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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

55:09

Lines and Dots - Episode 38 (That Bears Repetition)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/06/26

There are some pieces of music and some works of literature that we revisit over and over again - either because they have such brilliance that they need a repeat watch or because we find them oddly comforting. From the musical Hamilton to the Dilbert Principle and from Douglas Adams' genius to the ingenuity of Will Todd, Maurice and Chris explore what it is that pulls us back to these things so often. They also display a lack of football knowledge which is only paralelled by their lack of interest

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01:07:28

Line and Dots - Episode 37 (No Pain, No Gain!)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/06/13

From the windswept deserts of Arrakis to the Republic of Plato and from the riot-inspiring ballet music of Stravinsky through to Mahler's Ressurrection symphony, this week Maurice and Chris tackle those pieces of text and music that reward the dertermined listener. What is it that makes something impenatrable? Why do we feel so delighted when we come to appreciate them? And why on earth am I still using the word 'spandex'?First recorded on 12th June 2025.

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59:59

Lines and Dots - Episode 36 (Cutting Edge)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/06/04

From poetry that meets the needs of business through to a ballet for Barbie, this week's episode explores the intractable pull of the new and the risky - what is it that makes a piece of culture truly new and different? Styling themselves as a breakdancing crew, Maurice and Chris throw down moves to explore the music of Tippet and the extraordinary Seven Moons of Maali Almeida.First recorded on 3rd June 2025.

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01:05:59

Lines and Dots - Episode 25 (That Hasn't Aged Well)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/05/23

The title of this episode should be preceded by a disapproving tut or a disdainful whistling of air through the teeth. Looking at the concept of something becoming outdate or inappropriate in a more modern context, Chris and Maurice consider Nabokov's Lolita, the book of Leviticus, the music of Grease and go on the hunt for a lost cord. All of this while enjoying a reminiscent round or two of the Generation game... didn't they do well?First recorded on Thursday 22nd May 2025.

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56:40

Lines and Dots - Episode 34 (The Pastoral)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/05/16

Travelling, in at least their own minds, to the village of Upperthong for a spot of Welly Wanging, Chris and Maurice explore the intrac(tor)able influence of the countryside and agriculture on creativity through the ages. From a glorious setting of a tractor catalogue by Milhaud, and an opium-fuelled stroll through the fields with Berlioz to an oddly named memorial by Milton and a bit of post-funereal hanky-panky with Hausmann - its a theme that keeps coming back over and over again!First

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59:12

Lines and Dots - Episode 33 (Summer)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/05/09

Inspired by an intense if typically short British heat wave, Maurice and Chris play some French Cricket as they explore the inspirational power of the Summer. Discussion includes The Pines of Rome, the prescrtiptivism of Tennessee Williams' stage directions, a sonnet by Vivaldi and, of course, a cuckoo.No shins were harmed in the making of this podcast. First recorded on 7th May 2025.

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58:57

Lines and Dots - Episode 32 (April Fools)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/05/02

In this week's (somewhat delayed) episode, Maurice and Chris explore what makes a really good bit of humour. From the genius of Mozart's Musical Joke through to the mischievous Book of Moromon and the magnificently maligning poetry of the Roman poet Martial not to mention the confidence trickster Frank Abagnale Jr. There is a single profanity in this week's podcast. But it's Classical, so surely that's allowed? First recorded on 1st May 2025.

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01:01:06

Lines and Dots - Episode 31 (Greatness)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/03/28

A tricky topic this week as Maurice and Chris attempt to find a recipe for greatness in the worlds of culture and politics. Exploring 'battlefield experience' with Alexander the Great, longevity, with Handel's Messiah, intelligence and scale of ambition with Tolkien and tact and sensitivity of approach with John Williams - it's clear that there is no one, surefire path! All of this while attempting to demonstrate prowess in that greatest of all sports, Lawn Bowls.First recorded Thursday 27th March

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01:02:48

Lines and Dots - Episode 30 (What Am I Missing?)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/03/24

From Terry Pratchett and Jane Eyre to Bob Dylan and Adele - Maurice and Chris pelaton-spin their way through a smorgasbord of cultural giants that they desperately want to like ... but just don't. It's a question of things having everything they need to be fantastuc and yet, for some reason, not appealing ... I lied. Chris does not desperately want to like Adele and I have a feeling that comes across.. First Recorded on 27th March 2025

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58:14

Lines and Dots - Episode 29 (Simple's the Best)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/03/14

This week, Chris and Maurice take on the difficult challenge of finding pieces of text and music that are so very straightforward one could almost imagine having written them oneself. It soon emerges, however - during an excellent match of noughts and crosses - that such things are hard to find and that such cultural artefacts as a Bach Prelude, a nine-line poem by Frost, haiku poetry and a well-known nursery rhyme are actually fare more brilliant and complex than one would, at first, imagine!First

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59:52

Lines and Dots - Episode 28 (Fairytales)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/02/28

From the terrifying illustrations of the ladybord books of our youth to the animated features of today, fairytales not only inspire and direct children but also become valuable artefacts of the cultures who created them.Today's discussion looks at the literary works of the Brothers Grimm as well as Hans Christien Anderson and then takes in the extraordinary and evocative musical compositions of Schubert and Delius. First recorded on 27th February 2025.

