1521: Why should the devil have all the best tunes?

Available for 36 days

On the road to Worms in April 1521, Martin Luther approaches the imperial city under escort, summoned to account for his heretical teachings. As cheering crowds gather to greet him, Luther leads his companions in a hymn, in German – a small, human gesture that hints at the profound musical change to come. His defiance at the Diet of Worms will ignite the Protestant Reformation and Luther's love of music will influence the trajectory of Western music ever after. 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: Chris Taylor 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 Martin Luther: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott BBC Singers Sofi Jeannin, conductor J. S. Bach: Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott (Cantata No.80) Chorus Musicus Köln Das Neue Orchester Christoph Spering, conductor Michael Praetorius: Es ist ein Ros entsprungen Monteverdi Choir John Eliot Gardiner, conductor Heinrich Schütz: Jauchzet dem Herren, alle Welt, SWV 47 La Chapelle Rhénane Benoît Haller, conductor Elisabeth Cruciger: Herr Christ, der einig Gotts Sohn (The Only Son from Heaven) BBC Singers Sofi Jeannin, conductor Little Lucy Smith Singers: Jesus, Lover of My Soul Little Lucy Smith Singers J. S. Bach: Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring (Cantata No.147) Bach Collegium Japan Masaaki Suzuki, conductor Felix Mendelssohn: Symphony No.5 “Reformation” – IV. Andante con moto London Symphony Orchestra Claudio Abbado, conductor