Auntie Elsie’s Upright Piano
John Foxx takes us through the history of the five pianos which have shaped his music. As the lead singer of Ultravox, and a solo artist, pianos have been his life-long obsession.
For the first programme in the series ‘Key Moments’, composer and performer John Foxx takes us back to the first piano he ever played, at his childhood home in Chorley, Lancashire. His Auntie Elsie gave him her parlour piano – and it was a treasured piece of furniture with its highly polished walnut veneer, brass candlesticks and ivory keys. As a teenager, sitting in his front room for hours after school, John taught himself to play in and started composing his first pieces. These were heavily influenced by hearing Erik Satie’s Gymnopedie, played by a friend at art college in Manchester. John tells us the story of his first piano, his introduction to music and how it led to his career as a pop star, pianist, performer and composer.
Presented by John Foxx
Produced by Anna Horsbrugh Porter
A Just Radio production for BBC Radio 3
On radio
Broadcast
- Mon 19 Oct 202621:45BBC Radio 3
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