BBC 4: How Music Works

Subject: BBC 4: How Music Works
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 01:06 AM

Apparently this was on BBC 4 about a year ago, but I can't find any reference here on the 'Cat... this "Brain Pickings" blog post has links to all the episodes online. It looks interesting. Any reviews from folks who saw it?

"Composer Howard Goodall takes us on a journey into music's underbelly, examining the four basic elements that make it work: Melody, rhythm, harmony and bass."

How Music Works

~ Becky in Tucson

Subject: RE: BBC 4: How Music Works
From: SteveMansfield
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 06:20 AM

Well worth watching.

Each programme certainly told me some stuff I didn't know. Howard Goodall uses examples from a wide range of musical genres (and sometimes from non-musical contexts) to explain key concepts, and is very good at making music programmes that don't oversimplify the topic to the point of dumbing down, whilst imparting a lot of information in an accessible way.

Once you've finished watching them (possibly more than once) I'd also recommend his 'Big Bangs' series for Channel 4 if you can find that - various key historical developments in music history (my particular favourite was the story of how notation came to be the way it is) told in the same accessible manner.

And he wrote the theme music for Blackadder. A national treasure!

Subject: RE: BBC 4: How Music Works
From: Les from Hull
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 08:33 AM

It's excellent and strongly recommended. He covers many aspects of music with examples from different genres and he's a great presenter and a fine musician. I would willingly watch it again.

Subject: RE: BBC 4: How Music Works
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 14 Dec 11 - 10:46 AM

"Big Bangs' is available on DVD.