It was an interesting programme, I thought - and showed me a few things I didnt know,including the Lur.These classically-trained musicians like Goodall tend to be insufferably sure of the superiority of the western classical tradition.Attempts to include folk or popular styles often look either patronising or phoney.Superficially( and I dont think they get beyond that level) it can sound unsophisticated.But as many of us here know, once you get into it - an irish reel,a scottish bagpipe tune - is tremendously sophisticated, but in a different way from Mozart.
There was a nice contrast in the programme on recently about Dave Brubeck, who studied with Darius Milhaud.Milhaud laid into Brubeck for trying to write music in the classical tradition, telling him to stick with the wonderful tradition he was closer to - jazz.I dont know much about Milhaud but I was impressed by his ability to see the merit of music outside his sphere of expertise.Not many,especially the seriously academically-trained musicians,can express this kind of wide vision it seems.
Having said that, it was an exciting,insightful programme.And it was, as he emphasised - his own take on music.