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St Francis

With writing by GK Chesterton, Camille Ralphs, Richmal Crompton and musical settings of St Francis's poem The Canticle of the Sun composed by Amy Beach and Sofia Gubaidulina.

The actors David Harewood and Sally Phillips perform readings alongside music in a programme to mark 800 years since the death of St Francis of Assisi. Though he was born rich, he abandoned his inheritance in favour of living alongside the poor and in harmony with animals and the natural world. So this 13th-century riches-to-rags story attracts believers and non-believers alike who interpret his story as a rejection of consumerism in favour of a simple life.

We will hear about the life of Saint Francis from a biography written by GK Chesterton and extracts from plays about him by Chiara Atik and Julian Mitchell. And we will explore themes associated with him in poetry from Seamus Heaney, Imtiaz Dharker and Kathleen Raine and in fiction from Penelope Fitzgerald and Richmal Crompton. Francis himself wrote The Canticles of the Sun, which has inspired musical interpretations from Amy Beach to Sofia Gubaidulina, and we'll hear Franz Liszt's piece evoking Francis preaching to the birds as well as music inspired by nature, stillness and wonder by composers from Judith Weir to Olivier Messiaen to John Tavener.

Readings:
St Francis and the Birds - Seamus Heaney
St Francis of Assisi - GK Chesterton
William the Outlaw - Richmal Crompton
St Francis of Assisi - GK Chesterton
Canticle of the Creatures - St Francis of Assisi
After St Francis of Assisi - Camille Ralphs
Poor Clare - Chiara Atik
Offshore - Penelope Fitzgerald
Shoes of the Fisherman - Morris West
Pied Beauty - Gerard Manley Hopkins
Francis - Julian Mitchell
The Sovereignty of the Good - Iris Murdoch
Living Space - Imtiaz Dharker
St Francis of Assisi - GK Chesterton
The Book of Hours - Rainer Maria Rilke
A Spell for Creation - Kathleen Raine
December Day - Dorothy Margaret Paulin
Dear Big Gods - Mona Arshi

Produced in Salford by Olive Clancy

10 days left to listen

1 hour, 14 minutes

Last on

Sun 13 Sep 2026 19:45
BBC Radio 3

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Music Played

Timings (where shown) are from the start of the programme in hours and minutes

  • 00:01

    Franz Liszt

    St Francois d'Assise (La predication aux oiseaux), orch. Zeileis [no.1 of "Legendes" for piano (S.175)]

    Performer: Alfred Brendel.
    • Decca.
    • 4782825.

  • Seamus Heaney

    St Francis and the Birds read by David Harewood

  • GK Chesterton

    Extract from St Francis of Assisi read by Sally Phillips

  • 00:01

    Franz Liszt

    Legende S.175 No. 1 St. Francis of Assisi Preaching to the Birds

    Performer: Alfred Brendel.
    • Alfred Brendel – Liszt – Artist’s Choice.
    • Decca.
    • 1.
  • 00:04

    Anon.

    A Florence la Joyose cite

    Conductor: Jordi Savall. Ensemble: Hespèrion XXI.
    • Erasme – eloge de la folie.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 43.
  • 00:06

    Ottorino Respighi

    Gli Uccelli (the birds) - prelude

    Conductor: Claudio Scimone. Orchestra: I Solisti Veneti.
    • Respighi* - I Solisti Veneti, Claudio Scimone – Gli Uccelli / Trittico Botticell.
    • Erato.
    • 2.
  • 00:09

    Olivier Messiaen

    Le Baiser de l'enfant Jesus

    Performer: Michel Béroff.
    • Messiaen: 100th Anniversary Box Set.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 6.
  • 00:10

    Amy Beach

    The Canticle of the Sun

    Choir: Yale Schola Cantorum.
    • Beach: The Canticle of the Sun, Op 123.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.
  • 00:12

    Jordi Savall & Hespèrion XXI

    A Florence la joyose cite [15th-century]

    • Alia Vox.
    • AVSA 9895 A/F.

  • Richmal Crompton

    Extract from William the Outlaw read by David Harewood

  • 00:12

    John Tavener

    The Protecting Veil I

    Performer: Steven Isserlis.
    • John Tavener – The Protecting Veil.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 1.
  • 00:15

    Ottorino Respighi

    Gli Uccelli [The birds] - suite

    Conductor: Claudio Scimone. Performer: I Solisti Veneti.
    • Erato.
    • ECD 75366.

  • GK Chesterton

    Extract from St Francis of Assisi read by Sally Phillips

  • 00:17

    Olivier Messiaen

    20 Regards sur l'enfant Jesus for piano

    Performer: Michel Béroff.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2174662.

  • St Francis of Assisi

    Extract from The Canticle of the Creatures read by David Harewood

  • 00:19

    Paul Simon

    Questions for the Angels

    Performer: Paul Simon.
    • In the Blue Light.
    • Legacy Recordings.
    • 10.
  • 00:22

    Sofia Gubaidulina

    The Canticle of the Sun

    Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich.
    • Gubaidulina: The Canticle of the Sun.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2.
  • 00:22

    Amy Beach

    The Canticle of the sun - cantata Op.123 for soloists, chorus and orchestra

    Performer: Yale Schola Cantorum.
    • Hyperion.
    • CDA68466.
  • 00:23

    Einojuhani Rautavaara

    Symphony No. 7 Angel of the Light III

    Orchestra: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Rautavaara: Angels and Visitations.
    • Naxos.
    • 5.
  • 00:24

    John Tavener

    The Protecting veil for cello and string orchestra [1987]

    Performer: Steven Isserlis.
    • VIRGIN CLASSICS DIGITAL.
    • 0777-75905229.

