What's your mood today? Whatever your answer, you'll probably find it somewhere in Erik Satie's Gnossienne.
Nina Simone was singer, songwriter and arranger across a variety of musical styles. But she was also a leading civil rights activist throughout her career and her 1969 song 'To Be Young, Gifted and Black' (lyrics by Weldon Irving) became one of the anthems of the Civil Rights Movement. However, it was the reggae version of the following year (Young, Gifted and Black') by Jamaican duo Bob & Marcia that was the most commercially successful.
In 1967, when a lot of musicians were, in John Lennon's words, wanting to change the world, The Kinks and songwriter Ray Davies were ploughing a different furrow and singing about a more simple life.
William Byrd was a leading composer of sacred and secular music in the 16th and 17th Centuries. He was also a Catholic at a time when Elizabeth I's heavies were tightening their Protestant grip.
As we approach term, it's time for the great Curtis Mayfield to give us a shot in the arm.
A quiet Bulletin this week so it is appropriate that our song is John Cage's famous/infamous 4' 33''. But of course, it isn't quiet. It is every sound you hear, yours and others, while you listen to 4 minutes and 33 seconds of apparent silence. You can watch a live perfomance here.
Stones drummer Charlie Watts died last week. Charlie said he was a jazz drummer at heart (they all say that don't they) but the obituaries made it clear how important he was to the Stones's sound.
You can Google to see him in action - and exchanging sardonic looks with bassist Bill Wyman while Mick flaunts out front - but here is the band in their pomp, the period from 1968-1972 when they could do no wrong (on record that is) and before the albums started to tread water and the touring money began to pour in.
A special request this week, our first, from Vicky Neale, whose annual pilgramge to the Isle of Skye has been delayed. So in its place, and almost as good as being there yourself, here is Felix Mendelssohn's Hebrides Overture. Written in 1830, it was inspired by his visit to the Hebridean island of Staffa.
Continuing last week's theme, Glaswegian band Belle and Sebastian are named after the Cécile Aubry novel about a boy named Sébastien and his dog Belle. The book was, in turn, made in to a French TV series which was, inevitably, badly dubbed in to English in time for the school holidays in the 1960s.
But enough of that. Back to the band. This is from one of their early EPs and is typical B & S: understated storytelling.
Back in the 1960s and 1970s UK televsion didn't seem to come on very often during the day. But in school holidays it seemed to work a bit harder via a series of imported programmes such as The White Horses which was made jointly by Yugoslav and German television. White Horses was dubbed (badly) and may have been forgotten but for the UK theme tune sung by Irish singer Jackie Lee. It still brings a tear to the eye of ageing children. And horse lovers.