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PODCAST

Lines and Dots

mauricehwalters

What can music do that words can’t? What can be expressed in language better than in sound? In this series, Maurice Walters (author and educationalist) and Christopher Sparkhall (Compser and Musical Director) take a thematic look across history and examine the ways in which words and music have been employed by humanity to approach some of the most complex and emotive concepts of existence.

arts performing arts

All Episodes

57:16

Lines and Dots - Episode 18 (No, thank you!)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/12/04

In this festival of bile, Chris and Maurice pick up their swords and do battle over which of them has produced the worst cultural artefacts for discussion. Will Pam Ayres' dentally based poetry win out? Will Handel's Sarabande eat dust? Will Tess of the D'Urbevilles or the musical Six ultimately fall suffer fatal blows? Tune in to find out.Originally recorded on Thursday 28th November.

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58:21

Lines and Dots - Episode 17 (Poles Apart)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/11/25

Despite continental separation and the trials of fickle technology, Chris and Maurice bring you this episode to celebrate the wonders of extreme contrast. From Top Gear's capricious visit to Magnetic North and the sumptuous glory of Vaughan Williams' Symphony Antarctica through to the contrasts between Athens and Sparta and a piece of music that doesn't seem to please anyone, the discussion takes us on one of our most epic voyages yet.Oh yes, and the sport is Beach Volleyball - of course.

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01:00:46

Lines and Dots - Episode 16 (Secrecy and Codes)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/11/07

In this week's episode of Lines and Dots, Chris and Maurice explore the complex world of codes. From the the inventiveness of Caesar's cipher and some acrostic-loving monks to the motifs of Schumann and Shostakovich, the discussion considers humanity's love of hiding things in plain sight.All of this, of course, presented in the mode of an orienteering expedition... First recorded on 5th November 2025.

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01:01:00

Lines and Dots - Episode 15 (The Moon)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/10/11

A waxing and waning discussion (punctuated by much 'clean and jerk' action) of this extraordinarily powerful feature of the cultural landscape. From impressionistic organ pieces and (yet more) French poetry through to the Norse myths and the vocal stylings of Cat Stevens, Chris and Maurice ponder what it is that makes the moon such a magnet for creativity.Anna Lapwood, if you are out there, please take the call. First recorded on 10th October 2024.

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01:00:10

Lines and Dots - Episode 14 (The Sea)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/10/08

Departing the chalet and heading for the slopes (having stopped off at the ski shop to rent equipment, skill and courage) Chris and Maurice explore the twinned concepts of height and depth in this week's episode. From the very literal heights of the alpine symphony to the metaphorical highs and lows of Gershwin's quest to be taken seriously as a composer - not to mention the poetic endeavours of a first-century, would-be homewrecker - the discussion slaloms its way helplessly through to an

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01:00:12

Lines and Dots - Episode 13 (The Sea)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/09/27

Battling metaphorical waves and showing metaphorical physical strength, Chris and Maurice swim the channel in this week's maritime themed episode.Covering the music of Debussy, the poetry of Baudelaire and Arnold, not to mention a discussion of the compositions of Hans Zimmer, the discussion looks at melancholy, restlessness and the enigmatic possibilities of the sea. We also name-drop Anna Lapwood for no good reason.

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01:04:30

Lines and Dots - Episode 12 (The Journey)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/09/19

Inspired by all the talk of voyaging in last week's episode, Chris and Maurice take a marathon trek through the concept of the journey. From an exposition of Beethoven's approach to musical form and an analysis of Exodus through to Irish Folk ballads and the utopian universe of Iain M Banks, the road is certainly long...First recorded on 17th September 2024.

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01:09:14

Lines and Dots - Episode 11 (Revenge)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/09/11

Following a week of technical difficulties, Maurice and Chris are back for a new season and this time we are discussing 'revenge' - a dish best served, as it turns out, twice!Looking at Virgil's anything-but-epic ending for the Aeneid, Hamlet's messy approach to retribution and some intriguing numbers from the world of Musical Theatre, the discussion takes in everything from personal passions to the beavers at the foot of the cross. No conkers were harmed in the making of this recording.

