1415: War, Pestilence and Sweet Sounds

Available for 28 days

On 25 October 1415 – St Crispin’s Day – the armies of England and France meet on a rain‑soaked field near Agincourt. Henry V’s outnumbered forces achieve a stunning victory in the middle of the Hundred Years War. But the impact of Henry's victory will be outstripped by a different kind of conquest, as the unique harmony that has been developing in Britain since the time of the Vikings starts to spread through France and beyond. Gillian Moore is joined by a roster of distinguished historians for this major new BBC Radio 3 series, charting a course through 1000 years of classical music history. For the first eight programmes, historian Michael Wood is in the chair, as together they explore the bold new sound worlds of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Producer: David Fay Academic Consultant: Professor Laura Tunbridge, University of Oxford Story Consultant: Kate Leys Series Editor for BBC Audio: Emma Harding Key Changes theme tune composed by Joseph Howard and performed by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Kerem Hasan. MUSIC DETAILS Anonymous: Agincourt Carol Alamire David Skinner (conductor) Anonymous: Sumer is icumen in Huelgas Ensemble Paul van Nevel (conductor) Anonymous: Beata viscera (Worcester Fragments) Orlando Consort Anonymous: Hymn to St Magnus La Reverdie John Dunstable: Quam pulchra es BBC Singers Owain Park (conductor) Guillaume de Machaut: De fortune me doi pleindre et loer Ensemble Musica Nova Lucien Kandel (conductor) Guillaume de Machaut: Sans cuer dolens BBC Singers Owain Park, conductor Gherardello da Firenze / Caitríona O’Leary: Io son sì vaga della mia bellezza Caitríona O’Leary (soprano) Anakronos Anonymous: Istampitta Tre fontane The Early Music Consort of London David Munrow (conductor) John Dunstable: Credo (da gaudiorum premia) Tonus Peregrinus Anthony Pitts (conductor) John Dunstable: O rosa bella Ensemble Nova Alta Gilles Binchois: Dueil angoisseux Gothic Voices Guillaume Dufay: Ave Maris Stella BBC Singers Owain Park (conductor)