A Surrealist Sunday Service

2017-06-11: Don your diving helmet and aqualung, and plunge into the depths for an encounter with 'the marvellous'. Jarvis marks the anniversary of the 1936 London International Surrealist Exhibition. Archive news reports recall the controversy surrounding the event; documentary clips tell how the artworks, found objects and 'primitive' pieces were brought together; and a lady remembers witnessing Dalí nearly dying in a diving suit as he prepared to lecture. The Surrealists used their art to access dreams and the unconscious: an unexplored part of reality. In that spirit, Jarvis tries creating his own expressive Surrealist sound piece with cut-up tape recordings courtesy of William S Burroughs. Birthdays: Barry Adamson (praising Bernard Herrmann), Jacques Cousteau (an Undersea World clip), Gene Wilder (Francophile) and Pete Murphy (on Bauhaus's greatest hit). 

A Virtual Primavera

2017-06-04: Jarvis treats us to a virtual tour of Primavera Sound. Jetting over to Barcelona, we get right into the festival vibe, exploring the concrete wonderland of Parc del Fòrum and enjoying bands playing Primavera this year. We learn a little about the city: Jarvis tells us about their football team, and muses on Orwell's Homage to Catalonia and the Spanish Civil War. He also contemplates Sagrada Família and visits his favourite Barceloní music shop, Wah Wah Records. Plus: an eyewitness remembers Emily Davison's notorious suffragette protest on this day in 1913; a landmark concert for The Clash; and listeners are asked for stories of discovering records on holiday. Birthdays: Russell Brand (on sampling the atmosphere pre-performance), David Yip (reading a poem) and Morgana King.

The Liverpool Mass and Rousseau's Dream

2017-05-21: Body art, a modernist Mass and a mesmerising painting… On 13th May, Jarvis introduced Pierre Henry's inaugural Mass at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral. 50 years later than originally planned, the pioneering work by the musique concrète composer was staged in the space by his collaborator Thierry Balasse and arts organisation Bluecoat — we hear all about the event. During his trip, Jarvis was given a book which got him thinking about music and mysticism. Urging us to gaze at Henri Rousseau's painting The Dream, he reads the bewitching poem Yadwigha, On a Red Couch, Among Lilies by Sylvia Plath. Plus: notes from The Ivors awards; and on this day The Empire Strikes Back was released and two landmark solo Atlantic flights were taken. Birthdays: Noel Fielding (on tennis), Henri Rousseau, Martin Carthy ('I don't do jolly'), Mr T and Fats Waller.

Sleep Until the Dawn Comes

2017-05-07: Last night (6th May), Jarvis attended a performance of Max Richter's project 'Sleep' at Old Billingsgate Market in London. He aims to give us a flavour of the event, describing the atmosphere, sharing conversations with musicians and audience members, and ending with a drowsy meeting with Max in the morning. Max talks about the challenge of keeping in time with the slow tempo and explains how the ensemble keeps going for eight hours. This is all interspersed with somnolent music and poems, a previous interview with Max, and extracts from the radio play The Dreams. Later, we are roused by clips from International Dawn Chorus Day over on Radio 4, with a poem about the dew, an account of medieval sleep patterns and a star-fade song for the larks. Birthdays: Matt Helders, Anne Dudley (on orchestration) and Michael Rosen (midnight feasting).

Spring Cleaning

2017-04-30: Jarvis decides it's high time for a spring clean. He ventures into an attic untouched for 15 years, sifting through records and books of poems to dust off hidden treasures. He also sorts out mislaid bags of records brought home from work and plays the new music he's discovered. Alongside this, we think about: the Gaelic May Day festival of Beltane; Honesty Day; poetry; and the best music to accompany a tidying spree. Birthdays: Alice B Toklas, Serafina Steer, Tony Harrison and Jane Campion (with dialogue from her Keats biopic Bright Star). 

An Easter Sunday Service

2017-04-16: Happy Easter, everyone! Jarvis sings an Easter hymn he remembers from his schooldays. While this is a deeply spiritual time for some, for others it's all about the eggs — we hear some facts and music savouring of chocolate. From Easter 2010, there's a clip of Peter Blake telling Jarvis about his Sgt Pepper's album cover design. During an angelic track, we hear some poems written by children on the subject of spring. Plus, a reminder of Record Store Day, and a nod to the beautiful music of the film Barry Lyndon. Birthdays: Dusty Springfield (talking about identity), Joan Bakewell (wishing she could sing), Henry Mancini and Herbie Mann.

