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
Listen to the Braving the Stave playlist here
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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
Grandewch ar y rhestr chwarae Braving the Stave yma
Episodes
69 episodes
Upbeats: Season 5, Episode 6 (Braving the Solo Guitar)
Braving the Solo GuitarJJ and Haz end up speaking Spanish with a Welsh accent as they take in the history and fascinating facts of the classical guitar, from the strings used through to the stereotype hairstyles.Herio’r...
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Upbeats: Season 5, Episode 5 (Braving Variations)
After busting the February blues with some jolly tunes, JJ tries to convince Haz that Bach's Goldberg Variations are, indeed, brilliant. Also: Haz's Mari Lywd experience, what 'Rachpag' means, and top tips for chamber musicians that involve goo...
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Upbeats: Season 5, Episode 4 (Braving the Solo Violin)
JJ and Haz set out their musical resolutions for the new year before enjoying the world of solo Bach violin ahead of Irène Duval's concert. And Haz falls in love, temporarily. Mae JJ a Haz yn creu eu haddunedau cerddorol ...
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Upbeats: Season 5, Episode 3 (Braving The Trumpet)
JJ and special guest, composer Richard Barnard, explore the character and impressive range of the trumpet, from blood-curdling battle calls to breathy jazz ballads. Then Richard reveals the inner workings of his piece for Matilda Lloyd, trumpet...
Upbeats: Season 5, Episode 2 (Braving Halloween 2025)
Haz’s healthy obsession with Horror prompts discussions on Welsh Halloween traditions, from apple-bobbing to tail-less black pigs, a swap of scary musical scores and diverse examples of ‘night music’. For some good cheer, there are also favouri...
Upbeats: Season 5, Episode 1 (Braving The Loss of Summer)
To see in this new series, JJ and Haz say farewell to summer with the music of half-light, slumber and nocturnes. Along the way you'll find out why we should feel sorry for Janacek's postman, who the mysterious Silke Schäfer is, and why Swiss t...
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 20 (Braving The Viola)
After getting some stereotypes out of the way - viola jokes, composers who played viola, best viola shreds - Haz and JJ explore the wonders of the instrument, from how it got its name, via lesser known orchestral moments, through to solo works ...
Upbeats: Season 4, Bonus episode 2: Interview with Christiana Mavron (Mavron Quartet)
JJ interviews Christiana Mavron ahead of the Mavron Quartet's performance in the Arts Active Lunchtime Concert Series, on 3rd June 2025.
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 19 (Braving Neoclassicism)
Jon and Haz find out why it's best not to say 'neoclassicism' in a hurry before plunging into beautiful reinventions of the past. Along the way, Haz makes the connection between Stravinsky and sweating and Jon discovers Couperin's 'Tic-Toc Choc...
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 18 (Braving The Clarinet)
JJ and Haz extol the virtues and versatility of the clarinet, from its humble folk beginnings through to its many shapes and sizes of today. Includes the instrument's nicknames, its use in classical and jazz and its resemblance to milk chocolat...
Upbeats: Season 4, Bonus episode 1: Interview with Tabea Debus (recorder) and Samuele Telari (accordion)
The duo performing in an upcoming Cardiff Lunchtime series at Eglwys Dewi Sant talk with Jon about how they met, the background to their instruments and the thinking behind their innovative and beautifully considered programme.
Upbeats: Season 4, Episode 17 (Braving the Musical Zoo)
With the unusual pairing of a recorder and accordion coming up in a concert, Jon and Haz do a quick survey of other rarer concert instruments. In this 'musical zoo' are instruments that are both haunting and hooting, folk and electronic, and on...
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...
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...
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...
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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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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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...
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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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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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...
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 ...
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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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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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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