No music is an island, and to be sure, there is a link between different genres even if goals and ideals might differ. Whether it is classical music or folk music, for example, the common denominator is a desire to play and to communicate. Classical music contains many specialisations. The growing symphony orchestra needed, for example, a leader to hold everyone together: the conductor, who “interprets” the work. And successfully transforming musical scores – which have become increasingly detailed over time – into music requires an enormous amount of practice by each individual musician. But what happens when passion becomes a profession? 

In this episode, we hear music by Barbara Strozzi, Gustav Mahler, Lili Boulanger, Maurice Ravel, George Gershwin and traditional Swedish folk music. 

Mankind and Music is a series about western classical music with various themes. Why does music exist? What happens to us when we listen to music, and how are we affected by playing an instrument and making music with other people?