Adolphus Hailstork and Thea Musgrave

Donald Macleod shares highlights from his conversations with prolific composers Adolphus Hailstork and Thea Musgrave.

Composer of the Week is one of the longest-running strands on the BBC, first heard on the airwaves during the Second World War on the 2nd of August 1943. The first composer to be featured was Mozart – and today, the programme tells the stories of both well-known and rediscovered composers across classical music, jazz, contemporary and beyond. Donald Macleod celebrates its 80th anniversary with highlights and behind-the-scenes stories from his encounters with some of our greatest living composers. Across the week, he looks back on ten memorable interviews from his nearly 25 years in the presenter’s chair, showcasing the range of musical styles and personalities he’s encountered.

Today, Adolphus Hailstork tells Donald about the lifelong impact of spirituals on his creative journey, and on Thea Musgrave’s 90th birthday, she discusses the pleasure she continues to derive from composing, and the importance of musical friendships.

Adolphus Hailstork: Fanfare on Amazing Grace
Eastern Virginia Brass Quintet
Rob Cross, timpani
James Kosnik, organ

Adolphus Hailstork: Three Spirituals for Orchestra
Virginia Symphony Orchestra
JoAnn Falletta, conductor

Adolphus Hailstork: Symphony No 2 (excerpts)
Grand Rapids Symphony
David Lockington, conductor

Thea Musgrave: On the Underground, Set 1: Sometimes
New York Virtuoso Singers
Harold Rosenbaum, conductor

Thea Musgrave: Two’s Company
Dame Evelyn Glennie, percussion
Nicholas Daniel, oboe
BBC Symphony Orchestra
Jiri Belohlavek, conductor

Produced by Amelia Parker for BBC Audio Wales and West