  • Camille Ralphs

    After St Francis of Assisi read by Sally Phillips

  • 00:30

    Paul Simon

    Questions For The Angels

    Performer: Paul Simon.
    • Hear Music.
    • 0888072328143.

  • Chiara Atik

    Extract from Poor Clare read by David Harewood and Sally Phillips

  • 00:30

    Jonathan Dove

    The Passing of the Year V: Ah! Sunflower

    Ensemble: VOCES8.
    • Equinox.
    • VCM Reocrds.
    • 12.
  • 00:33

    Joseph Haydn

    Symphony No. 88 in G

    Conductor: André Previn. Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra.
    • Haydn: Symphonies Nos. 88 "The Letter V" & 96 "The Miracle".
    • Warner Classics.
    • 2.
  • 00:34

    Sofia Gubaidulina

    The Canticle of the sun for choir, string ensemble and organ

    Performer: Mstislav Rostropovich.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 5571532.

  • Penelope Fitzgerald

    Extract from Offshore read by Sally Phillips

  • 00:36

    Gerald Finzi

    Eclogue for Piano and Strings, Op. 10

    Performer: Maria Yefimova. Ensemble: Atlantic Chamber Ensemble.
    • Hearsay.
    • Bright Shiny Things.
    • 10.
  • 00:38

    Einojuhani Rautavaara

    Symphony no. 7 (Angel of light)

    Performer: Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Naxos.
    • 8.555814.

  • Morris West

    Extract from Shoes of the Fisherman read by David Harewood

  • 00:41

    Seckou Keita

    Kingfisher

    Composer: Jim Molyneux. Composer: Julie Fowlis. Composer: Karine Polwart. Composer: Kerry Andrew. Composer: Robert Macfarlane. Composer: Jackie Morris. Composer: Kris Drever. Composer: Rachel Newton. Composer: Beth Porter. Ensemble: Spell Songs.
    • The Lost Words.
    • Quercus.
    • 3.
  • 00:44

    Judith Weir

    Still, Glowing for Orchestra

    Orchestra: BBC Symphony Orchestra.
    • Dalia’s Mixtape.
    • Platoon.
    • 3.
  • 00:46

    Jonathan Dove

    The Passing of the year for chorus and piano/orchestra

    Performer: Voces 8.
    • VCM RECORDS.
    • VCM121.

  • GK Chesterton

    Extract from St Francis of Assisi read by Sally Phillips

  • 00:49

    Joseph Haydn

    Symphony no. 88 in G major H.1.88

    Orchestra: London Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: André Previn.
    • Warner Classics.
    • N/A.

  • Gerard Manley Hopkins

    Pied Beauty read by David Harewood

  • 00:52

    Valerie Coleman

    Umoja

    Ensemble: Imani Winds.
    • Imani Winds.
    • Koch International Classics.
    • 12.
  • 00:55

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony No. 6 in F Major, Op. 68 'Pastoral', Ii.'Scene By The Brook

    Orchestra: Britten Sinfonia.
    • Beethoven: Complete Symphonies – Barry: Orchestral Works.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 4.
  • 00:56

    Gerald Finzi

    Eclogue in F major Op.10 for piano and string orchestra

    Performer: Maria Yefimova. Performer: Atlantic Chamber Ensemble.
    • Bright Shiny Things.
    • BSTC 124.

  • Julian Mitchell

    Extract from Francis read by Sally Phillips and David Harewood

  • Iris Murdoch

    Extract from The Sovereignty of the Good read by Sally Phillips

  • 01:00

    Reena Esmail

    Varsha

    Performer: Pierre Fontenelle.
    • Roots.
    • Cypres.
    • 7.
  • 01:03

    Jackie Morris

    Kingfisher Song - The Lost Words Spell Songs

    Composer: Robert Macfarlane. Performer: Jackie Morris. Performer: Robert Macfarlane.
    • Folk by the Oak.
    • n/a.

  • Kathleen Raine

    A Spell of Creation read by Sally Phillips

  • 01:05

    Ruth Gipps

    Cringlemire Garden, Op. 39

    Orchestra: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Gipps: Orchestral Works Vol 3.
    • Chandos Records.
    • 6.
  • 01:09

    Judith Weir

    Still, glowing for orchestra

    Performer: BBC Symphony Orchestra.
    • Platoon.
    • N/A.

  • Imtiaz Dharker

    Living Space read by David Harewood

  • 01:10

    Florence Price

    Adoration

    Performer: Randall Goosby. Performer: Zhu Wang.
    • Roots.
    • Decca.
    • 16.
  • 01:17

    Valerie Coleman

    Umoja - anthem of unity for orchestra

    Performer: Imani Winds.
    • Koch International Classics.
    • KIC-CD-7661.

  • GK Chesterton

    Extract from St Franics of Assisi read by Sally Phillips

  • 01:20

    Ludwig van Beethoven

    Symphony no. 6 in F major Op.68 (Pastoral)

    Performer: Britten Sinfonia.
    • Signum Classics.
    • SIGCD659.

  • Rainer Maria Rilke

    Extract from The Book of Hours read by David Harewood, trans Mark S Burrows

  • 01:25

    Reena Esmail

    Varsha

    Performer: Pierre Fontenelle.
    • Cypres.
    • CYP4666.

  • Dorothy Margaret Paulin

    December Day read by Sally Phillips

  • 01:31

    Ruth Gipps

    Cringlemire Garden - an impression Op.39 for string orchestra

    Performer: BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.
    • Chandos Records.
    • CHAN 20284.

  • Mona Arshi

    Dear Big Gods read by David Harewood

  • 01:36

    Florence Price

    Adoration for organ

    Performer: Randall Goosby. Performer: Zhu Wang.
    • Decca.
    • B0033878-02.

Broadcast

  • Sun 13 Sep 2026 19:45
    BBC Radio 3

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