Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | A Legacy Reborn 1620-1625 | 20240614 | Orlando Gibbons's life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England's most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons. Today, Donald Macleod looks at the considerable turmoil in the royal court, whilst Gibbons consolidated his position as the leading musician in the land. Fantasia No 1 for the Great Double Bass The Rose Consort of Viols Fantasia No 2 a 6 The Hunt's Up (Peascod time) Phantasm The Second Service (Morning): Te Deum Peter Harvey, baritone Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford Fretwork Bill Ives, conductor Fantasia No 4 a 6 Attacca Quartet The Cryes of London I & II Theatre of Voices Paul Hillier, director Blessed are all they that fear the Lord Oxford Clerks David Wulstan, director Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC Audio Wales & West By 1623 Orlando Gibbons had consolidated his position as the leading musician in the land. By 1623 Orlando Gibbons had consolidated his position as the leading musician in the land, but there was considerable turmoil in the court. | |
| 2024 | 01 | What Is Our Life? 1583-1603 | 20240610 | Orlando Gibbons's life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England's most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons. Today, Donald Macleod looks at Gibbons's early life in Cambridge and Oxford, where he grew up amongst a highly musical family. But it was Orlando who blazed the trail, making the jump from provincial music-making to the royal court in London. The Silver Swan Cambridge Singers John Rutter, conductor O clap your hands Out of the Deep Oxford Camerata Jeremy Summerly, director A Fancy (for Double Organ) Jonathan Hardy, organ Behold, thou hast made my days We praise thee, O Father Magdalena Consort Fretwork Peter Harvey, director What Is Our life? Rudolfus Choir Ralph Allwood, conductor I am the resurrection Hosanna to the Son of David Stile Antico How art thou thralled Farewell all joys Now each flowery bank of May Consort of Musicke Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC Audio Wales & West Gibbons's early life in Cambridge and Oxford, amidst Britain's political turbulence. |
| 2024 | 02 | The Court Musician And The British Problem 1603-1612 | 20240611 | Orlando Gibbons's life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England's most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons. Today, Donald Macleod looks at Gibbons's life in the royal household of the newly crowned king, James VI of Scotland and I of England. Gibbons's ascent seems to have been a confident and steady one, from unpaid Gentleman Extraordinary in 1603 to senior organist just before James's funeral in 1625. Great King of Gods Robert Quinney, organ Westminster Abbey Choir James O'Donnell, conductor Pavan a 6 The Rose Consort of Viols Pavan and galliard Lord Salisbury Glenn Gould, piano Fantasies in Three Parts Compos'd for Viols No 6, No 8, No 9 London Baroque This is the Record of John Fantasia No 10 in C Major Jeffrey Thomas, tenor University of California Chamber Chorus Berkeley Festival Consort of Viols John Butt, director Ne'er let the Sun Yet if that age Trust not too much fair youth Consort of Musicke Lift Up Your Heads Oxford Camerata Jeremy Summerly, director Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC Audio Wales & West Gibbons joins the royal household of the newly crowned King James. Gibbons joins the royal household of the newly crowned king, James VI of Scotland and I of England. |
| 2024 | 03 | The New Band In Town 1612-1617 | 20240612 | Orlando Gibbons's life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England's most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons. Today, Donald Macleod looks at the new musical group formed by King James's only surviving son, the Prince of Wales, the future Charles I. Fantasia No 1 for Two Trebles The Rose Consort of Viols Nay let me weep Consort of Musicke William Byrd Fair Britain Isle Gérard Lesne, countertenor Ensemble Orlando Gibbons Directed by Wieland Kuijken Fantazia of Four Parts (MB 20/12) Laurence Cummings, harpsichord O God, the king of glory Oxford Camerata Jeremy Summerly, director In Nomine for 5 Viols Fantasia No. 2 for 3 Viols L'achéron Glorious and Powerful God See, see the word is incarnate Fretwork His Majestys Sagbutts & Cornetts Magdalena Consort Peter Harvey O Lord, in thy wrath Choir of Clare College, Cambridge Conducted by Timothy Brown
Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC Audio Wales & West Gibbons joins the new musical group formed by the Prince of Wales, the future Charles I. Gibbons - firmly established at the Jacobean Court - joins the new musical group formed by the Prince of Wales, the future Charles I. |
| 2024 | 04 | \u2018the Best Finger Of That Age' 1617-1620 | 20240613 | Orlando Gibbons's life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England's most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons. Today, Donald Macleod looks at the last - eventful - decade of Gibbons's short life, and we meet the notorious George Villiers, who rose from lowly second son of a minor gentleman from Leicestershire to become the Duke of Buckingham, becoming the only English Duke beyond the Royal Family itself. Drop, drop, slow tears (arr. P. Dearmer) Gabrieli Consort and Players Paul McCreesh, director Do not repine, fair sun – Parts I and II Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints Magdalena Consort Fretwork Peter Harvey, director O all true faithful hearts The Sixteen Harry Christophers, director Fantasia a 3 with Double Bass Viol Fantasia for 6 Viols Go from my Window L'achéron Almighty and everlasting God Magnificat (Short Service) Oxford Camerata Jeremy Summerly, conductor Great Lord of Lords Choir of Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford Stephen Darlington, conductor Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC Audio Wales & West Donald Macleod looks at the last - eventful - decade of Gibbons's short life. |
| 2024 | 05 LAST | A Legacy Reborn 1620-1625 | 20240614 | Orlando Gibbons's life throws a light on the political turbulence affecting Britain in the early 17th century. As King James VI and I struggled to establish the concept of British identity, his court was blessed with one of England's most talented musicians of the time, Orlando Gibbons. Today, Donald Macleod looks at the considerable turmoil in the royal court, whilst Gibbons consolidated his position as the leading musician in the land. Fantasia No 1 for the Great Double Bass The Rose Consort of Viols Fantasia No 2 a 6 The Hunt's Up (Peascod time) Phantasm The Second Service (Morning): Te Deum Rogers Covey-Crump, tenor Bill Grayston, tenor Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford Fretwork Peter Harvey, conductor Fantasia No 4 a 6 Attacca Quartet The Cryes of London I & II Theatre of Voices Paul Hillier, director Blessed are all they that fear the Lord Oxford Clerks David Wulstan, director Produced by Iain Chambers for BBC Audio Wales & West By 1623 Orlando Gibbons had consolidated his position as the leading musician in the land. By 1623 Orlando Gibbons had consolidated his position as the leading musician in the land, but there was considerable turmoil in the court. |