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Episode details

Radio 4 Extra,13 Oct 2017,30 mins

St Pancras Pianos

Available for over a year

A lyrical improvisation captures the music and the stories of those who stop to play the street pianos at St Pancras Station in London. With an exploration of the communities the music creates in this transient urban setting. Around 45 million people pass through the station each year, travelling not only to the North of England or Kent, but also to Paris, Brussels and Lille. Visitors who stop unexpectedly - and regulars who come frequently - play the station's unusual street pianos with a wide range of musical styles and ability. Their personal stories reinforce ideas about the universal language of music and its ability to cut across class, nationality, creed and colour. Over the years, top performers from Sir Elton John to Laura Mvula, Jamie Cullum to John Legend, have all played here - with Sir Elton signing and donating a piano. But it's also the story of the ordinary people and the tunes they play. It provides intimate access into strangers’ lives and to this London station at both its busiest and its quietest moments. Producer: Sophie Sparham An Overtone production for ÃÛÑ¿´«Ã½ Radio 4, first broadcast in October 2017.

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