A land without music?

How we value music

A land without music?
In the first episode of A land without music? we look at how the value of music both to individuals and to society and ask why those in power, don't always recognise this value.
Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
With series guests Sally Beamish, Daisy Fancourt, Peter Flach, Jess Gillam, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Sadie Harrison, Iain McGilchrist, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Nico Muhly, John Pickard and Jörg Widmann.
Produced by Sound World
Music
The Grace of Silence by Evelyn Glennie (performed by Harriet Riley and Paul Israel). Listen on Apple Music or Spotify
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet).Listen here.
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)
For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org
 

Discovering music

In episode two of A land without music? our guests talk about how they discovered music and what enabled them to develop their interest into a life-long passion; and we ask whether they would have had such opportunities had they been growing up today.
Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
With series guests Sally Beamish, Daisy Fancourt, Peter Flach, Jess Gillam, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Sadie Harrison, Iain McGilchrist, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Nico Muhly, John Pickard and Jörg Widmann.
Produced by Sound World
Music
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet).Listen here.
The Grace of Silence by Evelyn Glennie (performed by Harriet Riley and Paul Israel). Listen on Apple Music or Spotify
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)
For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

The Jess Gillam Interview

In a departure from our usual themed episodes in which our guests discuss a particular aspect of music, we're introducing the first in a series of bonus episodes featuring the full length interviews that we recorded for the main strand of A land without music? 
Jess Gillam was described by The Times as “uniquely mercurial” “one of Britain’s most virtuosic instrumentalists” and “an inspiring personality”. The Huffington Post went with, “she frankly rocks”.
As well as being a fantastic saxophonist, committed to broadening the repertoire for her instrument, she also became BBC Radio 3’s youngest ever presenter with her award winning show, This classical life.
Written and presented by Julian LeeksProduced by Sound WorldMusic:A Spiral Ascending composed by Edmund Finnis and performed by Jess Gillam (listen here)In The Steps of Apollo composed by Julian Leeks and performed by Zelkova Quartet (listen here)
 

Music in Eduction Part 1: what children gain from music.

In episode four of A land without music? our guests talk about what music education brings to children. Musicians will instinctively understand the huge social and developmental benefits of music; how it helps confidence and well-being; how it promotes engagement with the outside world and improves communication skills. Crucially, we hear how music can be an antidote to the stresses and pressures of the modern world.
But it's not just musicians...
Prof Daisy Fancourt has been at the forefront of research in this area for over a decade and we hear from her how this isn't just a matter of perception or anecdotal evidence, it's verifiable scientific fact.
Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
With guests Sally Beamish, Daisy Fancourt, Peter Flach, Jess Gillam, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Guy Guerrini, Sadie Harrison, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason & Ingrid McLean.
Produced by Sound World
Music
April by Sally Beamish (performed by Mary Barrett, Tomáš Klement and Harriet Riley). Listen on Apple Music or Spotify
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet).Listen here.
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)
For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

The Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason Interview

Today’s episode is the second of our bonus episodes featuring full length versions of the interviews that we recorded for the main strand of A land without music?
Our guest is Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, mother of 7 talented children, all of whom are classical musicians. Her memoir, House of Music: Raising the Kanneh-Masons, won the Royal Philharmonic Society’s Storytelling Award in November 2021 and the following year she was awarded an Honorary Fellowship of The Royal Academy of Music. Kadiatu is also a tireless campaigner for music in education.
Written and presented by Julian Leeks
Produced by Sound World
Music:
Altissima Luce composed by Gavin Bryars and performed by Mary Barrett, Fran Higgs and Juliet McCarthy (listen here)
In The Steps of Apollo composed by Julian Leeks and performed by Zelkova Quartet (listen here)

The thinking behind the series

Episode six is a special short episode made in response to emails we’ve received asking about the motivating factors behind the making of A land without music?
Those who have heard earlier episodes will be aware that we believe music in the UK is in poor and declining health. In this episode we look at the evidence that led us to have these concerns.
Please send comments or suggestions to info@sound-world.org or post to our Facebook page SoundWorldUK.
A land without music? is written and presented by Julian Leeks
Produced by Sound World.
MusicThe Grace of Silence by Evelyn Glennie (performed by Harriet Riley and Paul Israel). Listen on Apple Music or Spotify
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet).Listen here.
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

Music in Education Part 2: what we teach.

In episode seven of A land without music? our guests talk about what are the essential elements of music that all children should be taught. In a changing world of developing technology, multiculturalism and ever greater timetable and syllabus pressure, it's all a lot more complicated than it used to be. 
Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
With guests Sally Beamish, Daniel Kidane, Jess Gillam, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Sadie Harrison, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Nico Muhly, John Pickard & Jörg Widmann.
Produced by Sound World
Music
Trombone Phrases by Nico Muhly. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet).Listen here.
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)
To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.
For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

The Nico Muhly Interview

Today's episode is the third of our bonus episodes featuring the full length interviews that we recorded for the main strand of A land without music? 
Our guest, Nico Muhly, is an American composer whose wide ranging work includes orchestral and chamber music, operas, songs and music for film and TV. Since his early days as an archivist for Philip Glass he has worked with many of the worlds major orchestras and opera companies as well as musicians such as Sofjan Steven’s, Bryce Dessner and Björk.
Written and presented by Julian LeeksProduced by Sound World
Music:Trombone Phrases by Nico Muhly. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet).Listen here.
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)
To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.
For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

Music in Education Part 3: how we teach music.

In episode nine of A land without music? our guests discuss the practical issues of teaching music including timetable pressure, the allocation of scarce resources and the multiplicity of genres competing for our attention. 
Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
With guests Hilary Dunford, Peter Flach, Daniel Kidane, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Guy Guerrini, Sadie Harrison, Ingrid McLean, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason & John Pickard.
Produced by Sound World
Music
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet).Listen here.
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)
To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.
For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

The John Pickard Interview

Today’s episode is one of the bonus episodes featuring full length versions of the interviews recorded the main strand of A land without music?
Our guest is a Bristol based Burnley born composer John Pickard. John's works includes six symphonies, two concertos, songs, chamber pieces and six string quartets.
His orchestral piece The Flight of Icarus was described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "...a contender for the most exciting première of the year" and The Times commented that "his orchestral mastery is total".
Written and presented by Julian Leeks.
Produced by Sound World
Music
The Grace of Silence by Evelyn Glennie (performed by Harriet Riley and Paul Israel). Listen on Apple Music or Spotify
In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.
Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)
For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org