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53:54

Lines and Dots - Episode 27 (Sponteneity)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/02/24

In keeping with this week's theme, Chris and Maurice meet for an in-person version of the podcast, broadcast from the shed in Maurice's back garden. Exploring the differences between extemporisation and improvisation, the discussion takes in a Jazz score by Miles Davis, some phenomenal organ work, reflections by Wordsworth and Chief Joseph's chilling 'speech of surrender'! There is also a thrilling game of dominos ... First recorded on 21st March 2025.

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58:50

Lines and Dots - Episode 26 (Reverse)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/02/14

Backwards going with obsession humanity's explore Maurice and Chris episode, in this. From the fugey brilliance of Bach to the experimental music of Paul Simon in Graceland and from clever palindromic poems to the curious case of Benjamin Button we consider what it is about this sort of symmetry that the race seems to find so very satisfying. We forgot about Valentine's day. First Recorded on 14th February 2025.

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59:11

Lines and Dots - Episode 25 (Undervalued)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/02/07

With Chris unusually - and, on the basis of this, uniquely - in the driving seat for this episode as Maurice battles a croaky throat, the topic for our synchronised swimmers is 'undervalued'. This highly subjective topic takes us from Patrick Appleford's 'Living Lord' through to Shirley Jackson's 'We Have Always Lived in the Castle' by way of obscure biographies of composers and the outer orbits of Holst's Planets - we also consider the difference between undervalued and underrated! First

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01:00:16

Lines and Dots - Episode 24 (What a Difference a Day...

Lines and Dots ·

2025/02/04

To celebrate the fact that 24 hours of Lines and Dots are now available for download, Maurice and Chris embark on a terrifying le mans (mainly because Maurice doesn't drive) of culture. From the extraordinary compositional power of Hindemith and Herodotus' account of the battle of Marathon through to Carol Ann Duffy's 'The Christmas Truce' and that wonderful psychotropic work 'A Day in the Life' by the beatles, we explore the impact of this unit of time on music and words throughout

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58:35

Lines and Dots - Episode 23 (Buildings)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/01/24

Buildings and human designs for them are a remarkable expression of creativity and also share a remarkable creative space with music and literature. In this week's episode, Maurice and Chris explore Xeankis' Metastasis, the writings of Kepler, Solomon's Temple and Chris takes a hatchet to Ed Sheeran's 'Castle on the Hill'.This is all acheived while engaging in some very impressive parkour. First recorded 23rd of January 2025.

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01:00:15

Lines and Dots - Episode 22 (Revolutionary Conflict)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/01/16

In this episode, Chris and Maurice play a risky game as they consider the power of conflict in creating revolutionary concepts in music and text. From the powerful words of Homer and Oliver Cromwell to contrasting compositions by Berlioz and Britten (not to mention tips for holidaying in Rome) we look at the ways that humanity expresses its response to warfare and loss.First recorded on 16th January 2025.

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57:28

Lines and Dots - Episode 21 (New Beginnings)

Lines and Dots ·

2025/01/10

To kick off season three, Maurice and Chris explore a poem by Tennyson, two ancient chants - including a performance every bit as live as it is ill-advised - and a column by Mark Twain. Look forward to discussions of naivete, new year's resolutions, the development of polyphany and - as per usual - unnecessary oversharing.Firs recorded on 9th January 2025.

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59:00

Lines and Dots - Episode 20 (Ebenezer)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/12/19

Awash with Christmas spirit - or is that spirits? - Chris and Maurice take a fond stroll down memory lane as they recount their experiences of writing and producing a musical from scratch. For those keen to see the production, performed at Canford School in 2011 - a version can be found on Christ' YouTube channel... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMYihyAVMZw We couldn't reccomend it to you more heartily!

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58:28

Lines and Dots - Episode 19 (Advent)

Lines and Dots ·

2024/12/13

Chris and Maurice explore this slightly misunderstood season through the words of Isaiah and John as well as through two well-known Advent Carols. There is an ill-judged vocal performance by Maurice and much spleen is vented. First recorded on 13th December 2024.

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