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Daniel Levitin

Michael Berkeley's guest is the psychologist and neuroscientist Daniel Levitin, who is fascinated by the way our brains respond to music.

Daniel Levitin is a psychologist and neuroscientist who is fascinated by the way our brains respond to music. He first worked as a musician, playing in bands, and then became a record producer and engineer. He鈥檚 worked with some of best-known names in the world, including Stevie Wonder, Joni Mitchell, Paul Simon, Sting and The Grateful Dead.

In his 30s he went back to university to study psychology. He鈥檚 now Professor Emeritus at McGill University and has written several best-sellers investigating why music has such a powerful effect on us as a species. His most recent, Music as Medicine, is about the healing power of music, and how it might be used to help treat PTSD, slow the spread of neurodegenerative diseases and even help combat multiple sclerosis.

Daniel's music choices include Debussy, Dvorak, Thelonious Monk and Beethoven.

Available now

49 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Feb 2025 12:00

Music Played

  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 6 in F "Pastoral" (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.
    • Beethoven: Symphonies Nos.5 & 6 "Pastorale".
    • Deutsche Grammophon (DG).
    • 5.
  • Thelonious Monk

    Well You Needn't

    Performer: Thelonious Monk.
    • Piano Solo.
    • Vogue.
    • 4.
  • Anton铆n Dvo艡谩k

    Symphony No.7 in D minor (4th mvt)

    Orchestra: Los Angeles Philharmonic. Conductor: Andr茅 Previn.
    • Dvo艡谩k: Symphony No. 7 in D Minor, Op. 70, B. 141 & Overture, Op. 62, B. 125a "M.
    • Telarc.
    • 4.
  • Claude Debussy

    Jardins sous la pluie (Estampes)

    Performer: Aldo Ciccolini.
    • Debussy: Complete Piano Works, Fantaisie for Piano and Orchestra & Songs.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 3.
  • John Lennon

    Dear Prudence

    Composer: Paul McCartney. Music Arranger: Eric Milnes. Ensemble: Les Bor茅ades de Montr茅al. Conductor: Eric Milnes.
    • Beatles Baroque (Vol. 1).
    • ATMA Classique.
    • 10.
  • Ludwig van Beethoven

    Piano Sonata in C Minor "Path茅tique" (2nd mvt)

    Performer: Mari Kodama.
    • Beethoven: Piano Sonatas No. 14, 4 & 8.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 9.
  • Gustav Mahler

    Symphony No. 3 in D Minor (3rd mvt)

    Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Kent Nagano.
    • Mahler: Symphony No. 3.
    • Warner Classics International.
    • 3.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II, Prelude and Fugue No. 19 in A Major

    Performer: Daniel Barenboim.
    • Bach, JS: Das wohltemperierte Klavier, Teil II, BWV 870 - 893.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 19.
  • Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

    My Heart, My Life

    Composer: Michael Brook. Performer: Michael Brook. Singer: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan.
    • Night Song.
    • Real World Records.
    • 1.

Broadcast

  • Sun 23 Feb 2025 12:00

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