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Black British cinema

Matthew Sweet presents a selection of music giving a brief history of black British cinema, from Paul Robeson in the 1930s to recent films such as Belle and 12 Years A Slave".

Matthew Sweet with a selection of music outlining a brief history of Black British cinema, from the work of Paul Robeson in the 1930s to recent films such as "Belle" and "Twelve Years A Slave".

The American actor and singer Paul Robeson made a terrific impact on the UK when he arrived here in the 1930s, performing Jerome Kern's "Showboat" at Drury Lane and appearing in British films of the period such as "King Solomon's Mines"; "Song of Freedom" and "Sanders of the River".

The programme goes on to feature music from films such as "Pool of London" from the '50s, and jazz-infused social realist films such as "A Taste Of Honey" and "Sapphire"; to films such as "Babylon" and "Pressure" (the first feature-length drama to be directed in Britain by a black film maker), and culminates in some of the more recent restorative history films such as "Belle" and "Twelve Years A Slave".

Broadcast as part of Radio 3's exploration of issues of diversity and inclusion, connecting audiences with pioneering music and culture.

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24 minutes

Last on

Sat 22 Oct 2016 15:00

Music Played

  • Daniel Decatur Emmett

    It's a Grand Life (1953) - I Wish I Was In Dixie

    Performer: Winifred Atwell.
  • Mischa Spoliansky

    King Solomon's Mines (1937)

    Singer: Mark Coles. Orchestra: 成人快手 Concert Orchestra. Conductor: Rumon Gamba.
  • Jerome Kern

    Showboat (1937) - Ol' Man River

    Singer: Paul Robeson.
  • Courtney Pine

    Borderline

  • Trad.

    The Proud Valley (1940) - Ebenezer

    Singer: Paul Robeson.
  • Arthur Bliss

    Men of Two Worlds (1946) - Barazza

    Performer: Silvia 膶谩pov谩. Orchestra: Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra. Choir: Slovak Philharmonic Choir. Conductor: Adriano.
  • John Addison

    Pool of London (1951) - Titles

    Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra. Conductor: Ernest Irving.
  • Philip Green

    Sapphire (1959) - Theme

    Performer: John Dankworth. Orchestra: Pinewood Studio Orchestra.
  • John Dankworth

    A Taste of Honey (1961) - Let's Slip Away

    Singer: Cleo Laine. Orchestra: Johnny Hawksworth Orchestra.
  • Boy Wonder and the Sisters

    Pressure (1976) - Title song

    Ensemble: Boy Wonder and the Sisters.
  • Trevor Mathison

    Trevor Mathison - Handsworth Songs

  • Robert Del Naja

    Bullet Boy (2004) - Soundtrack

    Ensemble: Massive Attack.
  • Hans Zimmer

    Solomon

  • Rachel Portman

    Belle (2013)

    Orchestra: Studio Orchestra. Conductor: Rachel Portman.
  • Alex Heffes

    Queen Of Katwe - Budo!

    Conductor: Alex Heffes. Orchestra: Studio Orchestra.

Broadcast

  • Sat 22 Oct 2016 15:00

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