Dominik’s Radio Times

Show

Arcadia Holiday Music And News

Programme
Arcadia
Date
30 December 2007
Length
2 h

About this show

Introduction

This episode of Arcadia begins with Sarah Eustace presenting news reports before Dominik explores holiday-themed jazz and blues. Key moments include a study of various versions of 'If I Were a Bell', a discussion on the Red Army Choir's 'Biryuska', and Dominik's reflections on the arbitrary nature of calendar landmarks as the year ends.

Presenter Sarah Eustace opens with news reports regarding Bilawal Bhutto, a fatal light aircraft crash in the Scottish borders, the death of a baby in Wakefield, and the passing of Motherwell captain Phil O'Donnell. Dominik later presents a selection of music tied to the holiday season, including a sincere take on 'Silent Night' by Take Six and Mahavishnu Orchestra's 'All in the Family' to explore holiday family dynamics. Dominik describes a Tom Waits song about a Minneapolis hooker's Christmas card as one of the saddest ever written. The programme also features various versions of 'If I Were a Bell', with a correction regarding the Keith Jarrett recording's source, and a discussion on the Red Army Choir's 'Biryuska'.

Topics

  • International and domestic news reports
  • Holiday and Christmas themes

Participants

  • Sarah Eustace
  • Dominik

Names are taken from the archive as written and may include spelling variants.

Listen · this show’s clips

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Arcadia · Show Opening

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Passages from the broadcast

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That was Tom Waits and his Christmas card, from a hooker in Minneapolis, and his, what I consider one of the saddest songs ever written, all about the dashed hopes, and those.

I like to. I I just can't get enough of, of choir singing and and odd things on occasion. So, this is my way of indulging myself, because there's nothing quite as.

Selected music

Holiday Textures

  1. 1
    Selection By Red Army Choir · Red Army Choir
    No sample is available for this selection.

    Why it was chosen Dominik likes to venture into interesting areas of music

  2. 2
    No sample is available for this selection.

    Why it was chosen Dominik likes to venture into interesting areas of music

  3. 3
    Hat And Beard · Eric Dolphy
  4. 4
  5. 5
    All In The Family · Mahavishnu Orchestra

    Why it was chosen The holiday season is often associated with family

  6. 6
    Something Spiritual · John McLaughlin

    Why it was chosen Dominik wants to give John McLaughlin a chance to redeem himself after the previous track

  7. 7
    Spiritual · John Coltrane
  8. 8
    Jesus Gonna Be Here · Blind Boys Of Alabama

    Why it was chosen The Christmas part of the festive season owes its foundations to Jesus

  9. 9

    Why it was chosen Dominik likes to venture into interesting areas of music and considers it one of the saddest songs ever written

  10. 10
    Silent Night · Take Six
    No sample is available for this selection.

    Why it was chosen Dominik wants to cut back to a more sincere take on the holiday season

  11. 11
    Solid Night · Take Six

    Why it was chosen The speaker recommends the album for those who "want some holiday cheer" and notes that the group brings classics to life with a "new verve".

  12. 12
    The Christmas Song · Dexter Gordon
    No sample is available for this selection.
  13. 13
    Christmas Song · Dexter Gordon

    Why it was chosen the All About Jazz website named it "the number one in their top ten Christmas jazz recordings of all time"

  14. 14

    Why it was chosen Dominik considers the track appropriate to Christmas

  15. 15
    If I Were A Bell · Carmen McRae

    Why it was chosen Bells are the thing heard most during the festive season

  16. 16
    If I Were A Bell · Joe Pass

    Why it was chosen Dominik wants to look at three different versions of a single tune

  17. 17
    If I Were A Bell · Keith Jarrett

    Why it was chosen Dominik wants to look at three different versions of a single tune

  18. 18
    Fever Trees · Bobby McFerrin

    Why it was chosen Dominik wants to explore some choir music

  19. 19
    Biryuska · Red Army Choir

    Why it was chosen The song is about a tree, which is right for this time of year

  20. 20
    This Lovely Lady · Norwich Cathedral Choir

    Why it was chosen Dominik cannot get enough of choir singing

  21. 21

    Why it was chosen It is a nice and mellow track for this time of night, year, and week

  22. 22
    Jingles · West Montgomery
  23. 23
    Espírito · Guitar Trio
    No sample is available for this selection.

    Why it was chosen Dominik wants the listener to listen to some spiritual music

  24. 24
    Espíritu · Paco De Lucia, Aldemiole, And John McLaughlin

    Why it was chosen The presenter connects the song to the "dreams of the holiday spirit" [407] and the theme of the show being "related to the holiday spirit" [405].