Journalist Kate Molleson discusses her book on radical 20th-century composers, highlighting their exclusion from classical music's standard histories. She explores themes of inclusivity, challenges in writing, and the complexities of historical composers, offering a fresh perspective on classical music.
Kate Mollison, author of 'Sound Within Sound, Radical Composers of the 20th Century,' sheds light on 10 composers neglected in classical and general music realms. Her biographical approach captures their essence, offering compelling arguments for their significance. Mollison's book blends detailed analysis with passionate advocacy, reflecting her love for classical music and frustration with its exclusivity.
Structuring the Book on Unknown Composers
Mollison deliberated on distinct approaches to organizing her book, ultimately opting for 10 discrete chapters devoid of overarching narratives. Shying away from imposing artificial connections or themes, Mollison embraced the uniqueness of each composer's story. By sidestepping completeness, she highlighted the individuality and originality of these composers, avoiding labeling and instead emphasizing their diverse experiences.
Research Challenges During the Pandemic
The pandemic-induced limitations on travel posed obstacles in Mollison's research process, hindering intended visits to countries relevant to the composers' backgrounds. Despite these constraints, virtual interviews and Zoom calls offered valuable insights from experts, enriching the book's content and allowing for in-depth exploration of each composer's context and music.
Balancing Descriptions and Analysis
Mollison skillfully navigated the balance between describing composers' biographical details, analyzing their music, and sharing personal experiences from her research journey. By intertwining historical context, musical analyses, and her interactions with sources, she provided readers with a comprehensive yet accessible exploration of diverse and often challenging musical compositions.
On this episode, Marc talks with Kate Molleson, a journalist, documentarian, and radio presenter for BBC3. She’s the author of the fascinating book Sound Within Sound: Radical Composers of the 20th Century, which focuses on ten composers left out of the standard histories of classical music. In her intro, Kate says she wrote the book out of “love and anger” - “the love because I want to shout from the rooftops that classical music is gripping, essential, personally and politically game-changing. The anger because I can’t shout proudly about a culture that wilfully closes its doors on perceived outsiders.”
We hope you enjoy our chat with Kate!
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode