Braving the Stave
Hosted by Jonathan James and joined by Angharad Smith, a.k.a ‘JJ & Haz’ , this bubbly duo delve through all music and genres, sharing with you their personal favourite pieces, along with some musical jokes that add a playful and informal feel to the podcast. Working as part of Arts Active's Cardiff Classical programme, we run lots of exciting extras alongside it to support the concerts. Check out the Arts Active website for more - www.artsactive.org.uk
Got any comments for JJ and Haz? Email them to A2@artsactive.org.uk
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Yn cael eu cyflwyno gan Jonathan James, yng nghwmni Angharad Smith, neu ‘JJ a Haz’ fel y’u gelwir, mae’r ddeuawd fyrlymus hon yn pori drwy bob math o gerddoriaeth a genres, gan rannu gyda chi eu hoff ddarnau personol, ynghyd â rhai jôcs cerddorol sy’n ychwanegu teimlad chwareus ac anffurfiol i’r podlediad. Gan weithio fel rhan o'r rhaglen Gyfres Glasurol Actifyddion Artistig, rydym yn cynnal llawer o bethau ychwanegol cyffrous ochr yn ochr ag ef i gefnogi'r cyngherddau. Edrychwch ar wefan Arts Active i gael mwy - www.artsactive.org.uk
Oes gennych chi unrhyw sylwadau i JJ a Haz? Anfonwch ebost i A2@artsactive.org.uk
Episodes
57 episodes
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 16 (Braving Roots Music)
Jon and Haz dip their toes into the ocean that is Roots Music, discussing its stereotypes and stigmas, its multiple instruments and crazy time signatures, and why pan pipes make for great massage music. Along the way, Jon talks about his own jo...
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Season 4
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Episode 16
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35:19
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 15 (Braving the String Quartet)
JJ and Haz see in the new year with a celebration of the string quartet, testing the claim that it is a 'four-way marriage without the sex'. Haz divulges her pet peeves as a chamber musician, as well as what a 'shig' is and why, amazingly, 'Bri...
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Season 4
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Episode 15
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34:36
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 14 (Christmas Cracker 2024)
Christmas Cracker 2024JJ and Haz bring on the 'hygge' with a homage to the wind quintet, bagatelles and boyfriends (Haz's), carols to cherish and avoid, 'disruptive' descants and a whole new genre of 'earnest kitsch'. Nadolig llawen, paw...
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Season 4
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Episode 14
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40:06
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 13 (Braving The Harp)
When Jon likens harp music to twinkly bedtime stories, Haz champions the instrument, taking it beyond the usual clichés. Together they consider its Celtic history, how much patience you need to tune it, the most-loved harp effects, and why harp...
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Season 4
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Episode 13
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26:53
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 12 (Braving the Sax)
JJ and Haz try to convert each other to the sound of the sax, celebrating its parps, growls and bends. Along the way: why Debussy called the sound 'aquatic', why it reminds JJ of custard, and what it means to be 'Careless Whispered' while at mu...
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Season 4
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Episode 12
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32:40
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 11 (Braving Sinfonia Cymru)
In the new season of Braving the Stave, JJ and Haz give their light-hearted but sharp-eared take on the lunchtime recitals happening every month in Eglwys Dewi Sant. This opening episode ponders whether Patrick Rimes, local folk legend, could p...
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Season 4
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Episode 11
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26:05
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 10 (Summer Bangers)
JJ and Haz suggest three categories of summer music to enjoy, 'bubble, deckchair and fiesta', before selecting 6 summer bangers to see the sun in. Includes hip jiggling, graffiti and casting issues in Carmen.
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Season 4
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Episode 10
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28:57
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 9 (Braving Texture)
In this final part to their survey of different musical elements, Jon and Haz imagine cartwheels in Bach, the weight of silence, whether John Dowland had any party hits, how Mariah Carey would sing Twinkle Twinkle and, rather disturbingly, what...
