Episodes

  • The Iain McGilchrist Interview
    Apr 14 2025

    This episode features the first half of our interview with psychiatrist, neuroscientist, literary scholar and author of The Master and His Emissary, Iain McGilchrist. We’ve decide to put this out following the interview with AI researcher Peter Flach since it touches on many of the same issues, albeit from a very different perspective.

    Beyond that, it's a wide ranging interview, reflecting Iain's exceptionally broad frame of reference, taking in the evolution of the human brain, art, music, modernism, society, politics and spirituality. The second half of the interview will be released on Monday 28th April.

    Written and presented by Julian Leeks Produced by Sound World

    To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

    Music: Entwined by Julian Leeks. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

    To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

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    48 mins
  • The Peter Flach Interview
    Mar 31 2025

    This is another of our bonus episodes featuring one of the full length interviews that we recorded for the main strand of A land without music?.

    Following on from our last episode in which our guests discussed various aspects of AI and technology, we’re talking to Prof. Peter Flach. For anyone trying to make sense of AI, how it works and what it might mean for us to, Peter is someone to listen to. Professor of artificial intelligence and an expert in machine learning, Peter is a knowledgable and measured voice in a field often characterised by hyperbole and hysteria.

    Written and presented by Julian Leeks Produced by Sound World

    Music: Trombone Phrases by Nico Muhly. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

    To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

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    1 hr and 16 mins
  • Technology and AI
    Mar 17 2025

    What are the dangers posed by AI and what opportunities does it bring?

    What does it mean for music and for how we value, understand and experience creativity?

    Leading AI researcher Prof. Peter Flach and psychiatrist, neuroscientist and author Dr. Iain McGilchrist shed light on this complex and hugely consequential subject.

    Written and presented by Julian Leeks Produced by Sound World

    Music: Trombone Phrases by Nico Muhly. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

    To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

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    44 mins
  • The John Pickard Interview
    Mar 3 2025

    Today’s episode is one of the bonus episodes featuring full length versions of the interviews recorded the main strand of A land without music?

    Our guest is a Bristol based Burnley born composer John Pickard. John's works includes six symphonies, two concertos, songs, chamber pieces and six string quartets.

    His orchestral piece The Flight of Icarus was described by the San Francisco Chronicle as "...a contender for the most exciting première of the year" and The Times commented that "his orchestral mastery is total".

    Written and presented by Julian Leeks.

    Produced by Sound World

    Music

    The Grace of Silence by Evelyn Glennie (performed by Harriet Riley and Paul Israel). Listen on Apple Music or Spotify

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

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    1 hr and 17 mins
  • Music in Education Part 3: how we teach music.
    Feb 17 2025

    In episode nine of A land without music? our guests discuss the practical issues of teaching music including timetable pressure, the allocation of scarce resources and the multiplicity of genres competing for our attention.

    Written and presented by Julian Leeks.

    With guests Hilary Dunford, Peter Flach, Daniel Kidane, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Guy Guerrini, Sadie Harrison, Ingrid McLean, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason & John Pickard.

    Produced by Sound World

    Music

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

    To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

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    41 mins
  • The Nico Muhly Interview
    Feb 3 2025

    Today's episode is the third of our bonus episodes featuring the full length interviews that we recorded for the main strand of A land without music?

    Our guest, Nico Muhly, is an American composer whose wide ranging work includes orchestral and chamber music, operas, songs and music for film and TV. Since his early days as an archivist for Philip Glass he has worked with many of the worlds major orchestras and opera companies as well as musicians such as Sofjan Steven’s, Bryce Dessner and Björk.

    Written and presented by Julian Leeks Produced by Sound World

    Music: Trombone Phrases by Nico Muhly. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

    To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

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    50 mins
  • Music in Education Part 2: what we teach.
    Jan 20 2025

    In episode seven of A land without music? our guests talk about what are the essential elements of music that all children should be taught. In a changing world of developing technology, multiculturalism and ever greater timetable and syllabus pressure, it's all a lot more complicated than it used to be.

    Written and presented by Julian Leeks.

    With guests Sally Beamish, Daniel Kidane, Jess Gillam, Dame Evelyn Glennie, Sadie Harrison, Kadiatu Kanneh-Mason, Nico Muhly, John Pickard & Jörg Widmann.

    Produced by Sound World

    Music

    Trombone Phrases by Nico Muhly. Listen on Apple Music or Spotify

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

    To get in touch with Sound World please email info@sound-world.org or leave a post on out Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    For more info about Sound World visit sound-world.org

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    39 mins
  • The thinking behind the series
    Jan 6 2025

    Episode six is a special short episode made in response to emails we’ve received asking about the motivating factors behind the making of A land without music?

    Those who have heard earlier episodes will be aware that we believe music in the UK is in poor and declining health. In this episode we look at the evidence that led us to have these concerns.

    Please send comments or suggestions to info@sound-world.org or post to our Facebook page SoundWorldUK.

    A land without music? is written and presented by Julian Leeks

    Produced by Sound World.

    Music The Grace of Silence by Evelyn Glennie (performed by Harriet Riley and Paul Israel). Listen on Apple Music or Spotify

    In The Steps of Apollo by Julian Leeks (performed by Zelkova String Quartet). Listen here.

    Beehive by Julian Leeks (Note Performer demo version recorded for our sponsors)

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    14 mins
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