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Folk songs have served as an illustration and illumination of social history. Here, these songs explore love, marriage, and affairs. Hosted by Roy Palmer, co-editor of Folk Music in Schools. He has compiled numerous anthologies of folk songs and street ballads.

Learn about the progression of music in the Caribbean from Rhythm and Blues to Reggae. Also included here is a demonstration of how a simple calypso tune can be composed and performed. Hosted by Felix Cross, composer, performer, and playwright who has written extensively about Caribbean music.

From Wagner to Schoenberg, this enlightening discussion focuses on the change in musical language around 1900. You will also hear some of the less radical elements of twentieth century music, finishing with the place of jazz in the period. Hosted by Dr. Wilfrid Mellers, composer, author, and formerly Professor of Music at the University of York.

This is truly world music—an international collection of musical instruments, including the koto (a Japanese zither), the duda (a Hungarian bagpipe), mbira (a linguaphone from Zimbabwe), and hardanger fiddle (a folk violin from Norway). Author and composer Andy Jackson talks to Jim Smith, editor of the Sussex Tapes Music series and Director of Music at the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, U.K.

Journey around the world on a musical exploration of geography, culture, and history through a variety of regions. Covering details of 14 countries, each chapter of the book describes the musical history, influences, instruments, and performance details. The descriptive analysis of each musical piece includes information from regions as diverse as the Andes, Spain, India, Tibet, Egypt, and others.

1. Vocalise, Op. 34, No. 14 (6'08)
     Tchaikovsky Chamber Orchestra/Lazar Gosman

2. Piano Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 18
     III. Allegro scherzando (11'40)
     Yefim Bronfman, Piano
     Philharmonia Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen

3. Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, Op. 43
     18th Variation (2'40)
     Vladimir Feltsman, Piano
     Israel Philharmonic/Zubin Mehta

1. Hungarian Dance No. 5 (2'49)
     Tonhalle-Orchester Zurich/Christoph Eschenbach

2. Lullaby, Op. 49, No 4 (2'32)
     Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Andre Kostelanetz

3. Academic Festival Overture, Op. 80 (10'32)
     London Symphony Orchestra/Michael Tilson Thomas

     Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
1. I. Allegro con brio (8'35)
     New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein

2. Minuet in G Major, WoO 10, No. 2 (2'58)
     (arr. Thomas Frost)
     Philadelphia Orchestra/Eugene Ormandy

3. Fur Elise (3'26)
     (Bagatelle in A minor, WoO 59)
     (arr. William Smith)
     Philadelphia Orchestra/William Smith

1. Polonaise in A Major, Op. 40, No. 1 "Military" (5'36)
     Philippe Entremont, Piano

2. Waltz in D-flat Major, Op. 64, No. 1 "Minute" (1'40)
     Hiroko Nakamura, Piano

3. Mazurka in C Major, Op. 24, No. 2 (1'59)
     Emanuel Ax, Piano

4. Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 (3'16)
     Alexander Barilowsky, Piano

       Symphony No. 8 in B minor "Unfinished"
1.   Allegro moderato (13'50)
       New York Philharmonic/Leonard Bernstein

2.   marche militaire, Op. 51, No. 1 (4'07)
       Cleveland Pops Orchestra/Louis Lane

3.   Ave Maria (5'49)
       (arr. Arthur Harris)
       Isaac Stern, Violin
       Columbia Symphony Orchestra/Milton Katims

1.   "Grand March" from Aida 7'11
       Metropolitan Opera Orchestra & Chorus/James Levine

2.   "La donna e mobile" from Rigoletto 2'10
       Luciano Pavarotti, Tenor
       Symphony Orchestra of Emilia Romagna "ARTURO TOSCANINI" /
       Emerson Buckley

       Die Meistersinger
1.   Prelude to Act I 9'33
       Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell

       Lohengrin
2.   Bridal Chorus 4'48
       Chor der Bayreuther Festspiele
       (Norbert Balatsch, Director)
       Orchester der Bayreuther Festspiele/Woldemar Nelsson

       Concerto for Lute (Guitar), 2 Violins & Basso continuo in D Major, RV 93
1.   I. Allegro glusto 3'45
2.   II. Largo 4'29
3.   III. Allegro 2'05
       John Williams, Guitar
       Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra/Janos Rolla

       Flute Concerto in D Major "Il Gardellino," RV 428
4.   I. Allegro 3'54
       Jean-Pierre Rampal, Flute
       I Solisti Veneti/Claudio Scimone

       Johann Strauss, Jr.
1.   The Blue Danube Waltz, Op. 314 9'45
       Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell

2.   Perpetuum mobile, A Musical Joke, Op. 257 2'57
       New York Philharmonic/Leonardo Bernstein

3.   Voices of Spring, Waltz, Op. 410 5'49
       Cleveland Orchestra/George Szell

4.   Die Fledermaus Overture 8'27
       London Symphony Orchestra/Harry Rabinowitz

       Peer GyntSuite No. 1
1.   I. Morning Mood 4'17
2.   II. Ase's Death 5'44
3.   III. Anitra's Dance 3'18
4.   IV. In the Hall of the Mountain King+ 2'32
       +Oslo Philharmonic Chorus
       (Terje Kram, Chorus Master)
       Oslo Philharmonic Orchestra/Esa-Pekka Salonen