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Season 4
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Episode 9
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36:57
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 8 (Braving Harmony)
Braving HarmonyWhat has harmony got to do with colouring-in books, killing kittens and how to yearn for something unattainable? How can Rachmaninoff change the weather with a chord? JJ and Haz discuss their favourite harmonists, f...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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29:46
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 7 (The Magic of Melody)
The Magic of MelodyWhat gives a memorable melody its magic? JJ and Haz discuss the remedy, first, for 'earworms' and brave the world's ugliest melody before plundering the troves of music theatre, bebop and classical music ...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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30:54
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 6 (Braving Rhythm)
Braving RhythmIn the first of a series exploring different parameters of music, Jon and Haz delve into fascinating rhythms, mining the works of Gershwin, Stravinsky, Bartók, Reich and more. Along the way they discover mind-bogglin...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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36:08
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 5 (Less can be more)
This month Jon and Haz take a step back from the orchestral stage and look at the more intimate world of chamber music, picking out their favourites and sharing how working in a chamber group can be so fulfilling. And those times when it doesn'...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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40:35
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 4 (Upbeats Christmas Cracker)
With Haz away due to a Christmas cold, Jon sees the year out with a festive mix of favourite moments from recent gigs, including a Turkish love song, a contemporary carol, the compulsory Sleigh Ride and a Welsh classic.
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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21:44
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 3 (Music of Protest)
Haz and JJ bring some pep to your November with the music of protest and revolt, whether it's Obama breaking into song, Chopin feeling heroic or Billy Holiday lamenting a dark past. And what is the opposite of goosebumps?
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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25:32
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 2 (Rain and Rainbows)
Given the weather recently, JJ and Haz ponder the different ways rain has been treated in music, including Chopin's disturbing dream, Britten's cheerful storm, Debussy's summer tempest, and John Luther Adams' electronic showers. Bambi gets a lo...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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31:36
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Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 1 (All things autumn. (And some concrete))
All things autumn. (And some concrete). As autumn beckons and St David's Hall lingers to have its concrete checked, JJ and Haz spend their first podcast back considering music of the moment: seasonal themes of renewal, ...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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28:24
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Upbeats: Episode 30 (Fanfares and Finales)
To culminate this season of Braving the Stave, Haz and Jon contemplate what it might be like to kiss a fanfaring trumpeter and uncover a disturbing past to the fanfare genre. They then pick their favourite rousing (or crushing) finales from the...
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Season 3
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Episode 30
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32:17
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Upbeats: Bonus Track (JJ interviews Sali-Wyn Ryan)
Continuing the theme of our May episode, JJ interviews Sali-Wyn Ryan, a proudly Welsh member of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, and asks her about the perks and pitfalls of orchestral life.
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Season 3
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Episode 0
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14:47
Upbeats: Episode 29 (Braving the Orchestra)
In this deep-dive into orchestral life, JJ and Haz discover why so many orchestral musicians own a pilot's licence, why a percussionist can feel like a lemon, why basketball-players could make excellent violists and the most important question ...
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Season 3
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Episode 29
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36:49
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Upbeats: Episode 28 (Braving Minimalism)
Haz sets out to enlighten JJ, a self-confessed harmony junkie, in the joys of Minimalism. Starting with the hippy experiments of La Monte Young, they trace the style's evolution via Glass and Reich to the complex scores of post-minimalist, John...
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Season 3
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Episode 28
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39:22
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Upbeats: Episode 27 (Female Composers)
Haz takes the lead in this podcast about female composers and women in music. Is there still a 'gender agenda' in the classical music industry, and is there enough female representation at the top table? Expect bold, beautiful music, frank exch...
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Season 3
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Episode 27
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33:18
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Upbeats: Episode 26 (Braving Sibelius and discovering 'The Voice of the North')
What was the story behind Sibelius' French first name and what makes his music so distinct and compelling? Expect brooding mountain spirits, magical string textures, Welsh-sounding hymns and abrupt 'Fininish' endings. Including an interview wit...
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Season 3
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Episode 26
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40:04
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Upbeats: Episode 25 (Braving Brahms)
In this first podcast of the year, JJ and Haz share what they love about Johannes Brahms and his music. It's more raving than 'braving' as they reveal some lesser known stories about when he grew his famous big beard, how he was a prankster, an...
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Season 3
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Episode 25
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36:23
Tis the season to be cheesy?
JJ and Haz discuss classical music's Christmas clichés and compete to find the piece with the most sparkle. With new carols from young Welsh composers and a nostalgic glance back to wintry treasure swaps from earlier podcasts.
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Episode 24
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24:06
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The sacred power of the voice
What is it about the human voice and the special sound of a choir that holds such power for people (and makes JJ 'leaky')? Using examples from all genres, Haz and JJ explore issues of the perfect blend, keeping a drone in tune and what it means...
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Season 3
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Episode 23
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39:15
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