A Look Back at Leonard

2016-11-13: A special tribute to the late Leonard Cohen. Jarvis admires the depth and range of his songwriting talent, and listeners share how his music touched their lives. There are also excerpts from a live interview Jarvis conducted with Cohen in 2012, and a reading from his novel The Favourite Game. In memory of the events in Paris one year ago, there's another chance to hear Paris I Love You and Jarvis reads from You Will Not Have My Hate, a memoir by Antoine Leiris, whose wife was killed at the Bataclan theatre. Plus: be gentle with each other, as today is World Kindness Day.

The Infinite Mix

2016-11-06: A tour of The Infinite Mix, an exhibition created by the Hayward Gallery and the Vinyl Factory at a former office building in central London. Audio-visual installations by 10 contemporary artists explore the interplay between sound and moving image; curator Ralph Rugoff talks about a selection of them with Jarvis. Most of the artists have composed, commissioned or remixed soundtracks that relate to the visual element of their work in surprising ways, ensuring that what you hear is just as thought-provoking as what you see. Plus, listeners choose a song in honour of America, which makes a big decision next week. Birthdays: Adolphe Sax and Mike Nichols.

Sonic Harvest Festival

2016-10-23: Autumn is upon us, so Jarvis celebrates a 'sonic harvest festival', gathering together new music from the past six months. We revisit some odd facts about the number 23 from 2011, and Jarvis thanks the stranger who treated him to some eggs. He also pays tribute to Desmond Carrington, now retiring from a long broadcasting career. Carrington's The Music Goes Round on BBC Radio 2 strongly influenced the concept of the Sunday Service — Jarvis salutes him and his cat, Golden Paws Sam. Next there's music composed for cats: creator David Teie explains the theory behind it and later listeners submit their feline feedback. And we hear highlights of an interview with Leonard Cohen. He discusses his last album, the pleasure of collaborating with his children, spirituality, songwriting… and hummingbirds. Birthdays: Anita Roddick (considering how to be a happy person).

Yuval Noah Harari

2016-10-09: Jarvis explores some startling new ideas with author Yuval Noah Harari, who talks about his book Homo Deus: A Brief History of Tomorrow. Yuval contemplates the projects, dreams and nightmares that will shape the rest of this century, from overcoming death to creating artificial life. Are organisms really just algorithms and is life really just data processing? What's more valuable: intelligence or consciousness? What will happen to society, politics and daily life when non-conscious but highly intelligent algorithms know us better than we know ourselves? There's much to meditate on… Birthdays: John Lennon (reading his poetry), PJ Harvey (on performing live), Sharon Osbourne (on hotel hygiene) and Camille Saint-Saëns.

The Age of Cocker, with Paul Morley

2016-10-02: Jarvis makes a welcome return to the airwaves following his summer break. He is joined by journalist Paul Morley, who discusses his recent book The Age of Bowie. Paul explores the impact and influence of David Bowie — the diverse routes to discovering his work, from poetry and lyrics to Labyrinth; the many ways he constructed his own mythology, including the David Bowie Is… exhibition; and the legacy he has left to future culture and media. Also, Jarvis shares lots of new music he encountered when he served on the Mercury Prize judging panel. On This Day, the Sunday Service appreciated the poetry of Charles Causley; and the first Peanuts cartoon appeared (creator Charles M Schulz considers the quickfire nature of comics). Birthdays: Wallace Stevens (reciting poetry) and Phil Oakey (on the creativity of hairdressers). 

This Is Water

2016-02-21: Jarvis talks about last week's BBC 6 Music Festival; and tells us that artist Elizabeth Peyton is in the studio painting him at work. The first Polaroid camera was revealed today in 1947. We hear the traits of Pisces. As David Foster Wallace was born on this day, Jarvis reads excerpts from This Is Water, a speech that he made in 2005 about living a compassionate life. There's a section about the humble telephone, in honour of the first phone directory being issued this day in 1878. Today in 1958, the CND peace symbol was designed. And with the Brit Awards approaching, Jarvis recalls the notorious 1996 ceremony and tells us how David Bowie intervened to restore his reputation. Plus, what piece of music scared or unsettled the listeners when we were children? Birthdays: Johnny Echols, Douglas Bader, WH Auden (Lindsay Duncan recites Stop All the Clocks), Matthew Herbert, Léo Delibes, Alan Rickman (reciting Shakespeare's Sonnet 130) and Jean-Jacques Burnel.

