Jamaican Medley
Kate Molleson speaks to Jamaican-born composer Eleanor Alberga about her early days growing up in Kingston.
Eleanor Alberga is a quietly rebellious composer. She draws inspiration from Jamaican folk songs, children's fairytales, ancient mythology - even chemistry. She was one of the first pianists to take modern dance seriously. And as a student, she arrived to performances on a motorcycle. This week, Alberga joins Kate Molleson and takes us on a journey from Kingston to London and beyond.
In today's programme, Kate talks to Alberga about her childhood in Kingston, Jamaica. At an early age she was already writing her own music, but the still largely white and male world of classical music didn’t offer many role models, so they idea of calling herself a composer didn’t occur for many years...
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs: Snow White’s Dance
Taliesin Orchestra, conducted by Peter Ash
Jamaican Medley
Maria Thompson Corley, piano
Nightscape: 1. Sundown, 2. Cicadas, tree-frogs, crickets, party-goers, geckos, dogs, burglars and other nocturnal creatures
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Eleanor Alberga
Nightscape: 3. Into the arms of Morpheus?, 4. Br'er Fox and the Dancing Ghosts
Academy of St Martin in the Fields, conducted by Eleanor Alberga
It’s Time
Junyan Chen, piano
Produced by Alice McKee for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Audio
On radio
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- Mon 6 Oct 2025 16:00ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 3
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