Howard Goodall on BBC Two

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Within the given time slot, this can be no more than a brief overview. Of course there will be huge omissions. But let us for once take the view that the pot is half full.

[Pabmusic]

Within the given time slot, this can be no more than a brief overview. Of course there will be huge omissions. But let us for once taken the view that the pot is half full.

How I agree - it's good that such a programme is on at all.

[jean]

...Are "Western" composers the only original source of notation?...

Didn't he acknowledge the contribution of Islamic Spain?

[Richard Tarleton]

Didn't he acknowledge the contribution of Islamic Spain?

Yes - including look at their instruments. I enjoyed it, omissions notwithstanding.

Sorry jean yours was a rhetorical question!

[Dave2002]

But it was a very brief overview, and after he'd dealt with the shift from a modal to a diatonic underpinning via the major/minor third (is it really that simple?) with Dunstable, and the beginnings of imitative polyphony as he he illustrated by Josquin, there wasn't anything really new (of the sort of new he was focussing on) in the work of the great High Renaissance composers.

As for equal temperament - isn't he just avoiding any mention of it until he gets to the dominance of the keyboard?

It's a bit of a shame that afterwards so many of us can spot problems. I don't suppose the programme was aimed at some of us who know something about music already - though that would raise a question of who was it targeted at? Probably people with some knowledge and interest already, and maybe a few who have just "come in off the street".

One niggle for me, now, on reflection, is where did the extra line of the stave come from. I'm sure he said that originally there were 4, so what happened to put the extra one in?

[Dave2002]

How I agree - it's good that such a programme is on at all.

[Dave2002]

Exactly.

You know what this room says to me? Aqua. Which is French for water.

Alan Partridge

Love it ...

[Don Petter]

Compared to the programme about steam power and invention a few nights ago this was an A performance. I actually did enjoy that programme about steam engines, turbines and generators (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/bigscre...nvention_Power), but the type of engines described work on different principles from high pressure engines used for steam locomotives. It would have been quite easy to point this out, and perhaps also to mention a very early form of turbine due to Hero of Alexandria.

Exactly what I thought! It seemed to imply that all steam locos were powered by atmospheric engines, since only the addition of the condenser was mentioned, and not the steam, instead of atmospheric, return stroke. Also surprised they didn't have a little whizzy Hero turbine, as they nearly always do!

[Sorry to add to the OT-ness]

[Richard Tarleton]

One niggle for me, now, on reflection, is where did the extra line of the stave come from. I'm sure he said that originally there were 4, so what happened to put the extra one in?

Yes, and let's not even start on tablature

[Stephen Smith]

I, too, think it was a job well done. He packed a lot into the programme, and I had a feeling, throughout, of real surprise at the explanation and detail that was included.

With many a programme being quite superficial (excepting ones such as "Horizon", etc) its an instance to celebrate the level of explanation and overall quality for a general audience, and on BBC2!

[teamsaint]

Just watched it. Plenty to enjoy. Goodall certainly always enthuses nicely, I certainly got something out of it. wouldn't be too hard to find a criticism or two, but unless its something really important , not sure what the point would be. I found the glossing over of nearly 100 years of religious intolerance and the relationship with music a bit of a disappointment.

One thing i thought people might be interested in. The part where he was discussing cave systems and music as a direction finder has another potential dimension. There are suggestions that cave paintings can, under certain circumstances, appear to show movement. If this is the case, there would have been the potential for an integrated sound and vision experience. Just a thought.

If only there was more like this on telly.

[Old Grumpy]

Excellent programme - looking forward to the next one.

May get the book as well.

Interesting article by HG in the Graun on Friday.


OG

[french frank]

Seems sort of daft that I should be allowed to watch this on iPlayer - but not live. However, I shall do so - but already it seems a unanimous (?) verdict that it was a pretty damn fine effort. All we need to know is that it was equally sucessful/informative/enjoyable for the broad general public with little detailed knowledge of the music.

Exactly what is needed.

[french frank]

Interesting article by HG in the Graun on Friday.OG

Crumbs! That's a terrible press from the commenters, isn't it? Somebody will pop and dismiss them as just that 'fanatical cult of ...'

[MrGongGong]

Crumbs! That's a terrible press from the commenters, isn't it? Somebody will pop and dismiss them as just that 'fanatical cult of ...'

Deluded nutcases seem drawn in like moths
that would NEVER happen here , would it ?