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Violinist James Ehnes on his half century

Tom talks to the brilliant Canadian violinist James Ehnes, who is in the middle of a world tour to celebrate his 50th birthday.

Tom Service with guests, stories and the perfect classical soundtrack for the weekend!

Tom talks to the brilliant multi-award-winning Canadian violinist James Ehnes, who is in the middle of a world tour to celebrate his 50th birthday - James talks to Tom about why he's still as in love with music as ever and why live performance is key for everyone's wellbeing.

Talking of live performance, in 1975 the jazz pianist Keith Jarrett gave one of the most iconic concerts ever recorded - the Koln Concert, a jazz composition that straddled jazz and classical performance, entirely improvised. 50 years later, the pianist Maki Namekawa, who considers Jarrett a mentor, is performing a transcription of it around Europe, including in London. She talks to Tom about why the concert and Jarrett's playing was so special.

And over the last few weeks in our ongoing focus on 'Creators', we've been looking at huge works for orchestra, electronics or singers - today, though, we go tiny and unpick the particular earwormmy power of the 4-note SNCF jingle that's heard in railway stations all over France. Written by Michael Boumendil, it signalled the start of 'sonic branding' - Michael talks to Tom about what those 4 notes mean.

To listen on most smart speakers, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Saturday Morning”.

26 days left to listen

3 hours

Music Played

  • Jean Sibelius

    Lemminkainen's Return (Lemminkainen Suite)

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Susanna Mälkki.
    • Sibelius: Karelia Suite, Rakastava & Lemminkäinen.
    • BIS.
    • 10.
  • Orlando Gibbons

    O clap your hands

    Choir: ORA Singers. Director: Suzi Digby.
    • Songs of Angels.
    • Orchid Classics.
    • 7.
  • Erik Satie

    Gymnopédie no.1 in D major

    Performer: Pascal Rogé.
    • Pascal Rogé - Gnossiennes, gymnopédies and other piano works.
    • UME - Global Clearing House.
    • 7.
  • Kevin Puts

    Contact (Convivium)

    Ensemble: Time for Three. Orchestra: The Philadelphia Orchestra. Conductor: Xian Zhang.
    • Letters for the Future.
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 4.
  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in A major Kk.208

    Performer: Lavinia Meijer.
    • Scarlatti: Sonata in A Major, K 208.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 1.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no.56 in C major H.1.56 (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Kammerorchester Basel. Conductor: Giovanni Antonini.
    • Haydn 2032, Vol. 18: Il maestro di scuola.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 4.
  • Robert Schumann

    5 Pieces in Folk Style Op.102 (Mit Humor)

    Performer: Midori. Performer: Özgür Aydin.
    • Schumann: Violin Concerto & Works for Violin and Piano by Clara and Robert Schum.
    • Pentatone.
    • 104.
  • Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach

    Württemberg Sonata no.4 in B flat major Wq.49 no.4 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Keith Jarrett.
    • C.P.E. Bach: The Württemberg Sonatas.
    • ECM New Series.
  • Caroline Shaw

    To Music

    Composer: Franz Schubert. Singer: Caroline Shaw. Ensemble: Sō Percussion.
    • Rectangles and Circumstance.
    • Nonesuch.
    • 10.
  • Hector Berlioz

    Symphonie fantastique Op.14 (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Daniel Harding.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Violin sonata in F major Op.24 'Spring' (1st mvt)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Performer: Andrew Armstrong.
    • Beethoven: Violin Sonatas Nos. 4, 5 & 8.
    • ONYX.
    • 4.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Violin Concerto in A minor Op.53 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: Gianandrea Noseda.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Double violin concerto in D minor BWV.1043 (2nd mvt)

    Performer: James Ehnes. Orchestra: National Arts Centre Orchestra.
    • J. S. Bach: The Complete Violin Concertos.
    • Les Productions Analekta Inc..
    • 17.
  • Margaret Bonds

    Spiritual Suite (Troubled Water)

    Music Arranger: Clémentin Bonjour. Ensemble: Katia & Marielle Labèque.
    • DG.
  • Luigi Boccherini

    Cello concerto no.6 in D major G.479 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Edgar Moreau. Ensemble: Il Pomo d’Oro. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Giovincello.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 12.
  • James MacMillan

    Christus vincit

    Music Arranger: Freddie Crowley. Choir: Corvus Consort. Ensemble: Ferio Saxophone Quartet.
    • Revoiced.
    • Chandos.
    • 801.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    String quartet no.1 in D major Op.11 (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Dudok Quartet Amsterdam.
    • Tchaikovsky: String Quartets, Vol. 1.
    • Rubicon.
    • 102.
  • Antonín Dvořák

    Piano concerto in G minor Op.33 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Ivo Kahánek. Orchestra: Bamberg Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Jakub Hrůša.
    • RSK Entertainment Limited.
  • Keith Jarrett

    The Koln Concert

    Performer: Keith Jarrett. Performer: Keith Jarrett.
    • ECM.
  • Juan Marcolini

    La dicha en la desgracia y vida campestre (Overture)

    Ensemble: Concerto Köln. Conductor: Pablo Heras‐Casado.
    • El Maestro Farinelli.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 11.
  • Olivier Messiaen

    O Sacrum Convivium!

    Choir: Pembroke College Chapel Choir. Director: Anna Lapwood.
    • Arise, Shine.
    • Sony Classical.
    • 9.
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams

    The Wasps (Overture)

    Orchestra: Hallé. Conductor: Mark Elder.
    • Vaughan Williams: Orchestral works including Symphony no.3, The Wasps Overture,.
    • Hallé.
    • 7.
  • Reynaldo Hahn

    La dernière valse

    Singer: Véronique Gens. Ensemble: I Giardini.
    • Nuits.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 14.
  • Franz Schubert

    Octet in F major D.803 (3rd mvt)

    Ensemble: Scharoun Ensemble.
    • Pentatone.
  • Alexander Scriabin

    12 Studies Op.8 (no.5 in E major)

    Performer: Garrick Ohlsson.
    • BRIDGE.
  • Richard Strauss

    Le bourgeois gentilhomme Op.60 (Overture)

    Orchestra: Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra. Conductor: JoAnn Falletta.
    • R. Strauss: Le bourgeois gentilhomme Suite & Ariadne auf Naxos, Symphony-suite.
    • Naxos.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Saturday09:00