Beethoven's Fifth Symphony

Soul Music

English - February 12, 2013 17:29 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MB - ★★★★★ - 251 ratings
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Previous Episode: Peggy Lee's Is That All There Is?

Next Episode: She Moved through the Fair

More than just 'da da da dum': Beethoven's 5th Symphony is this week's Soul Music.

It accompanied Sir Robin Knox-Johnston on the regular Bombay to Basra route he sailed during his early days in the Merchant Navy.

Archaeologist and crime novelist, Dana Cameron, spent many a long day in a dark, lonely basement analysing artefacts from a merchant's house in Salem, Massachusetts. A CD player was often her only companion and Beethoven's 5th buoyed her through these arduous days working towards her PhD

And for conductor, Christopher Gayford, it was the piece which provided a breakthrough in his musical life. Recalling the time he spent rehearsing it with the Sheffield Youth Orchestra - for a tour in East Germany - he describes the build up to one of the most memorable performances of his career.

Producer: Karen Gregor

First broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in February 2013.