benjamin Zephaniah

  • Samuel Langford

    Samuel Langford reviews Gustav Holst conducting five of his The Planets at Birmingham Town Hall, read by Kevin McNally

  • 00:10

    Gustav Holst

    Neptune, the Mystic (The Planets)

    Orchestra: The National Youth Orchestra. Choir: CBSO Youth Chorus. Conductor: Edward Gardner.
    • Chandos CHSA-5179.
    • Tr 26.

  • Constance Naden

    Moonlight and Gas, read by Helen George

  • 00:19

    Laura Mvula

    Sing to the Moon

    Choir: Pembroke College Girls' Choir. Conductor: Anna Lapwood.
    • Signum SIGCD642.
    • Tr 17.

  • Richard Vinen

    Second City: Birmingham and the Forging of Modern Britain, read by Kevin McNally

  • 00:24

    John Adams

    Tromba Lontana

    Performer: Jonathan Holland. Performer: Wesley Warren. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI 503403-2.
    • Tr 5.

  • Erasmus Darwin

    The Economy of Vegetation, read by Helen George

  • 00:27

    Black Sabbath

    Iron Man

    Performer: Black Sabbath.
    • Sanctuary Records 4050538644562.
    • Tr 1.

  • Erasmus Darwin

    The Economy of Vegetation, read by Kevin McNally

  • 00:31

    Leonard Bernstein

    Wonderful Town (Overture)

    Ensemble: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI Classics 7243 556753 2 3.
    • Tr 1.

  • Annie Murray

    Chocolate Girls, read by Helen George

  • 00:38

    Rachel Portman

    Taste of Chocolate

    Conductor: Rachel Portman.
    • Sony Classical SK89472.
    • Tr 16.

  • Richard Vinen

    Second City: Birmingham and the Forging of Modern Britain, read by Kevin McNally

  • 00:42

    Edward Elgar

    The Dream of Gerontius (Rouse Thee, My Fainting Soul)

    Singer: John Mitchinson. Choir: CBSO Chorus. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Warner Classics 0077774954952.
    • Tr.4.
  • 00:45

    Edward Elgar

    The Dream of Gerontius (Pt 2. Andantino)

    Choir: CBSO Chorus. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • Warner Classics 0077774954952.
    • Tr.4.

  • Julian Barnes

    Arthur and George, read by Helen George

  • George Gissing

    Eve鈥檚 Ransom, read by Kevin McNally

  • 00:49

    Dorothy Howell

    The Moorings

    Performer: Lorraine McAslan. Performer: Sophia Rahman.
    • Dutton CDLX7144.
    • Tr 14.

  • Rachael Nicolas

    Floozie, read by Helen George

  • 00:57

    Cerys Matthews

    Birmingham Roller

    Composer: Joe Acheson. Composer: Liz Berry. Performer: Liz Berry. Performer: Cerys Matthews. Orchestra: Hidden Orchestra.
    • Decca 00602435034072.
    • Tr 11.

  • Roy Fisher

    Birmingham River, read by Kevin McNally

  • 01:01

    Friendly Fire Band

    It鈥檚 a Brum Ting

    Performer: Friendly Fire Band.
    • Birmingham Music Archive & Birmingham 2022 Festival.
    • Tr 1.

  • Charlotte Wetton

    January, read by Helen George

  • 01:02

    Soweto Kinch

    A Restless Mind

    Performer: Shabaka Hutchings. Performer: Soweto Kinch. Performer: Karl Rasheed-Abel. Performer: Graham Godfrey.
    • Soweto Kinch Recordings SKP003CD.
    • Tr 2.

  • David Lodge

    Changing Places, ready by Kevin McNally

  • Jonathan Coe

    The Rotters鈥� Club, ready by Helen George

  • 01:07

    Bhujhangy Group

    Itthey Sada Nahin Mauj

    Performer: Bhujhangy Group.
    • Inreco IP-3031.
    • Tr.
  • 01:07

    Mark-Anthony Turnage

    Momentum (conclusion)

    Ensemble: Birmingham Contemporary Music Group. Conductor: Sir Simon Rattle.
    • EMI CDC5550912.
    • Tr 4.

  • Mike Gayle

    Turning 30, read by Kevin McNally

  • 01:15

    John Foulds

    Of Bliss and Vision, Op 61b No 2 (Three Mantras for orchestra)

    Conductor: Sakari Oramo. Choir: CBSO Youth Chorus. Orchestra: City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
    • John Foulds: Mirage/Three Mantras from Avatara: Oramo/CBSO.
    • Warner.
    • 2.

Broadcast

  • Sun 24 Jul 2022 17:00
    蜜芽传媒 Radio 3

The hidden history of plant-based diets

The hidden history of plant-based diets

Forget social media influencers - the meat-free movement started with the Victorians.

Books website

Get closer to books with in-depth articles, quizzes and our picks from radio & TV.