Sleeping with MAX RICHTER

2015-12-13: With only 12 sleeps to go until Christmas, Jarvis meets contemporary classical composer Max Richter to talk about his 'lullaby for a frenetic world', Sleep.  The eight-hour piece premiered on BBC Radio 3 live from the Wellcome Collection in London, where the slumbering audience lay in beds and the musicians played in shifts. Max discusses his interest in exploring the relationship between music and the subconscious mind. Jarvis recites a dreamy snippet of Coleridge and the listeners suggest some sedative sounds of our own.  Plus: another nod to the Paris climate change talks, and on this day the last ever moonwalk took place — just how would you get to sleep on the moon? Birthdays: Jackie Clune, Jamie Foxx, Tom Verlaine and Lester Bangs. 

Newvember

2015-11-01: Could we see dark, cold November as a positive month? Could it be a time for new music, new experiences and new beginnings: Newvember? We celebrate the joyful Mexican Day of the Dead; and on this day in history, Michelangelo unveiled his beautiful Sistine Chapel ceiling, and the European Union was established. Jarvis also announces the JCSS Awards, where listeners will nominate their favourite mellow musical discoveries of the year. Birthdays: Jim Steinman, Anthony Kiedis, Lyle Lovett, LS Lowry, Ted Lowe and Sharron Davies. Valete: Mark Murphy.

SEAMUS MURPHY

2015-10-11: Jarvis chats to photographer and film-maker Seamus Harvey about his collaboration with PJ Harvey and their new book, The Hollow of the Hand.  His photography and her poetry chronicle a series of journeys they've made to Kosovo, Afghanistan and Washington DC.  They were both fascinated by the ways places are changed by war or poverty — how human life goes on, yet also the normal rules of life don't apply. We also hear recordings of PJ Harvey reading her poems. Jarvis asks listeners to suggest a song about a special place. And we mark National Coming Out Day. Birthdays: Elmore Leonard, Andrew Logan, Art Blakey, Tony Kinsey, Rodney Marsh, Bobby Charlton, Dawn French, Daryl Hall, Tom Zé and John Nettles.

Walt Whitman, Rave and Fool's Gold

2015-05-31: Discovering the poetry of Walt Whitman, with readings of his work set over appropriate music. Jarvis also asks listeners for our favourite rave and come-down tracks. On This Day, the first stone of the Pont-Neuf bridge was laid, Mickey Mouse spoke his first words on film and Martin Frobisher set out on an ill-fated search for gold — his 'fool's gold' would eventually be used to pave the streets of London. Birthdays include Clint Eastwood, Karl Bartos, John Bonham and RW Fassbinder. 

Jarvis Celebrates Shakespeare, Giorgio Moroder and More

2015-04-26: Shakespeare was baptised on this day back in 1564, so much of the music in this show has a Shakespearean link. There are insights from a BBC documentary about the playwright, as well as clips from recordings and classic film versions of the works. Plus, there's a special spoken-word piece by Nick Cave, and some audio art pieces from an exhibition at Sheffield's Site Gallery. Birthdays include Giorgio Moroder, Ma Rainey and Duane Eddy.

Bicycle Day

2015-04-19: It's Bicycle Day (which isn't actually about pushbikes!) On This Day in 1943, Albert Hofmann first deliberately ingested lysergic acid diethylamide and then rode home on a bicycle — it was the first intentional acid trip. We hear archive audio about the invention of LSD and clips of its controversial advocate Dr Timothy Leary. We also explore the influence the drug had on popular culture in the form of psychedelic music.  Plus, there's music and poetry about Record Store Day. 

Easter

2015-04-05: With music and facts about Easter and chocolate, plus music from films and some poems by Michael Horovitz.

The Return

2015-03-01: Jarvis returns refreshed to the Sunday Service. Today in 1893, Nikola Tesla first demonstrated the radio, allowing us to make connections across the airwaves to this day. Also on this day: the alpha-bravo-charlie international alphabet was finalised; Albert Berry made the first parachute jump; Wikipedia reached its millionth article; Napoleon escaped Elba; the typewriter went into production; and the Salem Witch Trials began. We ponder what links CAN with David Niven, and enjoy some father-themed tracks and poems. This day in 1954, an H-bomb exploded on the Bikini Atoll. Music and found sound illustrates the event, and Jarvis reveals the unlikely link between nuclear testing and the two-piece swimsuit. Plus: today is Beer Day in Iceland and National Pig Day in the USA. Birthdays: Roger Daltrey (who thinks everyone's been a Tommy), Harry Belafonte, David Niven, Justin Bieber (remembering his big break), Robert Lowell and Burning Spear. Valete: Leonard Nimoy.