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59:59

Lines and Dots - Episode 10 (The Absurd)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/08/29

Battling storm-related internet outages, Chris and Maurice survey the bizarre world of absurdity. From sea-cucumbers and musical notation through to an experimental song by Sting and the Police by way of Greek comedy - no stone is left unturned in this parade of the peculiar!First recorded on 19th July 2024.

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01:08:31

Lines and Dots - Episode 9 (Destiny)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/07/15

In Episode 9, Maurice and Chris explore humanity's obsession with Destiny. From the haunting story of Macbeth and the ominious knocking of fate in Beethoven's fifth to the implausible buxsomeness of David Eddings' fantasy writing and the literary genius of Sondheim, the badminton-themed discussion is as out of control as usual.First recorded on 12th July 2024.

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01:02:28

Lines and Dots - Episode 8 (Power and Influence)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/07/08

In this, the eight episode of the series, Chris and Maurice take a timely look at the relationship between power and influence. Taylor Swift, the emperor Augustus, Whiplash, Mark Hamil - everyone gets a mention!There is even a virtuoso performance on the clarinet. First recorded on 5th July 2024.

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56:03

Lines and Dots - Episode 7 (Glory and Honour)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/06/21

Maurice and Chris explore the concept of Glory and Honour throughout history from Shakespearean Sonnets through the book of Esther and then to a pair of hymns which could not really be more different!First recorded on 20th June 2024.

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58:59

Lines and Dots - Episode 6 (Nostalgia)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/06/14

In this episode, themed around Nostalgia, Maurice and Chris look at the wistful melancholy of Rachmaninov, the genius of John Williams, the grandeur of Lucan's Pharsalia and the subtle and exquisite beauty of 'The Remains of the Day'.First recorded on 14th June 2024.

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57:50

Lines and Dots - Episode 5 (Hope & Optimism)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/06/10

Following on from the gloom of death in Episode 4, Maurice and Chris seek out new hope and optimism in this week's broadcast. Considering the construction of hope in Hesiod's account of Pandora, trying to understand Gene Roddenberry's world-view through Star Trek The Next Generation and unpicking the brilliance of Puccini - the stylophone obligato fits right in! Originally recorded on 7th June 2024.

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51:01

Lines and Dots - Episode 4 (Death)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/05/24

Chris and Maurice enjoy a brutal dance-off (on an intellectual level) in this week's episode, which takes the theme of 'death'. They consider a haunting sea-shanty, the enduring power of the words and music of settings of the dies irae and a poignant poem by Michael Rosen.First recorded on 23rd May 2024.

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48:05

Lines and Dots - Episode 3 (Devotion)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/05/20

In this episode, Maurice and Chris consider the theme of devition through the lens of Akhenaten's religious fervour, Bach's musical genius, mass singing of a spiritual and Cardinal Newman's poetry. All of this, of course, through a badly applied rugby metaphor. Originally recorded on 16th May 2024.

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46:14

Lines and Dots - Episode 2 (The Individual and the...

Lines and Dots ·

2024/05/13

Chris and Maurice engage in conversations around the antagonisms that arise in music and literature that looks at the role of the individual against the role of the state. They cover Sophoclean tragedy, Beethoven's love and loathing of Napoleon, Margaret Thatcher's interview for Woman's Own and the subjunctively imperfect music of Sandi Thom.

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01:00:06

Lines and Dots - Episode 1 (Good and Evil)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/05/13

In this pilot episode, Maurice and Chris discuss musical and literary responses to good and evil, starting out with an extract from Cicero's speech against Catiline, moving through Mozart's Magic Flute, Mussorgsky's witch-based nationalism and ending with lines from John Donne. Originally recorded on Thursday 2nd May 2024.

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