The Lark Ascending

Music Matters

Tom Service talks to one of the most performed living composers by American orchestras - Jonathan Leshnoff. Based in Baltimore, much of his work is inspired by his Jewish faith, including Symphony no. 4 'Heichalos' – recently nominated for a Grammy award – which features a collection of string instruments recovered and rebuilt following the Holocaust - the Violins of Hope.

We hear from bassoonist Linton Stephens who shares his views about how classical music can be made more inclusive.

On the 100th anniversary of the premiere of Vaughan Williams' The Lark Ascending, Tom hears what the work means to three violinists: the American violinist Tai Murray who has performed the work at the Proms; Thomas Gould who recorded the piece with the Sinfonietta Riga; and Jennifer Pike who recently released a recording of the original version with piano. And the author of a forthcoming biography about Vaughan Williams, Ceri Owen, also explains why she feels the shadow of the First World War hangs over the work.

And Tom talks to the Music Publishing Association’s General Manager, Lucie Caswell, and Managing Director at Boosey and Hawkes, Janis Susskind, about how the publishing industry is responding to challenges of COVID-19.