Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Poet Laureate and the first British poet since Tennyson to reach the bestseller lists.
On the island
Eight records
Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067
English Chamber Orchestra, Richard Adeney (flute), Raymond Leppard (conductor)
Guest's description: 'Bach's second suite played by Raymond Leppard and Richard Aidney'
Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)
Guest's description: 'My favourite song, I think, Cole Porter's Let's Do It, sung by Ella FitzGerald'
Largo (Ombra mai fu) from XerxesFavourite
Guest's description: 'I think the best voice in the world. Janet Baker. Singing Handel's Lago.'
Ducker
Guest's description: 'Oh, a place I'm very fond of Harrow on the Hill... I think the songs of Harrow are fearfully good. And there's one about the bathing place called Ducker, which is the most wonderful waltz tune.'
The Seven Ages of Man (speech from As You Like It)
Guest's description: 'This is John Gilgood saying the Seven Ages of Man speech from as you like it. It seems to me the shortest way possible of saying a lot.'
Max Miller comedy routine (excerpt)
Guest's description: 'I've always enjoyed Music Hall... a master for me was Max Miller at the Met, Edgware Road, now a car park site.'
Choir of King's College, Cambridge
Guest's description: 'This is Stanford. Who's not fashionable? Stanford in G? the Magnificat. I always like something that's not fashionable and forgotten and is beautiful.'
Guest's description: 'Another too little regarded genius, Douglas Byng... I think the one I like best is... Flora MacDonald.'
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:44Could you endure extended lonesiness?
Yes, if I had a certainty that there was somebody with me, even if I didn't see them.
Presenter asks
1:01Are you musical?
No, I was always told by my parents I wasn't musical, because I couldn't sing in tune.
Presenter asks
4:02Was it your religion which led you to the churches, or the churches which led you to your religion?
Oh, the churches led me always moved by eye and ear. And I've always preferred them to anywhere else. And another very nice thing about church is, you can be on your own.
Presenter asks
4:52Was to become a poet a conscious and definite ambition? Did you say to yourselves in so many words, I'm going to be a poet?
Yes, as early as I can remember. I always preferred Poetry to prose, and I still do.
The keepsakes
The luxury
Presenter asks
12:56About your poetry, John, you have a simple, homely, witty, clear style which is easily appreciated. Does it involve a tremendous amount of fussing to achieve that clarity?
I suppose it does. I say it out loud to myself when walking about, and when in trains, and lying in the bath, until I've got it round in the right order. Yes, it takes hours, days.
Presenter asks
14:19What were your feelings on being appointed Poet Laureate and Ordinary to Her Majesty, in 1972?
I was very pleased. Uh because I like The idea of monarchy? It goes on whatever happens to a government. It consists of civilized people who do their work very well. And I'm Honoured and pleased to be connected with it.
“I do mind changing things, because I think when people pull down things you've known all your life, they're hacking away part of your soul.”
“I say it out loud to myself when walking about, and when in trains, and lying in the bath, until I've got it round in the right order. Yes, it takes hours, days.”
“All one wants is company, even if it's unseen.”
“I always like something that's not fashionable and forgotten and is beautiful.”
“I think I could hear indefinitely. JANET BAKER SINGING HANDL”