One Hit Wonders

Donald Macleod and guest Sarah Willis explore some of the greatest “one-hit wonders” in classical music - Johann Pachelbel, Engelbert Humperdinck, Paul Dukas, Gregorio Allegri, Henryk Górecki, Tomaso Albinoni, Giovanni Pergolesi, Pietro Mascagni, Carl Orff and Julius Fučík.

Classical music is littered with composers who are famous for just a single piece of music. In a special week of Composer of the Week programmes, Donald Macleod is joined by Berlin Philharmonic horn player Sarah Willis to explore ten of these composers and examine episodes from their lives, alongside their compositions – both their popular hits and some of their less familiar music. They also try to isolate why certain works have captured the popular imagination of audiences around the world.

Music Featured:

Pachelbel: Canon & Gigue for 3 violins and continuo in D major Pachelbel: Christ lag in Todesbanden Humperdinck: Erinnerung Humperdinck: Hansel and Gretel (excerpts) Humperdinck: Königskinder, "Verdorben! Gestorben!..Ihr Kindlein, sie sind gefunden" Dukas: La Peri Fanfare Dukas: L’apprenti sorcier Dukas: Ariane et Barbe-bleu, Act III: Adieu Allegri: Canzone Scamfortina Allegri: Missa ‘Che fa oggi il mio sole’: Agnus Dei Allegri: Miserere Górecki: Symphony No 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs),1st Mvt. Górecki: Little Requiem for a Certain Polka, Op 66, 3rd Mvt. Górecki: Symphony No 3 (Symphony of Sorrowful Songs), 2nd Mvt. Górecki: Miserere Albinoni: Overture to Zenobia Albinoni (compl. Giazotto): Adagio in G minor Albinoni: Concerto in B flat major for oboe and strings Albinoni: Concerto in F major for oboe and strings Pergolesi: Stabat Mater (excerpt) Pergolesi: Conversione di San Guglielmo (Sinfonia) Pergolesi: Dixit Dominus, Opening chorus Pergolesi: Stabat Mater (excerpt) Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana (Easter Hymn, Inneggiamo & Intermezzo) Mascagni: Rapsodia Satanica, Prologue Orff: Camina Burana, 'O Fortuna' Orff/Keetman: Schulwerk (excerpts) Orff: De temporum fine comoedia Orff: Carmina Burana (excerpt) Fučík: Entry of the Gladiators Fučík: Miramare Fučík: Triglav

Presented by Donald Macleod Produced by Sam Phillips

For full track listings, including artist and recording details, and to listen to the pieces featured in full (for 30 days after broadcast) head to the series page for One Hit Wonders https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001695t

And you can delve into the A-Z of all the composers we’ve featured on Composer of the Week here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/3cjHdZlXwL7W41XGB77X3S0/composers-a-to-z