{"id":20410,"date":"2022-10-19T19:25:16","date_gmt":"2022-10-19T17:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=173911"},"modified":"2022-10-19T19:47:08","modified_gmt":"2022-10-19T17:47:08","slug":"author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her\/","title":{"rendered":"Author Jacqueline Wilson on the music that shaped her"},"content":{"rendered":"

<\/p>

By Amanda Holloway\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Wednesday, 19 October 2022 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

One of the world\u2019s best-selling children\u2019s authors, Jacqueline Wilson<\/a> is a former children\u2019s laureate and a staunch campaigner for the benefits of reading. Author of over 100 books, her stories about Tracy Beaker were made into a much-loved television series.<\/strong> Jacqueline Wilson\u2019s Wonderful World <\/em>with the BBC Symphony Orchestra was broadcast on Radio 3 on 31 December, 2021.<\/p>\n\n<p>\u2018The first time I was struck by music, it was the theme tune of the 1957 television adaptation of <em>The Railway Children<\/em>. This tune, the second of <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/five-essential-works-grieg\/"\"><strong>Grieg\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> <em>Symphonic Dances<\/em>, is so haunting and beautiful that it summed up the experience of the book for me.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Bizarrely, my latest book is a kind of reimagining of <a href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Railway_Children"\"><strong><em>The Railway Children <\/em><\/strong><\/a>and when I was thinking about how I could take on this rather impertinent task, somebody mentioned that theme music. I tracked it down and it made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up to remember just how much it meant to me. The television company ran a painting competition based on <em>The Railway Children <\/em>and I\u2019d just been given a painting set, so I got to work. I couldn\u2019t make the train look right so I just painted the three main children waving their red flags and, astonishingly, I won!<\/p>\n<p>\u2018My second choice is <strong>Linda Ronstadt<\/strong> singing \u2018Freezing\u2019 from <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/articles\/the-brilliance-of-philip-glass-seven-leading-musicians-discuss-his-style-and-influence\/"\"><strong>Philip Glass\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> album <em>Songs from Liquid Days. <\/em>When I was writing my early books, I played it over and over again and it was just like the angel was singing to me. I discovered I really like that rhythmic repetition of music to get myself into a particular mood.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Freezing"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Sf1kEgL7DVg?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u2018I was working very hard in those days, writing many books that no one remembers now. An editor told me that they liked my stories but they would never be popular with children. \u2018Freezing\u2019 reminds me of those days, when I wasn\u2019t selling many books but I wrote for the joy of it. Later <em>The Story of Tracy Beaker<\/em>, particularly the TV adaptation, changed my career around.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I first came across <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/nyman-michael\/"\"><strong>Michael Nyman\u2019s<\/strong><\/a> music via the stunning Peter Greenaway film <em>The Draughtsman\u2019s Contract<\/em>. He\u2019s another composer who uses repetition, and I\u2019ve picked \u2018The Heart Asks Pleasure First\u2019 from his score for Jane Campion\u2019s film <a href=\""https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/The_Piano"\"><strong><em>The Piano<\/em><\/strong><\/a>. The piano plays such a crucial part in the film and that little piece expresses so many emotions, from danger to passion.<\/p>\n<iframe title=\""Michael\" nyman=\"\" the=\"\" heart=\"\" asks=\"\" pleasure=\"\" first=\"\" width=\""200"\" height=\""150"\" src=\""https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NsQBKr_x-P4?feature=oembed"\" frameborder=\""0"\" allow=\""accelerometer;\" autoplay=\"\" clipboard-write=\"\" encrypted-media=\"\" gyroscope=\"\" picture-in-picture=\"\" allowfullscreen=\"\"\/>\n<p>\u2018As well as the wonderful Harvey Keitel, I loved the strong relationship between the mother and the daughter \u2013 Holly Hunter and Anna Paquin \u2013 which is so lovely and unusual. I\u2019ve actually mentioned it in one of my books, although watching it again I realise it\u2019s really not suitable for children!<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Tasmin Little\u2019s recording of <strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/composers\/ralph-vaughan-williams\/"\">Vaughan Williams\u2019<\/a> <a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/recordings\/four-of-the-best-recordings-of-vaughan-williamss-the-lark-ascending\/"\"><em>The Lark Ascending<\/em><\/a> <\/strong>is a great favourite and I\u2019ve known and admired her playing for a long time. I made probably the biggest <em>faux pas<\/em> of my life when I met the 20-something Tasmin and her mother in a hotel in Hay-on-Wye.<\/p>\n<section class=\""highlight\"><div class=\""highlight__content\" editor-content=\"\"> \n<ul><li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/news\/hear-vaughan-williams-lark-ascending-as-it-was-originally-writtenf-or-piano-and-violin-duo\/"\">Hear Vaughan Williams\u2019 Lark Ascending as it was originally written: for piano and violin duo<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/when-was-the-first-performance-recording-broadcast-and-proms-performance-of-vaughan-williamss-the-lark-ascending\/"\">When was the first performance, recording, broadcast and Proms performance of Vaughan Williams\u2019s The Lark Ascending?