Meditative music from the heart ft. Samara Joy

Scottish composer Erland Cooper invites you to bask in the warmth of music from the heart.

Erland shares a selection of soothing songs straight from the heart, including music from Keigo Tatsumi, Başak Günak and an anonymously written love song for a man called John, originating in the sixteenth or seventeenth century and performed on the lute by Elizabeth Kenny. He also reflects on how music can be the language of the heart and how melody is something we often reach for when we don’t have the words for our feelings, whether familial, platonic or romantic.

We also visit the musical safe haven of the American jazz singer Samara Joy. Calm for Samara can be found in listening to songs that remind her of the wonder of music, encouraging her to take a step back and breathe in, and she selects a special song that has calmed her for many years.

Produced by Cat Gough
A Reduced Listening Production for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio 3 Unwind