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"In this series I'm going to look at five of the great breakthroughs that European music has experienced in its extraordinary history; five momentous discoveries. I also want to show what they mean to us today; at a time when so-called classical music is being absorbed into a much bigger mainstream and when its 1,000-year reign seems to be coming to a close." HOWARD GOODALL
With intriguing anecdotes and witty humor, composer Howard Goodall presents five innovations in European musical history, which have overwhelmingly changed its course:
NOTATION: the journey from plain chant in medieval times to symphonic works and improvisation
EQUAL TEMPERAMENT (a universal tuning, scale and key system): from the discoveries of Pythagoras to J.S. Bach
OPERA: where music interfaces with real life with love, death and politics
THE PIANO: this versatile instrument is unique to European culture.
RECORDED SOUND: from Caruso to world music and sampling
"It's fascinating stuff, brilliantly presented." - he Australian
"This is the very best thing on television. It is utterly brilliant." - The Sunday Times
"An exceptionally fine example of fascinating music history presented by an engaging host with a disarming sense of humor (who is also skilled at making difficult technical concepts accessible), Howard Goodall's Big Bangs is highly recommended."
- Video Librarian
"Big Bangs is a must-see and must-listen for all music fans, no matter what your particular stripe might be. So much wonderful information is presented in such a wonderfully imaginative way that I guarantee you'll be entranced. Highly recommended."
- Jeffrey Kauffman, DVDtalk