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><a href=\""https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/features\/works\/vaughan-williamss-fantasia-on-a-theme-of-thomas-tallis\/"\">A guide to Vaughan Williams\u2019s Fantasia on a Theme of Thomas Tallis and its best recordings<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul><p> <\/p><\/div> <\/section><p>\u2018She looked much younger and when her mother mentioned that Tasmin went to the Menuhin School, I said brightly, \u2018Maybe you\u2019ll be able to play the violin professionally\u2019. Little did I know that she was already an international star with several recordings to her name! I\u2019ve been to several of her concerts and she transmits such joyfulness in her playing.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018I had a wonderful time collaborating with the BBC Symphony Orchestra on a family concert that combined readings from my books with music, and it introduced me to some unfamiliar works, including <em>Masquerade <\/em>by the brilliant composer <strong>Anna Clyne<\/strong>. I didn\u2019t grasp it on first hearing but after listening again and again, I realised it\u2019s a bit like starting to read a 19th-century novel \u2013 you have to readjust yourself. Then it became very special to me.<\/p>\n<p>\u2018Mei-Ann Chen conducted the whole concert with such joy and respect, and it was good to show the children in the audience that music isn\u2019t just made by men, it\u2019s interpreted and imagined by women too. Since that lovely opportunity to be involved in a concert myself, I am going to pursue this interest in classical music and become a dedicated concert-goer from now on!\u2019<\/p>\n<h2>Jacqueline Wilson\u2019s musical choices<\/h2>\n<div class=\""page"\" title=\""Page\">\n<div class=\""layoutArea"\">\n<div class=\""column"\">\n<p><strong>Grieg <em>Symphonic Dances, Op. 64 No. 2<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Academy of St Martin in the Fields\/ Neville Marriner<\/p>\n<p><strong><em>Ha\u0308nssler CD 98.128<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Grieg-Symphonic-Dances-Piano-Concerto\\\/dp\\\/B0000266NT\\\/ref=sr_1_3","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"7.7-14.3","sid":"term-classicalmusic-4-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p><strong>Philip Glass <em>Songs from Liquid Days: Linda Ronstadt et al<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Philip Glass Ensemble<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Sony MK 39564<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Glass-Songs-Liquid-Days-Various\\\/dp\\\/B000025OXY\\\/ref=sr_1_3","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"10.5-19.5","sid":"term-classicalmusic-4-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p><strong>Michael Nyman <em>The Piano: Music from the Motion Picture<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><b><i>EMI<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.amazon.co.uk\\\/Piano-Music-Motion-Picture\\\/dp\\\/B000F90312\\\/ref=sr_1_2","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"4.2-7.8","sid":"term-classicalmusic-4-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p><strong>Vaughan Williams <em>The Lark Ascending<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Tasmin Little (violin), BBC Philharmonic\/ Andrew Davis<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Chandos CHAN 10796<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-container"\" data-position=\""adhoc"\" hidden=\"\"> <h5 class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-title\" monetizer-title=\"\" style=\""background-color:\" color:=\"\"\/> <div id=\""monetizer__deals"\" data-type=\""price-comparison"\" data-config=\"'{"shopId":"1378","market":"gbp_en","template":"default","searchKeywords":"https:\\\/\\\/www.ebay.co.uk\\\/itm\\\/134267240030","excludeKeywords":"","geolocation":true,"limit":"4","priceRange":"4.2-7.8","sid":"term-classicalmusic-4-pcs-txt-pos"}'\"\/> <div class=\""monetizer__price-comparison-explanatory-text\" body-copy-extra-small=\"\" editor-content=\"\"\/><\/div> <p><strong>Anna Clyne <em>Masquerade<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>BBC Symphony Orchestra\/Marin Alsop<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Avie AV 2434<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p><\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>By Amanda Holloway Published: Wednesday, 19 October 2022 at 12:00 am One of the world\u2019s best-selling children\u2019s authors, Jacqueline Wilson is a former children\u2019s laureate and a staunch campaigner for the benefits of reading. Author of over 100 books, her stories about Tracy Beaker were made into a much-loved television series. Jacqueline Wilson\u2019s Wonderful World […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":20411,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"4"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/10\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her.png",595,546,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/10\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/10\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her-300x275.png",300,275,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/10\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her.png",595,546,false],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/10\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her.png",595,546,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/10\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her.png",595,546,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/37\/2022\/10\/author-jacqueline-wilson-on-the-music-that-shaped-her.png",595,546,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"By Amanda Holloway Published: Wednesday, 19 October 2022 at 12:00 am One of the world\u2019s best-selling children\u2019s authors, Jacqueline Wilson is a former children\u2019s laureate and a staunch campaigner for the benefits of reading. Author of over 100 books, her stories about Tracy Beaker were made into a much-loved television series. Jacqueline Wilson\u2019s Wonderful World…","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/20410"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/20411"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=20410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=20410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}