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Merry Christmas

With readings from C.S Lewis, Anne Bronte, Charles Dickens, Robert Louis Stevenson, and Laura Ingalls Wilder, and a feast of seasonal music from classical to contemporary

Dominic West (The Crown/The Affair) and Gemma Whelan (Game of Thrones/Gentleman Jack) read poetry and prose exploring everything that makes for a magical Christmas, alongside a feast of seasonal music from classical to contemporary. We鈥檝e a winter walk with Robert Louis Stevenson, Christmas dinner with PG Wodehouse, Christmas music with William Wordsworth and Anne Bronte, a school nativity with Clare Bevan, and the King鈥檚 speech as imagined by Brian Bilston. And we鈥檒l enter the magical worlds of Narnia when Christmas finally comes, the Wind in the Willows complete with Yule-tide mice, and Little House on the Prairie as Laura and Mary discover that Santa has visited them after all. Along the way we鈥檒l hear traditional carols and festive music by Kate Rusby, Nils Frahm, Louis Armstong, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Harry Gregson-Williams and Arcangelo Corelli.

Producer: Ruth Thomson

READINGS
Brian Bilston - The Kings Speech
Wendy Cope - Motorway Music
Frank O鈥機onnor - Christmas Morning
Kenneth Graeme - Wind in the Willows
Robert Louis Stevenson - Winter Time
Claire Bevan - Just Doing My Job
P.G Wodehouse - Another Christmas Carol
Anne Bronte - Music on Christmas Morning
William Wordsworth 鈥� Minstrels
Laura Ingalls Wilder - Little House on the Prairie
Kingsley Amis - Ending Up
L Kiew - December Began With Shopping
C.S Lewis - The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Charles Dickens - Sketches by Boz

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Christmas Day 2023 17:00
麻豆社 Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • Brian Bilston

    The Kings Speech, read by Dominic West

  • 00:02

    Gareth Keachie

    A Christmas Fanfare

    Performer: Band of HM Royal Marines.
  • 00:05

    R W Smith

    Jingle Bells Forever

    Performer: Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines.

  • Wendy Cope

    Motorway Music, read by Gemma Whelan

  • 00:07

    Trad.

    The First Nowell

    Music Arranger: John Stainer. Choir: King'S College Cambridge Choir. Conductor: Stephen Cleobury.
  • 00:08

    Felix Mendelssohn

    Hark! The Herald Angels Sing

    Music Arranger: Sir David Willcocks. Orchestra: Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Choir: Bach Choir. Conductor: John Rutter.
  • 00:12

    Quadriga Consort

    Christmas Eve/Christmas in Killarney/Christmas Day in the Morning/The Day Before

  • Frank O鈥機onnor

    Christmas Morning, read by Dominic West

  • 00:17

    Alan Silvestri

    Polar Express - Suite

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.

  • Kenneth Graeme

    Wind in the Willows, read by Gemma Whelan

  • 00:25

    Kate Rusby

    Here We Come A-Wassailing

  • Robert Louis Stevenson

    Winter Time, read by Dominic West

  • 00:28

    Nils Frahm

    Wintermusik: Ambre

  • 00:32

    Antonio Vivaldi

    Winter Meditation (after the Largo from Vivaldi's 'Winter', RV 297)

    Music Arranger: Vivan Bhatti. Music Arranger: Ketan Bhatti. Performer: Eldbj酶rg Hemsing. Ensemble: Hestia String Quartet.

  • Claire Bevan

    Just Doing My Job, read by Gemma Whelan

  • 00:36

    Nigel Hess

    Christmas Overture

    Orchestra: Hall茅. Conductor: Stephen Bell.

  • P.G Wodehouse

    Another Christmas Carol, read by Dominic West

  • 00:45

    Band of Her Majesty's Royal Marines

    Swingle Bells

  • Anne Bronte

    Music on Christmas Morning, read by Gemma Whelan

  • 00:49

    Arcangelo Corelli

    Christmas Concerto

    Performer: Concerto Copenhagen. Conductor: Lars Ulrik Mortensen.

  • William Wordsworth

    Minstrels, read by Dominic West

  • 00:54

    Philip Jones Brass Ensemble

    We Wish You A Merry Christmas

  • Laura Ingalls Wilder

    Little House on the Prairie, read by Gemma Whelan

  • 00:55

    Apollo鈥檚 Fire

    Christmas Eve Reel/Christmas in America/Old Christmas Eve

  • Kingsley Amis

    Ending Up, read by Dominic West

  • 01:00

    Ralph Vaughan Williams

    Suite for viola and small orchestra - Christmas Dance

    Performer: Lawrence Power.

  • L Kiew

    December Began With Shopping, read by Gemma Whelan

  • C.S Lewis

    The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, read by Gemma Whelan

  • 01:08

    Harry Gregson鈥怶illiams

    The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe

    Performer: Studio Orchestra.

  • Charles Dickens

    Sketches by Boz, read by Dominic West

  • 01:13

    Louis Armstrong

    White Christmas

Broadcast

  • Christmas Day 2023 17:00
    麻豆社 Radio 3

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